Page 84 of Old Acquaintances

When he returns and sits opposite me, he remarks, “Who knew to order me this?”

“You’re not the only one who pays attention to people,” I reply.

He narrows his eyes, settling into his seat. His legs stretch, his pants scratching my shins. “Okay, know-it-all. Five bucks says I know what you’re going to order to eat.”

“Such a wimpy bet, but whatever. Deal.” I offer him my hand. “And same.”

“Whisper your answer to Jen.” And he tells Ritchie what I’m going to order.

I peruse the menu. I want to pick something out of character just to annoy him, but when the waitress comes, I tell her, “I’ll have the chicken sandwich with sweet potato fries.”

Ritchie whistles. “Down to the last detail.”

I hold a hand to Tucker’s smirk and continue, “Hewill have the fish of the day and a side salad with ranch.” He bites his lips. “Am I right or am I right?”

Tucker nods to the waitress. He crosses his arms and leans forward. “I guess that’s a tie.”

“I don’ttie.”

“You just did.”

“Then so did you. Does it feel like kissing your sister?”

He lowers his voice. “My mom told me to treat you like a sister, but whenever I kissed you it sure as hell felt like a win.”

And his eyes on me feel like an electric shock. I work hard to pry myself from the current.

“Think of a number one through ten,” I demand, forcing myself to neutrality.

Tucker sits back and laughs. “That’s not a measure of how much I know you. But, guessing how much you weigh -”

“Talk about my weight and I will drown you right here, right now.”

He smiles. “Fine. A number one through ten. Got it. My Ella senses are tingling. We’re on the same wavelength.”

“When it starts itching, you should see a doctor.” I steady my eyes on his. He’s deadly serious except for the twitch in his left cheek. “You’re thinking of…the number 4.”

He clicks his teeth. “So close, Beautiful. The answer was 3.5.”

“That’s not a whole number!”

“You never said whole numbers!” Off our plate of appetizers, he tosses a tater tot at me.

On my left, Jen straightens up. “What are Ella tingles?” The minute she says it, I watch the discomfit flood her face. She’s remembering my confession -graphic things- and thinks Ella tingles might be sexual, something she does not want to hear about.

Tucker flashes his brilliant smile. “Coming in hot with the questions, Jen, I’m liking you more and more.”

“He’s just being stupid,” I explain.

“I’m really, really not.”

“He has this disorder where he’s completely obsessed with me.” He kicks me under the table. I kick him back. I tell her, “He thinks he knows everything about me, but he doesn’t knowanything.”

“This girl right here -” he points at me, “- as wild as she is, will not ride a roller coaster.”

“They’reunsafe. Everybody knows that.”

“She won’t get on elevators if they’re made of glass.”

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