As if she were a missing puzzle piece he was jamming in quickly.
Since she felt the same, it was hard for her to hold it against him.
He said time wasn’t running out, but her ears heard the ticking of the clock that he’d only be here another two weeks.
It didn’t seem possible he’d been here half his stay already.
“I bought another one,” he said. “We can start that one.”
“Or you’ll do it alone.”
He shrugged. “Sorry. I’ve been researching the island while checking on my investments. There is only so much of that I want to do.”
“I’d think you’d get sucked into it.”
“I did early on and it turned into a job. It’s not what I want.”
“What do you want?” she asked. “In terms of a career or your time during the day?”
Things she should know.
She had to work. Had to have structure. Had to feel as if there was a purpose in her life.
“I don’t know. I hate I can’t figure it out. It doesn’t sit well with me.”
“Why?”
He stared at her and then moved to the couch and patted the seat. “Sit down. I’m going to bare my soul to you and hope you don’t laugh.”
“I’d never do that.”
“You wouldn’t because you’ll put your politically correct people pleaser work face on, but I’m more concerned with the reaction inside that you hide.”
“I don’t hide much from you. I told you that.”
“And I don’t want you to. You asked why this feeling doesn’t sit well with me. It’s because I worry that there is some gene I’ve got from my parents that makes me not be able to commit to anything.”
Not exactly what she wanted to hear and was struggling to keep her reaction hidden.
“You have committed before to work, right?”
“If you can count a few years. Both my jobs had an end goal.”
“But if the businesses hadn’t sold, do you think you’d still be there?”
“I could have stayed and continued to work,” he said. “I would have been given some lofty title on a gold plaque that I’d cringe at every time I walked past it.”
“Which means it wasn’t meant for you. Some people take longer to find that thing. Your parents both have careers they’ve stuck with. They can commit.”
“I don’t know why I haven’t thought of that.”
“What about women?” she asked. “Have you been in relationships?”
“Sure. Not anything more than a year. I had a few when I was more stable in my living situation. After that, just dating here and there. No one has made me want to stay where I was.”
She pursed her lips and nodded her head. “I see.”
“I’m being honest. I’m not ready to leave here. Don’t think that. I’m looking for a house to rent and it’s not easy. I hadn’t realized how hard it’d be on the island. I’m not fussy, but the only place I found right now is just for a month.”
