Page 19 of Exiled

“What did the first mate see when he looked in the toilet?”

“Logan—”

“The captain’s log.”

“That’s disgusting.”

“Why couldn’t the pirate play cards?”

I stare at him. “Logan.”

“Guess.”

“I don’t know.”

A beat of silence. For emphasis, probably. “Because he was sitting on the deck.”

“That’s not even funny.”

“Funnier than the joke you told.”

“But I didn’t tell one.”

“Exactly!” He stabs a finger at me. “Now try thearrrgghhhagain. This time with feeling!”

I hesitate. It’s stupid. So, so stupid. But it’s for Logan. “Arrrgghh.”

“That was pathetic. You aren’t even trying.” He clears his throat.“AAARRRGGGHHH!”

“I’m not doing that.” But I’m fighting grin.

“Sissy.” He sticks his tongue out at me. “Stick-in-the-mud.”

“Name calling, Logan? Really?”

“You won’t evenarrgghhlike a pirate. What are you afraid of?”

“AAARRRGGGHHH!”I do it loud and deep.

And Logan’s face lights up. “There you go! That wasn’t so hard, was it?”

“Was it funny?”

He nods. “Hysterical.” Pulls me close. Kisses me. “Knock knock.”

“Um.”

“Jesus, Isabel, it’s a knock-knock joke. You say, ‘Who’s there?’”

“Who’s there?”

“Boo.” He leans in and whispers in my ear. “Now you say, ‘Boo who?’”

“Boo who?”

“Hey, whatcha cryin’ for?” Another kiss, this one to my throat.

I laugh, because I can’t help it. “How can you make jokes at a time like this?”