Page 33 of Accidental Husband

"I would never."

Griffin chuckles. His lips curl into a smile that lights up his eyes. His expression screamsof course, I know. I know everything about you.

Ahem. "Why are we here?"

Griffin nods to Wes, who is currently showing his girlfriend (fuck buddy? Student?) the samples. They look cute together. He's all inked and carefree, like a poster boy for California, whereas she's prim and proper and pale as the moon.

Like a proper picture of Chicago.

I think.

I mean, I don't really know anything about Chicago. Except for the whole midwestern emo scene. And I so can't mention that to Griff if I want to hear anything but mockery all vacation.

Griff moves toward the drink fridge in the back.

I wrap my fingers around his wrist. Pull him closer. So I can whisper. Not because I want him closer. "Did she really ask him to pop her cherry?"

He chuckles. "You think the answer is going to change the tenth time you ask?"

I nod.

He shakes his headyou're ridiculous. "You don't think he's up for the job?"

"Why is everything you say about sex?"

"You're the one asking about virginity," he says much too loudly.

The patrons on our right, an older couple sampling dried fruit, turn to us. They readjust their cowboy hats, shake their heads, move deeper into the store.

"Do you not understand whispering?" I ask.

"Why keep your interests a secret? If you ask Wes, I bet he'll offer details."

"Oh my God. You're disturbed. You really are."

"You don't think there's anything sexy about a virgin?"

My nose scrunches. It's not that I have an issue with virgins of any gender. If people want to wait to have sex, more power to them.

It's more the awkward memory of my first time. The fumbling, the messy kisses, the complete lack of lube—

Ick.

"All right. Nothing sexy about a guy who doesn't know what he's doing," Griffin says.

I nodtrueand move to the wall of dried fruit. There's a cornucopia. Pineapple, mango, plums, apricots, cantaloupe. I grab an orange papaya slice and toss it into my mouth.

Griff takes a mango and bites it in half. "Fuck, that's all sugar."

I nodyeah.

"You can eat this?"

"Why couldn't I?" I sample the cantaloupe this time. It's equally sugary. More sugar than fruit really.

"You won't drink a matcha latte if I forget to order it unsweetened."

"This is different."