Easier to explain in person.
And I don’t want to put it in writing.
*He said, innocently.
Hello?
And then a few minutes ago:
I bought pastelitos.
The promise of guava pastries is enough to make me sit up. I rub a hand over my eyes before replying.
You have my attention.
If I were Felix, I’d be tempted to leave me hanging, but the dancing dots appear immediately.
I’ll be right over.
Crap.
Five minutes later, I answer the door wearing a clean tank top and yesterday’s shorts, plus a quick swipe of deodorant. There was no time to work the snarls out of my hair, so it’s up in a clip. Here’s hoping the two-second splash of tepid water cleaned any telltale gunk off my face.
It would help if I knew whether he was coming over to woo me or solve crimes, but such is the strange dance of our relationship.
“You have a crease,” Felix says, pointing at my cheek. “Like from your pillowcase. Unless you tried to make a paper airplane with your face.”
Okay, then. Not here to flirt.
“I was hoping you’d notice,” I grumble, taking the plate out of his hands.
“Somebody wakes up cheerful.” He follows me into the kitchen, watching as I take down two mugs. If he doesn’t want coffee, he doesn’t have to drink it.
We sit at the breakfast bar, the plate between us. I gesture at him with a pastelito before shoving it in my mouth. It’s all the encouragement he needs.
“I talked to my grandfather last night.”
“Mm mph,” I mumble through a mouthful of pastry, pointing at myself. “Me too,” I try again, after swallowing.
“What did your grandmother say?”
Since I’ve just taken another bite, I wave at him to go first.
“He was worried.”
I guess I’ve finally found the thing Felix isn’t good at: paraphrasing. “And?” I prompt.
“He was going to talk to your grandma.”
“Good luck with that,” I say, taking another swig of coffee.
Felix points at his chin, and I brush a disturbingly large crumb off mine. “What do you mean?”
“She doesn’t take Claude’s sister seriously, as a threat. Like she doesn’t want to give her that much credit, and I think it’s impairing her vision. Of the situation,” I add, when Felix flinches. “What? You think I should have pushed harder?” The thought has definitely crossed my mind.
He shakes his head. “It’s not that.”
I sit back with my arms crossed, waiting him out. It doesn’t take long.
