The guy didn’t seem angry or annoyed, nor did he seem on edge or suspicious. Gotta love small towns. So much different from big city mentalities, now matter who ended up washed up on Sumner’s shores. “Well thanks, amigo,” Iann said with a chummy grin, suddenly all courtesy.
He watched the other man helicopter the grass blade, momentarily mesmerized. “Fair enough. I find it hard to fall asleep myself, but. The ocean air and the quiet helps, hey? Actually the fucking quiet in this town kind of drives me nuts,” he leaned in, as if confiding something very personal between them. But then Iann swiveled again, and watched about five people cresting the hill. They were all dressed in black, goth’d out, wearing sunglasses and looking mightily pissed off. “Ah…” Iann said, pulling his baseball cap lower and lifting his collar slightly. He looked at the guy for a moment like he was considering him, and then shrugged, grabbing his hand.
“Just play along,” Iann said through clenched teeth, and he scooted a little closer, as if the pair were sharing an intimate moment. Given how chill the guy was, Iann hoped he really would just play along as the group of five glared around the grassy knoll, searching.
“Tell me about it. I’m from London originally and then I lived in Chicago for a while so I’m very used to city noises. You grow accustomed to hearing police sirens wailing in the night. The silence is maddening.”
He watched as the man turned to look behind him and gently looked around with him, turning back quickly when he saw the group. They looked annoyed to say the least. When he grabbed his hand and moved closer, he smiled and nodded. He whispered to him. “Well I’m not going to argue with a good looking guy flirting, even if it is an act.”
He put his arm around the man and rested his head against his, listening carefully to the footsteps of the group not far behind them. One of them seemed to take a step nearer but moved away almost as quickly. He thought he heard them leaving. “I think they might be gone but I daren’t look round.”











