Valinta — Chapter 4 [Martin]

“Ohh…” Martin let out a low whistle as Siri walked into the main hall. She was clad in a light blue, slim-fitting halter dress with a mid-thigh-length skirt. She wore turquoise espadrilles and her hair in long, unruly waves and curls. On her face, she donned nighttime makeup- some coral lipstick and dusky eyeshadow, along with dark mascara. “You sure clean up *beautifully*.” 

Sirina blushed, though she didn’t avert her eyes. She took Martin in- with his tan slacks, matching jacket, and loosely-buttoned blue linen, he was clad in quintessential resortwear. His dark, wavy hair curled in the humidity. Sirina noted the delicious sliver of chest that Martin’s half-buttoned shirt exposed, and she bit her lip. The skin on his chest was paler than his arms and face- a detail she had forgotten. 

“You look…” Sirina swallowed. “Uh, really nice.”

“I know,” Martin teased, smirking. “But still, not even half as good as my date.”

Sirina put a hand on her hip. “*Date*? So you think you can buy my time with a fancy villa? That I’m your sugar baby, is that it?” She teased, though her tone was serious. She hoped to trick Martin. 

“No! Not at all, I just…God, I-“

“Martin,” Sirina cracked up, her tone shifting to something far more gentle, “I was joking.”

He cradled his forehead with his palm, mouth open in a silent laugh, and shook his head. “You’re so evil! Seriously!”

“I have to get you back for all your teasing somehow.”

“Hmpf…and here I thought I was being a gentleman.”

“You’re *never* a gentleman, Martin.” Sirina walked closer to Martin, fiddling with the folds of his collar. “Nor do you want to be.” 

“Maybe I’ve grown up?” Martin raised an eyebrow, hardly able to keep his own knowing smile at bay. “…Nah. Not that much, anyway.”

“You’ll always be our loveable lech.”

“A lech? You wound me, Siri. I’m a pervert, but I respect boundaries!”

“Thaaat’s debatable.”

“Okay, maybe not with flirting, but that’s only among friends!” Martin fiddled with the hair at the nape of his neck. “Besides, you’re an enabler. You flirt back sometimes!”

“Oh, I flirt with you, now?”

Martin winked. “Are you denying it? You’re a bit of a flirt yourself, Siri. A total heartbreaker. How many hearts have you trampled with your lilting words and cool gaze?”

“Lilting words? Do you even hear yourself speak sometimes, chavo?” 

Martin snorted, still smiling. “You’re right. You have the raspy voice of a pack-a-day smoker…and you don’t even smoke. Still, I painted a pretty image, didn’t I?”

Siri opened her mouth to speak, but realized she was at a loss of words. She employed her go-to phrase around Martin. “…fuck off.” 

“Hmm.” Martin grinned, realizing he got a ride out of Siri. “You’re not admitting that you’re a flirt. So, is it just with me, then? Am I that special? Because I think you’re quite the tease around Julian. And who’s your English flavor of the month? Alexander? Alistair?”

“You’re one to talk about flavors of the month,” Siri murmured, hiding the flush on her face from Martin. He smirked. 

“‘Ginger’ has always been my flavor of choice, my dear.” 

“Monogamous has always been mine.” 

“I’m monogamous! Well, mostly, but we always discussed that first! I’ve never cheated on any of my partners!”

Sirina chuckled. It was always so easy to get a rise out of Martin. “How can you be ‘mostly’ monogamous?”

“Are you asking for a demonstration, or…?”

Sirina scoffed teasingly, crossing the room to grab her purse. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Yeah, but you’re still going to dinner with me.”

She crossed her arms. “Oh yeah? Then I’m buying.” 

Martin blanched. “Siri, I was kidding…don’t do that. I’m expensing everything, anyway.” 

Sirina shook her head. “Management is not gonna let you expense some fancy dinner, and besides, you upgraded our room. Let me do this.” 

Martin hummed, considering. “…how about this: if I can’t expense this, then you can pay. Otherwise, you can treat me to dinner back home.” He smirked. “I wouldn’t mind having another dinner with you, after all…”

“Fiiine. But stop acting like you’re buying my time, or I really will stuff money in your suitcase when you’re not looking.” 

“That’s fair, I’m sorry.” Martin was glancing down, cleaning his fingernails, but he smiled nonetheless. “Sirina Peltonen, nobody could hope to buy you. My best shot is win your heart with flattery and my boyish charm.” Sirina rolled her eyes. 

“Anyway,” she changed course, “are we taking a taxi? Walking?” 

“Yeah,” Martin smirked, “you’re gonna bridal-carry me there.”

“Oh, naturally.” 

He laughed. “I’ll call us a taxi. It’s a 20-minute drive from here.” 

…

“So…” Martin was seated across from Siri, his small, round eyes widened in anticipation behind his glasses. Not wanting to leave him waiting for too long, she took a tentative bite of her grilled salmon fillet. 

“Oh, my God,” she moaned, leaning back in her chair as she savored the crispy, succulent bite. Siri *loved* food, but even still…this was heavenly ambrosia. “Okay, yeah. This is the best fish I’ve had…ever.” 

Martin broke out into a wide grin before taking another bite of his sea bass. “I’m glad! I’d heard good things about this place, and finally getting to experience it is really special.” 

The two glanced out across the open-air deck. A hundred feet below, moon-lit black waves roared against a jagged coastline, silver foam spraying with every beat against the rocky cliffside. Muted candles and bright lanterns lit the circular deck, just enough for Siri to make out the angles of Martin’s face against sunken shadows. He looked rather thin, she realized. Siri reached across the table, gently taking Martin’s hand in hers. As she suspected, his wrist was bony, his fingers knobbed. 

“Your Crohn’s…” She murmured. Martin coughed before offering an embarrassed smile. 

“I’m fine,” he assured, his tone gentle. “I have my appetite again, so it’s all good.” 

Sirina’s eyebrows furrowed. “I hadn’t realized you lost it…I’m sorry, Martin.” 

He shrugged, though it was obvious that he was minimizing the situation for Siri’s sake. “You know how this stuff is. You have good weeks, you have bad weeks…it’s the way it goes. Anyway, my doctor gave me a new dosage of my medicine, and it’s working. If anything, I’m worried I’m gonna gain too much weight again.”

“Don’t ever worry about that.” Sirina shook her head. “Just focus on eating, if you can.” 

“Aww. You’re *worried* about me.” 

“I’m always worried about you, jackass…” Siri glanced away, before adding: “Mostly about you catching some disease, or getting someone pregnant.” 

Martin laughed heartily. “Ohh, Siri…have a little faith in me, at least. I make sure we get tested before sleeping with someone.” 

The friends continued to chat and banter, swapping bites of their fish and ordering a berry tart to split, along with some post-meal cappuccinos. After the check (and their stomachs) were settled, Martin and Siri decided to descend the concrete stairway toward the shore for a walk. As Siri was wearing heels, Martin walked in front of her, and she clung to the railway with one hand and his shoulder with the other. Finally, they made it down to the beach without incident. 

“I forgot how clumsy you are…You scared me a few times, there. You’re taller than me- if you go down, I’m a goner.” 

Sirina rolled her eyes. “Thaaank you, my gallant protector, for walking in front of me. Happy?” 

“Hmm…yes.” Martin grinned. “Well, this is rather *romantic*, isn’t it? A candlelit dinner and walk on the beach with a beautiful woman? How did I rack up such good karma?”

“I didn’t realize you *did* romance,” Sirina teased. “I thought you were more of a ‘wham, bam, thank you, ma’am,’ kinda guy.”

“Well, you’ve got the ‘thank you, ma’am’ part right.” Martin winked. “I have *impeccable* manners, after all, and always use the right title.” Sirina blushed at this- Martin was definitely getting at something, right? This wasn’t just her own bias making her read into things? “And *yes,* I do like romance. Romance and casual sex aren’t mutually exclusive, I hope you realize. And besides…I think I’ve started to settle down, a bit.” Martin’s lips quirked, and Sirina noticed the curve of his smile, the Cupid’s bow he unfairly possessed while she had a flat upper lip.

He really was a sight: his dark, glossy hair reflected white moonlight, and his amber eyes were darkened to something closer to the color of red wine. Sirina’s breath caught, and she hoped Martin didn’t notice. 

She finally could speak. “Oh, yeah? So you’re telling me those wild nights are behind you?” 

“Well, I’m not ashamed of those nights…but maybe. I haven’t had an interest in casual stuff in the past half year or so. Maybe I’m getting older, who knows? Maybe it *is* because I’m a romantic- people my age are starting to settle down, and the ones still looking for a bit of fun want to keep affection out of it, completely. That’s just not my style. I want to *like* the person I go to bed with, as a person, first.”

Sirina nodded, taking this in. “That must be hard, changing the way you’ve operated for so long…and it must really suck, to be intimate with someone and they don’t connect with you emotionally.” 

Martin looked out over the waves. “Yeah…it does. The last few hookups I had, I just didn’t enjoy myself at all. It was like I was going through the motions, but I felt…self-conscious. Like I didn’t matter at all, like I could have been anyone else. I don’t know, I haven’t felt that way before. And I found myself being so in my head that I didn’t feel much for the people I was with. Not that I would be bad to them or anything! I wanted them to have a great time, it’s just…” he shrugged, turning back towards Siri. “I don’t know. I guess it made me realize I want to find love, again.” 

They stared at each other briefly- it likely was only the span of a couple of heartbeats- before Siri looked down at the advancing waves. “I know you’ll find it,” she said, struggling to keep her voice even, even as her heart thrummed in her ears. 

“Thanks.” Martin sighed before smiling again. “For listening. For saying that. For being my friend and helping me break old habits. It means more than I can tell you, Siri.” 

Siri laughed. “Martin, I should be thanking *you*! I’ve been pretty blah these past few months. With Andy…I mean, I saw my whole life with him. I’ve had to recalibrate on a dime, and it’s been stressful. I’ve just been going through the motions- getting through the workday, trying to stay hopeful for a future that I honestly feel really unsure about. This vacation is just what I needed. I feel like…I don’t know, like I’m finally my own woman again, not just one half of an expired relationship.” She blinked, inhaling a shuddering breath. She would *not* cry. This trip to paradise was all about feeling happy again. She didn’t want to ruin it with blubbering, because once she started, she wouldn’t stop. 

Martin rested his hand on Siri’s arm, his expression solemn. “I can’t even imagine that, Siri…being with someone for 8 years, and then everything changes. I’m so sorry. I know you really loved Andy.” 

She sighed, her lip quivering. “Yeah…I did. But these things happen for a reason, right?” 

“Yeah,” Martin’s voice was barely louder than a whisper. “I think they do. Fate knows better than we do.” He wrapped his arms around Siri in a hug, and she leaned her head on his shoulder, melting into the comforting touch. Martin rubbed her back, soothing the tense muscles until they relaxed. 

“You’re gonna be okay, Siri,” he murmured against her ear. “You’re smart, funny, and so freaking caring. There are lots of men who will love you. Don’t worry about the future, or how you’ll find one. These things happen regardless of whether we stress out over them or not.” 

Siri bit her lip, a tear spilling. “Thanks, Martin…” 

“Come on, crybaby. Let it all out. You’ve had a crazy past several months. There’s no shame in crying.” 

Sirina laughed, wiping away the streaks on her cheeks. “You’re ridiculous.” 

“Yeah, but you’re laughing,” Martin grinned. “Someone as sweet as you deserves to be happy.” 

“I mean, I think I am. I’m just nervous.” 

“I know. You worry about everything. But right now, in paradise, there’s nothing to worry about. No immediate dangers, no deadlines, nothing to do except have fun. It’s been too long since you’ve really relaxed, Siri. I can feel it in your touch, you’re all stiff. And while I *usually* recommend a different remedy to cure that…I suppose, in our case, it just means that every free moment I have, we’re gonna live it up here. Okay?”

Sirina chuckled, squeezing Martin’s hand in gratitude. “You’re a really good friend, you know that?” 

“Only to those who are just as good to me. I’m a selfish bastard like that.” Martin grinned. “But you deserve it, I guess. And, uh…thanks for asking about my Crohn’s. To be honest, not a lot of my friends actually do, not that I really bring it up, either. It’s just…we understand each other with stuff like this, so…thank you.” 

Siri leaned her head on Martin’s shoulder, and the friends took in the sight of the surf crashing against a craggy point. “I’m always here for you, Martin. You know that.” 

“Yeah…” Martin wrapped his arm around Siri’s shoulder. It wasn’t a romantic touch in the slightest, but it was endlessly comforting. “I do. And same here.”

…

The rest of the night was spent with simple comforts: a split of Prosecco in two champagne flutes, and the dumbest parody films they could find on their streaming accounts. 

“My vote is for ‘Dude, Where’s My Chariot?’” Martin walked into the living room, wine-filled glasses in tow. Sirina scoffed.

“You’re such a Romaboo! Where’s the originality in that? I was hoping for ‘My Big, Fat Babylonian Wedding’ or ‘The Satrap and I.’”

“Well, ‘The Satrap and I’ sucked, so it’s gotta be the other one.” 

Sirina smiled to herself, pleased that her pick won out. “We can watch ‘Dude, Where’s My Chariot’ next, I suppose…” 

“Damn straight.” Martin handed her a glass. “It’ll have to be tomorrow night, though, because I’m getting up at 8 tomorrow.” 

“Aww…I’m sorry. This is work for you, too.”

“Yes, poor me. I get a free vacation in Paradise and catered lunch.” Martin winked. “Just promise to enjoy yourself in the sun while I’m stuck indoors.” 

“I suppose I can try.” Sirina bumped Martin’s shoulder with hers, smiling. “Hey, you wanna know something?” 

Martin started the movie. “Hmm?”

“You’re one of my best friends. We’re having a *sleepover*.” 

“Oh yeah?” Martin grinned, patting Sirina’s pajama-clad shin. “I like the sound of that- sleepover. I haven’t had a platonic sleepover in way too long. And, for what it’s worth…you’re one of my best friends, too.” 

Sirina snuggled up to Martin, who chuckled at the close contact. “Are you always this cuddly with friends?”

“We’re having a moment.” 

“Okay.” Martin looped his arm around Siri’s shoulder, countering her leaning body with his. “But, for the record, I’m gonna assume it’s because I’m hot.” 

“Aaaand,” Sirina sat up, laughing incredulously, “the moment’s over.”