The Sea Taketh (Alex Singer) by Teresa Rae Page A

             
    “You don’t have to worry. I’ll pay you for the gas and the meal,” I say defensively.
                  Sven snorts, and Christian shoots him a dirty look.
                  “Alexandra, are you in some sort of trouble?” he asks in his melodic accent.
                  “No, I just had a job.”
                  “Are you going to be returning?”
                  “It was a onetime thing,” I say.
                  “What exactly was this job?” Sven asks.
                  “Why are you guys always playing twenty-questions?” I answer, picking up my water. “I’ve told you before that my life is none of your business.”             
                  This elicits three frowns from the Danes.
                  Sven pulls out a cell phone. “I’ll let Jenifer know we’re running late.”                            
    As he talks to Jen, Christian leans close to me and whispers, “I apologize that our a bruptness seems rude, but where we come from we are very candid.”
                  “I’m candid!” I whisper back, “I tell people the truth, and I expect the same from them! I am just very private about my life!” I take a deep breath to calm myself. I realize I’m being a bit unreasonable to a guy that drove halfway across the state to pick me up. “I’m sorry for being rude, but I’ve had a bad day. I really am grateful that you came for me.”
                  He smiles a true smile, the kind that goes all the way to his eyes, instead of his normal polite one. He is about to say something when the waiter returns with our food. As soon as the waiter leaves, Henrik trades plates with Christian. When I give them a confused look, Henrik quickly says, “It’s a Danish custom.” As to prove the point, he trades plates with Sven.
                  I’m too hungry to ask questions. I clean my plate and wolf down the cheesecake. Christian smiles at my empty plates as Henrik signs for the meal.
                  “We better go,” Henrik says. He pulls a hundred dollar bill from his pocket and puts it on the table.
                  “You can’t leave that kind of tip.” I am mortified. “Don’t you know the euro, dollar exchange?”
                  Henrik and Sven laugh.
                  “Alexandra, we are very aware of the exchange rate,” Christian says. “Since we have the money, we like to reward good service.”
                  I shrug it off. If they want to waste their money, that’s up to them.
                  Soon we are racing along the highway. The large meal has made me drowsy, but the cool night air causes me to shiver. My teeth begin to chatter.
                  “Close the top, and turn on the heat,” Christian says to Sven as he takes off his jacket and wraps it around me.
                  “T-thanks,” I stutter. Normally I would have rejected the jacket, but I’m cold and tired.
                  “I think the time has finally come for you to tell me your opinion of water,” he says.
                  I shake my head as I close my eyes. “Tell Gramps about tonight if you have to, but that is a very personal question. I don’t know you well enough to share my opinion about anything with you.”             
    *     *     *
                  “Alexandra, we’re here,” Christian says.
                  I open my eyes. My head is resting on his chest. I quickly sit up. “I’m sorry,” I mumble embarrassedly. 
    “It’s quite all right,” he says as he tenderly moves the hair out of my face. “I’ll walk you in.”
                  “Thanks,” I mutter to Sven and Henrik. They sternly nod in response as