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“No. Stuff you told mewithin the last half hour doesn’t count. You’re still at one.” Itook another deep inhale. I didn’t know where he got his stufffrom, but it was better and probably far more expensive thananything I could get.
“Dogs.” He said itwistfully. “I love dogs. I wish I could get one, but it wouldn’t befair.”
“Because you work all thetime?” I looked around us at the deserted beach, the expanse ofwater beyond it, the utter lack of desk anywhere.
He got the point. “I dowork a lot, but I also travel. That’s going to be a part of my jobforever, since travel is my business. I can either get an animaland haul it all over with me—which isn’t fair to other people whohave to be around my dog and might not want to be—or leave it athome while I’m off running around.”
“I think you should get adog,” I said, fully ignoring all his reasons not to.
“Really?”
I nodded. “I like dogs. Ican’t afford one and anyway, my dad isn’t going to let an animalshit in his pristine lawn.”
“That’s the other part,”Matt said with a grimace. “The poop.”
“So, you buy someridiculously genetically engineered breed that doesn’t poop.” Ileaned against him and handed him the joint.
He took another hit. “Weed.That’s three. I fricking love weed.”
“Duh.”
“And a good concert,” hewent on. “That’s four. I love going to a good concert. It doesn’teven necessarily have to be a band I’m into. I’ve seen artists Ilove live and they’ve sucked, and artists I never listen to whowere incredible. Like The Black Crowes.”
I didn’t know who that was,but I nodded.
“I saw them in…2010, maybe?I only knew one of their songs from the radio, but holy shit, theyput on a good show.” He shook his head as if lost in the joy ofthat memory.
I didn’t point out that Ihad been in middle school at the time.
“Okay, that’s four,” Isaid, holding up four fingers. “One more, and you’re off the hook.Although, I have to say, I’m disappointed that you’re way lesshorrible than I am.”
“You’re not horrible.You’re hilarious,” he corrected me. “And that’s my numberfive.”
“People being horrible in afunny way is your number five? Or only when I do it?” Ijoked.
He fell very serious. Too serious. Andhe reached up to cup my cheek.
My heart stuttered in my chest. Histhumb brushed across my bottom lip.
Then, he turned away. “I’lllet you interpret it whichever way makesyouhappy.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
(Charlotte)
Matt’s birthday partybrought a flood of yachts across the horizon. I stood on thebedroom balcony and watched a steady stream of speedboats bringingmore and more guests to the island.
“It’s going to be crowded,”I mused. “What time does this thing start?”
“Five,” he said, bracinghis hands on the railing on either side of me and leaning in towhisper in my ear, “And it goes until question marks.”
I turned in his arms andgave his shoulder a playful slap. “You did not put question markson your invitation.”
“You caught me. I’m tooclassy for question marks.” He kissed my forehead, and I had thestrangest urge to stand on my tiptoes and kiss him right back, onhis gorgeous lips. But I restrained myself.
That was a girlfriend kindof thing to do. And I wasn’t that.
I turned back to my view ofthe pier. “If we don’t get ready, we’ll be late to your party.There are probably already naked people feeling each other up inyour birthday cake.”