“That’s two things.” He holds up the same number of fingers. “What else?”
“Oh! When I was a kid, I lovedThe Dark Crystal. I watched it with my dad over and over.”
“What is that?”
I roll my eyes. “We’ve got to get you out more.” He smirks, not unkindly. “Well, that was my three. Now it’s your turn.”
He thinks about it by pursing his lips, which makes that dimple in his cheek snap. “You know that I fix old Land Rovers. I also like to run. I do it almost every day, which means I’ll need to track down some sneakers. Some might say that I’m running from my past, but I simply like to go far. It forces me to work my way back home even when I don’t want to.”
I laugh. “So you’re saying there’s no deeper meaning there.”
“Absolutely right.” We lock eyes and laugh. There’s a strange new feeling that’s taken up residence in my chest. It’s like butterflies are banging around in there, trying to get out. “I also call my sister every night, no matter where I am, to tuck her in.”
My heart implodes.
“And what else ...” He glances up at the ceiling in thought. “Oh, and my superpower is that I can see a person’s potential and help them grow into it.”
“That’s actually really nice.”
“See? I’m not the demon you think I am.”
He twirls me around, which makes me laugh. When he pulls me back in, I say, “So why all the questions? I mean, apparently I recite useless sayings.”
He lifts his chin, nodding in realization. “Yeah, about that ... I’m sorry.”
I cup a hand to my ear. “Wow. I’ve gotten twosorry’s out of you, and you’ve only been here for one day.”
It’s Pane’s turn to roll his eyes. “I may have overreacted.” He glances up, giving me a superb view of his amazing jawline. “I don’t like platitudes. People say them as if they have deep meaning, but they usually don’t. People also use them to ingratiate themselves.”
“An apple a day is supposed to ingratiate me to you?”
He shakes his head. “It’s hard to explain.”
“I’m all ears.”
He sighs. “My dad always made a big game of reciting sayings. He’d start one and have me finish it.”
“And that’s bad?”
There’s a thick, hairy pause before Pane finally answers. “He abandoned us.”
My stomach bottoms out. What? Who could do that, and why? Why would he abandon his kids?
My heart hurts for this man, who’s holding me so gently, like I’m something precious that could fall and break.
“I’m so sorry,” I tell him.
“There’s nothing for you to be sorry about, Sunbeam.” The song ends, and Pane glances away from me, smirks. “There’s another couple out here with us.”
Ron and Jennifer have taken to swaying. She glances over and grins at me. Surprisingly, I don’t want to leave Pane’s arms.
“Looks like you get one more dance.”
