Page 38 of Best Wrong Thing

“Hurry. Tick tock, tick tock. Don’t think about it. Say the first three things that pop into your mind.”

“Balloons.”

I snigger.

“Elephants and mice.”

“Huh. Interesting combination. Do you want to go to India?”

He frowns. “Why India?”

“To see the elephants, silly.”

“Oh. No. Mum’s going soon, though.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. With her fabric painting group. They’re going to tour various craft centres, learn new skills, and do some sightseeing.”

“Sounds amazing.”

“I hope so. She needs to do something that stops her thinking about Dad.” Jacob stares at my chest.

“I’m sorry.”

“You had nothing to do with my parents breaking up.”

No, but Mum did.

“She’s bitter. But she needs to move on and enjoy her life. I hate seeing her so consumed by anger,” he says.

“It must be tough.”

“Yeah, it is. Other than being totally blindsided by Dad’s affair, it’s been the hardest part. I thought they were solid, but they weren’t. Sorry. You don’t want to hear any of this.”

I pinch his chin and coax him to look at me. “I do. If you need to talk, I’m here for you.” I let go.

“Thank you.” He brushes his lips over mine and kisses me firmly.

“What’s your most useless talent?”

He laughs. “What’s with the random questions tonight?”

I shrug. “I guess I’m feeling random. Come on. Everyone hasoneuseless talent. This is mine.” I touch the tip of my nose with my tongue.

Jacob’s jaw drops. “No wonder you’re so good at giving blow jobs.”

I snigger. “Okay, maybe having a long, flexible tongue isn’t useless.”

“I can quack like a duck.”

“Umm…everyone can.”

“No. Really.” He quacks. Not the Donald Duck style of quack, but a full-on makes-me-think-there’s-a-duck-under-the-bed quack.

“Woah. That’s amazing.”

“But not useful outside a school talent contest.”