Maria stirred a mug of instant coffee, the hot water warming her hand through the ceramic. The office was quiet and nearly empty as she had arrived early to prep activities for the upcoming weeks. Since they'd lost half the week to New Year's, and it was Friday, most of her coworkers were still in holiday mode and would show up minutes before the admin considered them tardy.

Prae joined Maria in the staff kitchen. "How was your date?"

"A lot of fun. You were right about Tom. He's a great guy."

It had been far too long since she felt both free and cherished without the fear that she'd lose their affection. He'd turned each blaring motorbike into an excuse to kiss her, and she loved every cheesy second of it. Most importantly, Tom had listened when she stated she wanted to have male friends, or specifically Mitch. Maria suspected it wasn't easy for Tom to accept, but he had or had at least kept his objections to himself. She'd considered walking to work with him this morning, but didn't want to rush their relationship like she and Adrian had done.

Prae grinned and grabbed a coffee packet as well. "I'm so happy for both of you. It's fortunate we spent the holiday together."

"It wasn't lucky for you. How are you doing?"

"I'm great." Her smile seemed forced as she added hot water to her mug.

"Are you sure?" Maria looked around the quiet staff room. "It's only us here."

"When you walk a certain path, you give up others. My family may not agree, but I want to grow my career here."

"They're not mutually exclusive. Last time we talked you wanted to date and have a career."

Prae sighed and tossed out her empty coffee packet. "Don't worry about me, Maria. Focus on you and Tom."

"Are you sure there's no one at the school, not one awesome single teacher who'd be perfect for you that you've overlooked?" Maria sipped her hot coffee.

Prae kept her voice low. "There aren't many options. Most teachers here are women, and the men are married or have no interest in it."

"There has to be someone. Aren't there staff photos on the wall outside?"

"You're being silly, Maria. This isn't important."

"Humour me. Worst case scenario, it might make us laugh. It's Friday after all."

"What if someone asks what we're doing?"

"I'll lie and accept the blame. Foreigner teachers are always doing something you think is weird."

Prae looked across the kitchen's half wall to the empty staff desks. "Ok, only for fun."

They left the oasis of the air-conditioned office to find the teacher's pictures on the hallway wall. Maria recognized some of the kindergarten teachers she'd worked with during October camp and her primary four co-workers. Of the teaching staff, there were seven Thai men: the supposed player, four married ones, another in his fifties, which left one guy Prae didn't know well or if he still worked at the school.

"We should find out if he still teaches here and if he's single. He's kind of cute."

A laugh echoed behind Maria, and she froze. How had she missed someone approaching?

"Did your date go that poorly, or are you reconsidering monogamy?"

Maria's stomach flipped. She had done everything in her power to push that man out of her head yesterday after he called her beautiful and wrapped her in a hug she never wished to leave. By the time she and Tom had left the restaurant, she'd succeeded, but Mitch could pull her back effortlessly.

She crossed her arms and turned to him. "We got food poisoning after eating at the place you recommended. Tom ended up in the hospital and vowed never to speak to us again."

Mitch's jaw dropped, and his eyebrows shot up past his bangs. "Oh my God, are you serious?"

She wanted to screw with him more, but he looked upset, so she said, "No, I'm messing with you. It was fun. The food was delicious, although I liked it more than Tom did."

"Why one did you pick?"

"Hot pot."

Mitch smiled. "It's a few blocks west of the apartments, right?"

Maria nodded.

"Does Phaibun still run it?" he asked.

"I didn't catch his name."

"He does," Prae answered quietly.

Mitch grinned wider. "That was the first place I tried Thai food here and where I met your cousin. It used to be in front of the convenience store, right?" He looked to Prae who nodded. "Shawn and I had just stepped out of the cab, and he was trying to talk me out of heading to the club in the late afternoon like the dope that I was. Then, Sun and Dan invited us to eat with them."

Maria's heart kept playing tug-a-war. She'd enjoyed her date with Tom and couldn't wait to go out with him again, but with Mitch's memories, she couldn't help but feel cheated they weren't the two to share the date together. They could have shared stories about Sunshine, raved about the soup's flavours, and a sensation of home would have washed over her.

But with Tom, she could have an actual relationship, not just flirt to be rejected later. Familiar didn't always mean better.

"That's a fun, a restaurant of firsts."

"Firsts?" Mitch asked.

"First meals, first meetings, first dates."

"Dates? You going to take your single Thai teacher there too?"

"What?"

Prae nodded toward the photo board.

"Oh, we were joking around since hardly anyone is here," Maria said.

"So, is Tom getting a second date?"

She blinked a few times. He couldn't be jealous. That was illogical. "Yeah, why the intense interest in my dating life?"

Mitch readjusted the cuffs of his dress shirt. "Your last relationship was a train wreck. I'm looking out for you. It's what friends do."

She searched his face for sincerity, and it seemed there, but wrinkles in his brow hinted at something she couldn't pin down. "I appreciate the concern, but I'm okay. Tom treats me well and we have fun together. I'm happy."

Mitch stared at the ground. "I'm excited for you."

"You sure sound like it," she teased with a smile.

He covered a yawn with his large hand. "I slept like I was on a night bus. Gotta save the little energy I have for my favourite little monsters."

"At least it's Friday," Prae said.

"Cheers to that. Speaking of drinks, I'm running down to the coffee shop. You two want anything?"

"No thank you," Prae said.

Maria held up her mug. "We're all set."

"Instant coffee doesn't count. It's my treat." When neither of them answered, he added, "I'll be coming back with three drinks, so if you don't want it to be my best guess, let me know."

"Surprise me. I trust you," Maria said.

After Prae gave him her order, he handed Maria his laptop bag and departed. The women returned to the staff room. "He's a strange man," Prae said.

Maria laughed. "Yeah, we've been neighbours since October, and I can't figure him out."

She didn't know why he'd arrived so early today either. He had dark circles under his eyes, so his lack of sleep story checked out. Or maybe he was still recovering from the partying he claimed he hadn't done on the beach. She set his bag on his desk and tried to ignore the thoughts of his arms wrapped around other women, his lips on theirs. She set down her coffee and plopped into her chair. Her date with Tom had gone so well. Why was she fixated on a man who didn't want her?

"Some people remain a mystery," Prae said.

Maria pinched her lips with her teeth. There was something dark that lurked in Mitch's mystery. It drew her in while warning her to keep her distance. Adrian's darkness had nearly consumed her. It was counterintuitive to search for the same thing.

***

"Where are we going?" Maria asked Tom as their bus crossed the bridge into downtown. Despite the air-conditioning, the bus grew hotter as the late morning sun rose in the sky.

He grinned as the bus windows rattled. "Somewhere I think you'll love."

He'd mentioned a nature adventure on their last date, but they seemed to be heading into denser urban development. Soon they passed a roundabout with a monument in the center, surrounded by four cream-coloured wing-like structures. Tom pulled the cord, and they disembarked a minute later.

"Sightseeing?" Maria asked. More foreigners walked on the sidewalks compared to their neighbourhood, and a few orange-roofed temples stood nearby.

"We can afterward if you like. I had something else planned first. Are you hungry?"

She laughed. "Is that a question you still need to ask me?"

He grinned and encased her hand in his. His walk and posture were more relaxed than on their first date. "I wanted a do-over for Thursday. I was acting like an insensitive, jealous idiot, and I'm sorry about that."

"First dates are awkward, especially when we both have baggage." She hoped they could avoid bringing up Mitch again and appreciate their time together.

"I've checked mine so I can enjoy wonderful seafood with you."

She squeezed Tom's hands. "You found a seafood place?" When he nodded, she beamed. "Have I told you that you're amazing?"

"It never hurts to hear again." Tom leaned down to peck her on the lips, leaving her wanting more.

When they arrived at the restaurant, its simplicity made her rock back and forth on her toes. It was a long narrow shop front with two rows of turquoise topped tables along the tiled walls. The patrons sat on wooden stools and devoured bowls of soup or stir-fries with rice. The chilli oil, herb, and fish aromas wafting in her direction made her mouth water.

"Tom, this smells incredible!" She clutched his arm and leaned her head into her chest. Her ex wouldn't have stepped near a place like this, but with Tom, she was free to be herself and eat anything she desired. Her heart swelled.

He kissed her hair. "I've heard it tastes even better."

After the group in front of them was seated, a young woman led them toward the last empty table. Maria couldn't tear her gaze from the dishes flying out of the kitchen. Along the back wall, shelves held Buddha statues and portraits. The menu was bilingual in Thai and English, with photos to make her crave every dish. The prices were modest, which she needed after Christmas and New Year's expenses.

Tom focused his hazel eyes on her. "See anything that you want?"

The prawns in the passing bowls of soup looked so tender, and the table across from them had a stew and stir-fry hybrid with what resembled beef. "Just about everything."

"Might as well order four and find our favourite."

"Four?"

"We're here, so let's make it worth the trip."

"I like the way you think."

With the help of the young woman serving them, they picked the spicy shrimp soup, Tom Yum Goong, an order of clams, another dish featuring razor clams fried with finger root, and a Thai-European beef tongue stew. When the server addressed Maria in Thai, Maria replied in shaky Thai that she was a Filipina Canadian English teacher and only spoke a little of the language.

"You're getting more confident with your Thai," Tom said.

"Not good enough to converse with anyone."

"Give it time. You've lived here for just over two months. I've been here eight and only know the basics. We could always hang out with Prae's family again."

The memory of the mountain breeze kissed her skin. "That was an amazing trip, but I'd feel like a freeloader."

"We could visit somewhere else. When I travel alone or in a smaller group, it's easier to interact with more with local people and practise my Thai."

Was it weird to be excited by his travel suggestion? It was their second date, but they'd also been friends for a few months, and they'd travelled together twice already. It wouldn't hurt to flirt with the idea. "Like where?"

"There's camping at Khao Yai to check out the wild elephants or hiking up the seven-tiered falls at Kanchanaburi." He made it sound so easy, and after last weekend in Northern Thailand, she longed to explore more of the country.

"Do you have a tent?"

"You can rent them."

Maria held in her laugh. "You know that off the top of your head?"

"It's a trip I've wanted to take for a while. I thought about going over New Year's until Prae invited us up North."

She reached out to hold his hand. "I'm glad you changed your mind."

"Me too." Tom squeezed her hand and the corners of his eyes crinkled with his smile. "This week has been amazing. I got used to being alone or being the quirky guy people tolerate, but it's so affirming you want to spend time with me and flirt with me and kiss me."

Maria interpreted his final words as a hint and met him for a tender kiss.

As Tom pulled away, he ran his palm over her cheek. "You're like a dream I know I'll wake up from any second."

"I'm not going anywhere, but I understand. After my ex, I believed I was unlovable."

"It astounds me you could think that. When you spoke to me in 7-11, you took my breath away. You were incredible and so different from the other ex-pat teachers, but I didn't want to tell you and look like a creep. The more I know you, the more I realize how perfect you are."

His over exaggerations echoed a man she never wanted to deal with again. She tried to banish the thought as Tom and Adrian were different people, but the prickly sensation on her skin remained.

"But there are things I've done that bothered you." If he knew how her heart still fluttered the second Mitch gave her false hope, Tom would be devastated, and likely have plenty to say to slander her character. She wanted those feelings to stop, but couldn't control that. Tom was already uncomfortable with the friendship like he was about her partying.

"I was less comfortable with them because of my crappy experiences, but I'm working on that. It implies nothing negative about you. "

He said that now, but people changed their minds on a dime. Mitch's attention was inconsistent enough to give her whiplash, and Adrian had told her she was the love of his life in one breath, then convinced her best friend she was so distant and uncaring that the woman had an affair with him while believing she was his saviour.

"I am deeply sorry for anything that made you feel awful. How can I fix it?" Tom's gaze was fixed on her face.

Her stomach muscles clenched. "I... How do you know you won't change your mind? That those things won't grate at you and make you resent me?"

"I can't promise they won't bother me, but I trust you. If it gets bad, we can discuss it before we jump to resenting each other. It's not a perfect answer, but..."

"It's honest," Maria whispered. And his response was realistic, unlike Adrian's over-the-top proclamations of love after their fights, making her feel insecure for doubting him. The unease in her stomach settled.

"I'd hate for this to end before it's even started, but I understand if it's too much or too hard."

Maria's nose tingled. Why was this so difficult? Tom was a good guy, everyone saw that, and he'd planned this sweet date she should have been enjoying. It checked all her boxes: authentic affordable food, a unique atmosphere, and a gentle, caring man who gave her space and honesty, luxuries her ex had never offered.

Tom picked at his thumb nail with his eyebrows knit together. "I'm sorry. I want to be more laid back and I've been trying."

His downcast hazel eyes and slumped shoulders made her heart ache. Minutes ago, the idea of travelling together had thrilled her and because of one compliment she couldn't accept, the whole date was unravelling.

"It's not you. I'm stuck in my head, reliving how others have treated me."

"That sucks."

After the simple understatement, Maria laughed, freeing tension from her chest. "Yeah, it does."

"Let me know if I can help."

"You are helping." At the back of the restaurant, their server carried a bowl of steaming soup and a plate of clams. "Our food might be coming. Hopefully, it's better than my company."

"You are great company, and I'm happy that you're comfortable enough to share this with me. It gives me hope." He reached out to stroke her hand. His touch soothed some of the goosebumps on her arms.

Seconds later, the server arrived with their dishes and set them on the table, along with a bowl of rice. The savoury seafood scent challenged Maria to dive in, but she controlled herself and captured a few pictures for her cooking page.

"Do you want me to shoot a video for you?" Tom asked.

"No, I won't drag our date down even more with that."

"Your cooking channel is important to you, and I don't mind. Plus, you're extra beautiful, if that's even possible, when you're raving about food."

Her face grew warm. "Are you sure?"

Tom put his hand out to accept the phone. "I'm always happy to be your cameraman."

Maria inhaled to attempt to settle her earlier nerves then pulled the two dishes closer, so they'd be in the shot. After he helped clear away a few empty glasses, he gave her a thumbs-up.

"Hi everyone, today, Tom has found us a great Thai-Chinese restaurant in downtown Bangkok." He smiled behind the camera, which calmed her a little more. "It's taking all my willpower not to devour all this seafood before this introduction. We're ordered this magnificent Tom Yum soup. You can smell that lemongrass, kaffir lime, chilli and shrimp in perfect balance."

Maria scooped a hefty shrimp out of the soup. When she bit into it, the soft meat was so buttery and soft it melted in her mouth. She sighed as the delicious meat slid down her throat. "That was so tender, not slightest bit rubbery. You've got to try this, Tom. Best shrimp I've had in Thailand to date."

"You sure you want to share?"

Maria laughed and took a spoonful of the orange broth, filled with shrimp oil goodness, and mushrooms. "You better hurry before I change my mind."

He stopped recording, and they shared the soup, so enthralled that very few sounds slipped out that weren't appreciative moans. Focusing on the delicious flavours made her apprehension seem ridiculous. Tom had researched an amazing restaurant he knew she'd love, and he supported her regardless of her challenging his feelings.

Once they slowed down for a break from the food, Maria said, "You are definitely planning our next date."

Tom's cheeks dimpled with his grin. "Absolutely. Who would have guessed food was the way to your heart."

"It's a groundbreaking discovery," she whispered as she leaned in for a kiss. His lips trembled with a laugh as they pressed against hers.

As he pulled away and stared at her with a broad smile, she realized how lucky she was that his feelings were so consistent. She wished hers were similar, but the more time they spent together, the easier it was to see herself happy with him.