I blinked. Whoa, was the silent beast starting a new topic of conversation himself? He still wasn’t using a whole lot of signs, and his face was mad cold and impassive. But hey, he was communicating. I’d take it.

“You know, it’s a job,” I answered and signed at the same time. “I like it. The kids are fun. And they let me teach them sign language twice a week—that’s why I’m not as rusty as I was a year ago. I’m also teaching the nursery kids baby sign language, and a few of them are actually using it. Especially when they’re hungry, oh, you should see it. It’s so crazy cute!”

He seemed to be listening intently to every word I said, just like when we were in high school. But then he asked, “What do your parents think of your new job?”

My heart stilled in my chest. And my signs were much less enthusiastic when I answered, “I um… haven’t told them I’m not in New York yet.”

His gaze continued to hold mine like a powerful magnet, refusing to let go. “What about the holidays?”

I shifted in my seat. An uncomfortable heat came over me as if there was a fire burning underneath my chair. “I…um told them I was going to my friend Lena’s house for the holidays.”

He cut his eyes to the side. “Your friend Lena who now lives in California. The one you never talk to anymore.”

A guilty pang went through me at the thought of how I’d ghosted Lena. But how did Victor know that I hadn’t been in communication with her? Was he tracking my phone?

Oh, who was I kidding? Of course, he was.

Not so lovely feelings about my situation rose inside of me. But I pushed them down, determined to make Operation Good As New a success.

“What did you think of dinner?” I asked, scrambling to change the subject. “Did you enjoy it?”

“Yes.” Just one sign. No “thank you” included.

But again, progress. This was way better than him sitting across from me in the back of a Bentley, threatening to destroy my family if I didn’t accept his ten-year prison sentence.

I guess that’s why I raised my hands and started signing as I spoke again. “Thank you. This was nice for me. It’s been a little lonely here.”

More than a little, really. I didn’t realize how starved I’d been for company until he showed up.

Victor’s eyes flicked away, then came back to me. “I’m glad you enjoyed yourself. I enjoyed dinner too. It was very informative.”

Wait, had he just told me he enjoyed our dinner together with more than a bare minimum of signs? My face split into a happy grin.