Page 18 of The Secret
“Brian’s got a list of other villages in the region desperate for construction and advice, so we’ll move on to the next project, hopefully another school. You should go and visit the last one we helped. It’s had a huge impact. So many girls came back to the school after we built water collection facilities and toilets where they felt safe.”
Henry nods and gets up to fetch some more food from the dishes on the side table, and I surreptitiously watch Dan’s jaw as he rips some kwanga bread apart with his teeth. He glances at me sideways and laughs.Busted.
He nudges me with his shoulder. “Do you like him?” he says quietly.
“Who?”
“Henry.”
That wasn’t what I was expecting him to say. “He’s a hard worker, and good company, too.”
“He seems pretty into you.”
My eyes flicker over his face, but his expression gives nothing away. I bet he’s an awesome poker player.
I shrug. Henry’s a puppy next to Dan. “He needs someone to look out for him. I remember being a clueless newbie and how brutal it was adapting to the physical work in this heat.”
Dan nods and shovels another forkful into his mouth, like he’s thinking about something. I don’t know what to make of it. Why did he ask about Henry? Regret settles over me like dust.
I take a mouthful of stew. “Why did you ask if I liked Henry?” I say. I’ve never asked a guy a straight question like this, but maybe if I understand what I’m doing wrong with guys, then …
He swallows and gestures toward me. “I think I misinterpreted your flirting.”
“Misinterpreted it?”
“I’ve never been comfortable with women who string men along for all the wrong reasons. You gave me the impression that …”
Panic curls in my stomach. “I wouldn’t do that. I mean … I’m not like that.”
He nods. “No, I can see that.”
God, do I really give off those vibes?
He studies my face for several beats and must see something there because he smiles and leans into me, nudging my arm. “I’ve got to go out to visit some more villages the day after tomorrow. Brian suggested you might be a useful addition to the trip. Charm the locals. Do you want to come with me?”
Go away with him? All my worry curls into something else as a depth charge explodes inside me. “Of course,” I say with a grin. “That sounds like fun.”
His eyes rove over my face. “I think anything with you would be fun, Liss.”
10
DAN
Friday, February 1, 2019
Two days later, I’m in the middle of the bush examining a rough narrow wooden bed with a thin lumpy mattress, two candles burning on a couple of crates. This has to be these lovely people’s best room, and my chest expands. It’s humbling how little they have and how much they share.
Liss runs a hand through her dark curls and dumps her small backpack on the bed. I examine her small frame. Henry has stars in his eyes every time he looks at her, whether she realizes it or not, and I can’t believe how territorial I’m feeling.
I put my backpack down too and pull out my self-inflating mattress. It’s dusty and crumpled, but I roll it out and start unscrewing the valve on the end of it.
“What’s that?” Liss says.
“A mattress.”
Her body slumps. “You’re kidding, right?”
And it makes me laugh. “I slept out rough a lot when I was younger.”Maybe I can give hertinysnippets of my life. “And believe you me, this is the best money I’ve ever spent on anything.”
