"Johnny," Barker said as he stood and we shook hands. "Has Tina been torturing you again?"
"Moi?" said Tina. "Can I get you boys anything?"
"No, thank you sweetie, Juana is making us a snack and I can grab whatever we want to drink. You go back to the pool." He hugged her and kissed her forehead, and she slunk out and closed the door.
Tina was Barker's sister and soulmate. She was attracted to me, and I to her. My niece Dawn was my soulmate, and she and Barker were doing the same dance. Barker and I had agreed that we each would never, ever. We sat down.
"Is she wearing you down, Johnny?"
"There's no safe answer to that except a lie, Thomas." I leaned back on the sofa and rubbed my face.
"What's wrong, Johnny? All you told me was that you wanted to talk."
I spent the next few minute
