Page 31 of As a Last Resort
He nodded, turned, and went back to his mopping, a signal he was done with this conversation.But, seeing as how New York City had a billion people on every block, I wasn’t used to such limited human interaction on a daily basis.I was clearly going through verbal withdrawal, even though I had spent only one night back on the island so far.Also, there was this tiny muscle on his very tan arm that kept waving at me that was extremely distracting.So, I kept talking.
“Technically Robby’s the one who should be down here performing the due diligence on this project.I’m just stepping in while he’s recovering from a universe-induced sentence of appendicitis.”
He kept mopping.
“You know, when the universe steps in on your behalf and does something you wish you could do but don’t actually have the ability to do.Like blow up someone’s organ.”
Still mopping.
“He definitely deserves it, in case you were wondering.I would’ve chosen different timing, but you know, I don’t run the universe.And all that.”
I leaned back on my hands.My heel popped out at that exact moment, rocking me backward.
He eyed my shoes and went back to his business, throwing a coil of rope next to me on the dock.He checked a few knots here and there and threw the remaining bucket of water over the side.
“Didn’t need to mop it a third time?”I joked.Not funny.Ugh, clearly I forgot how to have a normal conversation with a human being.Pull it together, Samantha.I didn’t need to impress him by trying to be funny.I was not an awkward thirteen-year-old anymore.
But he hadn’t even cracked a smirk yet.I didn’t remember Lexi’s brother being such a stick-in-the-mud when we were little.Although, he really wasn’t around much.What was with this guy?Clearly not a morning person.
“You working today?”I asked.
“Why are you here?Shouldn’tyoube working?”he asked, turning around.
“I still can’t get service at the inn.Or in the coffee shop.Or at that park bench over there.Or on any street, at all, on the entire island.Except for this spot right here just now that happened to work for one point seven seconds.”
“Walk to the end of the fishing pier.”
“Already tried that.”
“The right side of the pier.It’s the closest point on the island to the mainland.”
“Is there a secret wireless gremlin stashed under the right side of the pier I’m unaware of?”No reaction.Absolutely nothing.“I feel like you smiled more when you were younger.”
“What?”He looked at me with what I interpreted as a genuinely disinterested expression.
“Smile.That thing where the sides of your mouth go up at the same time and is kind of like a moon shape but on its side.”
“If I think something’s funny then yes, I smile.”He was stone-faced.But there was a little spark in his eye.
I turned and started walking, hoping to salvage at least a shred of my dignity.“I didn’t realize the locals were such a rough crowd.”
“Aren’t you technically a local?”he asked.
“Thanks for the pier tip!”I called out over my shoulder.
People in small towns were supposed to be friendly by some cosmic rule of nature.Clearly, rules didn’t apply to him.I walked halfway back up the dock and of course, my heel got caught in the deck.Again.
“You should try wearing some different shoes,” he called out.
I turned around and glared.“Well, you should try wearing a shirt!”I shouted back.
The corner of his mouth pulled.
I narrowed my eyes, unstuck my heel, and turned back around.
I didn’t look back.
10
