"Politicians are hated by one group and loved by another, it's the nature of the beast," Ash said, "The hardest part will be pretending to like someone when I really don't." He wasn't the most honest person, but Ash was relatively upfront about what he liked and didn't like. And also who. He wasn't blunt about it unless he had to be. It showed in who he spoke to. Those he liked he sought out, those he didn't he refused to make the first move to speak to them unless he was given no other choice.
The moment they held eye contact lasted only a moment. Lyra was the first to break it and his eyes remained on hers. Watching the wind play with her hair. He wondered what it felt like to run his fingers through it. Or to see it splayed over a pillow, maybe even a towel, and her eyes filled with--
She was talking. He had to reply.
"My father will think whatever he wants, and if he knows anything about you, he'll know enough not to get the wrong impression," Ash said, "but a swim works. Come on, I'll even let you sit on my shoulders if you want." He winked at her playfully and was climbing to his feet again.