“Yes?” I realize after I say “yes” that I just answered to that silly nickname.
“Do I smell? Every time I get close, you hold your breath.”
I purse my lips, and he shakes his head. “Damn.”
“No.” I sigh, feeling my cheeks warm. “It isn’t that. It’s that I can’t find toothpaste. Usually I have some in my pack, but I could only locate the toothbrush…”
He reaches into his pocket—I note the mud stains on his khakis, which badly need a wash now—and then holds his hand out.
“Check it.”
I frown at the square packet in his hand.
“Gum.”
I take it, squinting at the unfamiliar label. “Eclipse.”
“That work?”
“I’m not sure.” I turn the package over and his hand comes over mine.
“Here…” He pulls out a sleeve from inside.
“I knew that,” I say softly, even though I didn’t. “I’ve seen one of these before. A tourist left the garbage.”
He pops a wee, white square out of the sleeve and holds it out. “A token from a tourist.”
I accept the thing, a bit bigger than a communion wafer, and set it in my mouth. He watches with his brows up as I bite—and nearly cry out. The flavor is so intense, it’s almost violent.
I open my mouth to let some of the minty air out, and I find him smiling with a curious tilt. “Tell me you’ve had gum before, Siren.”
“Of course. It’s just…we get the Doublemint.”
“That’s what my old man swears by.”
“This, though.” I laugh. “This is…it’s like mouthwash!”
He laughs, shaking his head. “I think it’s time for some questions.” He reaches for the hammer. “It’ll make the work go faster.”
“Questions? Of what sort?”
He looks over his shoulder at me. “Let’s start with the gum. Are you telling me you’ve never had any gum except for Doublemint, or just that it’s been mostly Doublemint?”
I scrunch my nose at him before scooping up my own stone. “How many sorts of gum have you had, Mr. Fortunate Sports Star?”
That gets another low laugh. “Sports star.”
“When the shoe fits…”
His hammer slams into the rock. “I’m not sure that shoe fits.”
I look down at his boots-clad feet. “I’m quite sure it’s just your size.”
“There are a bunch of different kinds of gum. In every country,” he says as he assaults the wall.
“I assume you’ve been to all of them?” I tease.
“Not by a long shot.”