Page 16 of Doll Face

She decided it was time for a strategic change of subject. “What do you call a well-balanced horse?”

He gave a knowing smirk, as if he knew exactly what she’d just done. “Idon’t know.”

“Stable.”

Matteo threw back his head and laughed. “I love your jokes.”

She smiled. “I think laughter is the best medicine.”

“Speaking of which,” he said as his laughter died down. “Tell me about your asthma.”

“You want me to talk about my health?”

“Why not?”

“Um, because it’s boring?”

“I seriously doubt anything about you is boring.”

She tilted her head. “Do you say that to all your dates?”

“I’ve only said that to one person, and she’s sitting across from me.”

Heat spread over her cheeks. “Good answer.”

He chuckled. “Don’t think you’re getting out of telling me all about you.”

“I thought you just wanted to know about my asthma.”

“I want to know everything. Your parents. Siblings. Favorite color. Hopes and dreams. Where you’d like to go on a honeymoon. You know, all the ordinary stuff.”

Her eyebrows shot up. “Oh, sure. Okay, well. I don’t know who my parents were, so who knows about siblings. I like red. I have no idea about a honeymoon because I’ve never thought about it. As for hopes and dreams, well, I think I’d like to travel one day. See the world.”

“Maybe visit Italy? I know where all the best restaurants are.” He winked and she chuckled. “What about a wedding? Surely, you’ve imagined that.”

“Not really,” she replied. “Not sure if marriage is the path for me.”

“Maybe when the time is right.”

She shrugged. “Maybe.”

“Well, since we’ve closed that conversation, how about your asthma?”

“You have a one-track mind, you know.”

“Oh, I know.”

“We have these things called eosinophils in our blood, but my body produces more than it should. Which leads to inflammation in my respiratory system. It produces this gross stuff called sputum.” She scrunched up her nose in disgust. “The inhalers I need are expensive, and I’m trying to save money for injections that would help my body eliminate the extra eosinophils.”

“I guess I’m going to have to learn all about your condition.”

“Why? It’s not contagious.”

“I didn’t think it was. I just want to make sure I don’t trigger an attack.”

“I have good days, sometimes even weeks, and then sometimes it’s nothing but coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and lots upon lots of sputum. Good times.”

“Is it life threatening?”

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