Page 54 of When Annika Met Thom

Annika smiled. “Yes, knowing Margritte, she will, and she’ll tell me so.”

Thom looked up.

“If you look up the word ‘blunt’ in the dictionary, there’s a picture of Margritte.”

“I thought there’d be a picture of you.”

“Nope, I’m under ‘inquisitive’.”

He chuckled.

“Next there’s me,” Annika continued. “Next, Kirsten, married, with so many fur babies we all lose count. She has a mobile pet grooming service and a husband who’s a mechanic. And Tristan, the charming and spoiled youngest, unmarried, two kids by different women, currently seeking a new employment option. In the meantime, he lives with my parents and helps them out. Mom is a high school teacher and Dad is an engineer. They’re both getting close to retirement.”

“You followed in his footsteps?”

“Pretty much, although my older brothers are pretty technically-oriented, too.” It was quiet again. Thom gave her a glance and she nodded that she was done, then he got up to clear the table. “I’ll help.”

“Sit and have your tea. You treated, after all.”

Annika topped up her cup and turned in her chair to watch him. She’d thought he was warming up to the idea of more intimacy, but now he moved with efficiency, putting leftovers away, and avoiding her gaze. She figured she had just about nothing to lose. “What happened with Rhea?” she asked and Thom froze for a heartbeat. “Did she start talking about forever?”

He didn’t glance over his shoulder but his posture was stiff. “Can’t you guess?”

“It’s more fun when you tell me.”

“The short answer is yes.” He washed the dishes and put them back in the cupboard, wiped his hands and reached for the dog leash.

Apparently, the short answer was the only option available.

He was running away from her again. Annika had never realized she was so terrifying and in other circumstance, she might have found it funny. As it was, she had just about nothing to lose and a lot of curiosity. “How does the plan work if you’re always intending to be on your own?” she asked.

“Does it matter?”

“No. I’m just curious. Most people have a plan that starts with finding a partner, then continues from there. Once mated, they’ll start doing different things. Buy a house. Get a dog. Have kids. Move to the suburbs. Whatever. But if you’re not looking for a partner, what kind of plan do you have?”

“What’s wrong with continuing to do what I do?”

“Nothing. Is that the plan?”

“More or less.”

“Don’t you want to work more at the club, or have more financial security?”

“More money is always better, but I’ve never been prepared to pay the price.”

“Like what?”

“Working nine to five. Punching a clock. Answering to someone else all the time. That kind of routine isn’t for me.”

“So you buy lottery tickets.”

He laughed. “Sometimes. Mostly I just have this idea that hard work and a little kindness will eventually pay off.”

“And alone for good.”

“I didn’t say that. I have Cerberus.”

“Not quite the same.”

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