Page 16 of Dirty Roxie

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” I smirk.

“I would, yes. You intrigue me, Ronan. You’re hot, rich, smart, and tough. There’s got to be something wrong with you.”

“There’s plenty wrong with me.”

“Like what?”

“This is hardly appropriate lunch conversation.”

“We’re pretending to be married, on a fake vacation tracking down the guy who tried to kill my friends and me, not to mention undermine your entire organization, and who is trafficking innocent women and selling them as sex slaves. So, tell me, whatisappropriate lunch conversation.”

“Point taken.”

She smiles and munches on the plantain, now cool enough to handle. “Tell me something wrong with you?”

“I have a fear of missing out.”

“Oh, FOMO, sure. Everyone does.”

“FOMO?”

“Fear. Of. Missing. Out.”

“Of course.”

“What are you afraid of missing out on?”

I take a bite of rice and beef before answering. The flavors melt in my mouth. I’ll have to remember to give my compliments to the chef. The food is exquisite. “Life, love, revenge, happiness, family, money—”

“You have plenty of money, and the rest of that stuff you could totally get.”

“Should I just use my crystal eight ball to conjure up a family and happiness?”

“Magic eight ball.”

I raise my brow.

“The one that tells your future is a magic eight ball.”

“Fine,magiceight ball.”

“You totally remind me of Daria when you do that. Mix up your words when you’re trying to prove a point or use slang.”

“Well, perhaps that’s because English is so convoluted with its word usage and choice that it’s almost impossible to master as an adult.”

“You didn’t learn English as a kid?”

“Did you learn Russian as a kid?”

“No.”

“Then why would I learn English?”

“I don’t know. It seems more of a thing to learn English than it does to learn Russian.”

“Never say that to a Russian again.”

“Is that offensive?”