Rohan sat down beside me, unimpressed.
The train started up smoothly enough. Narration about the plaza blasted out through the scratchy speakers. Rohan glowered at me, his hands clapped over his ears.
I laughed. Which escalated to manic hilarity at his death stares as the train clattered through the streets, winding back down the hill. There was no suspension on this beast and combined with the cobblestones, the two of us were flung around like rag dolls, our bones jarring. My teeth rattled hard enough to break. Tears streamed down my face and I was barely able to catch my breath for laughter.
A French family a few rows behind us made loud, disparaging comments about Americans. As a Canadian, I'd seen enough American backpackers sporting Canadian flags that I was happy to reinforce any bad perception of Americans abroad. Payback.
The train jolted over a bump in the road and Rohan gasped. "My balls," he groaned, right as the woman seated ahead recognized him, and squealing, snapped a photo of him.
I lost it, clutching a pole for support.
Rohan glared at me. "I hate you."
By the time the train pulled up in the square, even I had had enough of that ride. Not that I'd admit it. "I'm so happy."
Rohan unfolded himself like an old man. "You don't deserve dinner after that."
Our fellow passenger shyly asked Rohan if she could take her photo with him. I approved of his behavior in complying.
Soon as she was gone, I grabbed his arm, pressing myself against his side. Not ready to let this interlude end. "You're totally going to take me out, aren't you? Do you need to check in with Drio?"
"Nah. He's off sourcing what we need."
My phone buzzed in my pocket with a text. "It's from the Assistant Director giving me directions and call time for Samson's scene tomorrow." Even though Samson was the reason for our trip, I resented his intrusion on my time with Rohan today. "This is good. I can lure him to the ritual location."
Since we were tired and Rohan insisted he was broken, we took a taxi back to the hotel. We agreed to meet in the lobby in an hour for dinner. The second I got to my room, I called Leo, putting her on speakerphone as I changed. "I'm so getting laid tonight," I trilled.
"Been plying your wiles on him?"
I tossed my skirt on the bed. "Not even. But we were sightseeing so –"
"Since when do fuck buddies merit tourist time?"
"Since the assignment is in a momentary lull before the storm. We had a day off and –"
"You played boyfriend and girlfriend?" She sighed.
"Can't we be friends? Friends with benefits. That's a thing." I rooted through my clothing for the right outfit.
"Ten seconds ago he was a fuck buddy."
"Stop twisting everything."
"You haven't let yourself get close to anyone since the great Cole disaster," she said. "Believe me, I get that Rohan is hot, and he fucks like a god, but guys like that don't stick around. Remember how wrecked you were after Cole? What do you think Rohan leaving would do to you?"
I slipped into a cute purple dress made up of overlapping tiers of fabric that had a bit of a flapper vibe going for it. Best of all, no zipper. Pull on, pull off. "We work together. Fight together. It's more than the sex."
Leo made a strangled noise.
"Hence the friend status."
"Nava, you're going to hate me for saying this, but have you considered that maybe you're falling for him and he doesn't feel the same?"
I grabbed the phone, taking it off speaker. "Why not? What's so wrong with me that he wouldn't want me back? Not that I want him for a boyfriend but thanks so much for making me sound like some cast-off you'd find in the ninety-nine cent bin."
There was silence for a moment. I sat down on the bed, wondering why I'd bothered to resume our friendship.
"Sweetie, I think you're the bee's knees," Leo said. I snorted at her corny language.
"I mean it. Far as I'm concerned, you're tops. But from everything you've told me, this guy is the master of mixed signals. Throw in his first love who has suddenly re-appeared in his life?" I'd forgotten about Lily. "I fear for when this issue-ridden boy blasts your world apart like an asteroid hit."
I raked my hands through my hair. "It's not like that. We're reset back to easy and uncomplicated."
Her pause stretched two seconds too long. "I shouldn't have said anything. Lull before the storm. You're right. Enjoy it."
Our good-byes were a tad strained.
20