Page 21 of The Seducer
“Huh.” Finn angled his head. “Na-huh, I’m sure I would have noticed.”
I placed two bowls in front of the men and gave Hans a small smile. “Don’t mind Finn, he’s just messing with you for fun. I like your make-up.”
Pulling out my chair, I sat down between them and dug into my bowl of sautéed kale, red onions, and red peppers.
“And what is this?” Finn asked and held up a fork with crispy kale leaves on it.
“A healthy and tasty breakfast that is also nutritious.” I took another forkful.
Finn didn’t complain out loud, but his hesitation in eating was in sharp contrast to how I’d seen Finn wolf down his breakfast at home.
“What?” I asked when he just sat there staring at his food.
“Nothing, it just looks…ehm,” he trailed off
“It’s just looks what?” I asked.
“It looks absolutelydelicious.” His mock smile didn’t reach his eyes.
Hans was busy chewing, but after observing the scene between Finn and me, he leaned toward me and whispered. “I think Finn’s too polite to say that he doesn’t like it.”
“Yes, that’s it, I’m way toopolite.” Finn chuckled and pushed the bowl away.
With his index finger pointing in Finn’s direction, Hans tilted his head. “That was another example of your special Nman irony, wasn’t it?”
Finn answered with a genuine smile and it made Hans flash a grin as if he’d just passed a difficult quiz.
“I’m getting the hang of it,” Hans praised himself and turned to me. “Once you understand how irony works, it’s not that hard. Finn is simply saying the opposite of what he means.” Hans was waving his index finger in the air and grinning. “It’s funny when you understand it. Let me try it out.”
“This should be entertaining,” Finn said and leaned back with an expectant look at Hans, who was biting his lips in concentration.
“Okay, how about this one,” he said and smiled a little before he looked straight at Finn. “I think you’re a verysweetman,” he said with laughter in his eyes.
Finn frowned and opened his mouth to say something, but Hans held up a hand and with eagerness he exclaimed, “No, wait, I’ve got a better one, how about…” He gave a pause before he delivered his best piece of irony. “I think Athena is a terrible cook and this breakfast is disgusting.”
Finn nodded. “That’s right, you tell her, Hansi.”
Hans smiled. “I’m good at irony, right?” He looked at me and with his hands gesturing in the air he asked me, “Did you see how I was really paying you a compliment there? You know, because irony is the opposite, get it?”
“Uh-huh,” I said and took another forkful of my kale.
“Do you want me to try another one?” Hans asked but Finn gave him a light smack on the shoulder.
“No, it’s better to sprinkle sarcasm and irony a little at a time. You don’t want to give away your whole repertoire at once.”
Hans nodded. “Okay, then I’ll save a little for later.”
“Athena my dear, would you mind telling me what the plan for today is?” Finn asked.
“You’re going to follow my instructions, just like I had to follow yours when I was your hostage.”
“All right.” He crossed his arms. “And what are your instructions?”
“First, we’ll meditate.”
Rolling his eyes, Finn sighed. “Do we have to? Kya already tried to teach me how to meditate, but it’s boring as hell.”
“Maybe that’s because you’re not doing it right,” I suggested.
