"I think it's hard."
"It is, but I'm still working on it."
We bought lemonades at a small stand and found a low wall to sit on. In front of us, tourists walked past, laughing and telling stories.
Rune watched a small child running toward the water while her mother chased.
"That used to be my mother," he said. "I ran toward the ocean constantly. She worked three jobs before I got into the training program."
"Is that where you learned how to keep moving even when you're exhausted?"
"Yeah. Probably."
He laughed again, lighter and unguarded.
"What?" he asked, catching me watching.
"Nothing."
"You're staring."
"I'm observing."
When we stood to leave, Rune's hand brushed mine.
***
Rune's hotel room was dimly lit with the curtains pulled shut. I followed him inside, closed the door, and locked it.
He stepped up to me. He worked the zipper of my jacket down. "You've been wearing this all day."
"It's fine."
"It's eighty degrees outside." He pushed the jacket off. "You must be exhausted."
I was. Endless days of vigilance and sleeping light.
"I'm okay."
"Liar."
He pulled me toward the bed. We sat on the edge. Rune took one of my hands and wove our fingers together.
"Do you want to?" he asked. What I wanted and what was safe were definitely not the same thing.
"Yes."
"Then stop scanning."
I kissed him. He kissed back, his tongue sliding against mine, tasting like lemonade and salt air. I reached out for his waist, slipping my hands under his shirt to feel warm skin.
He stripped the shirt off. I traced the line of his collarbone and the hollow at the base of his throat. I swept my fingers over his bare chest, feeling his ribs expand with each breath.
"Your turn," he said.
I pulled my shirt off. Rune flattened his palm against my chest and then spotted the scarring on my ribs.
"What happened here?"
