Page 19 of Sack

He chuckled. “I said I played, not that I play well. Do you play an instrument?”

“Me? No. Well, not unless you count the recorder. On that, I can bust out a mean rendition of the Star Wars theme song.”

“I think that counts,” he said and smiled.

“I can also pound outMary Had a Little Lambon the keyboard. But that one probably doesn’t count.” She shoved her hands in the back pockets of her jeans and inched her way to the fireplace mantel. “Your parents?”

Colt nodded. “And the picture next to them is my sister.” For some reason, he wanted to make that clear.

“She looks like your mom.” Ivy turned her head, a smile tipping her lips.

He took a step toward her and then another. It was like some magical force was drawing him closer.

“Who’s that?”

He looked to where she pointed. “Cujo. He was the sweetest damn dog you’d ever meet.”

She raised her brows. “And you named him Cujo?”

“Dad wanted a watchdog. He hoped the name would rub off.”

“Do you have any pets?” She glanced around as if expecting one to pop out.

He shook his head. “I’m on the road too much. Though I do miss hanging with Cujo. We had to put him down my senior year of high school.”

“I’m sorry. I never had a pet growing up. I wonder what’s worse, having one and losing it or never having one at all?”

“It’s better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.”

“Quoting Tennyson. I’m impressed.”

“Don’t be. I didn’t know who wrote it, just the quote.”

“It’s from his Poem,In Memoriam A.H.H. The A.H.H stood for his dear friend Arthur Henry Hallam who died at the age of twenty-two.”

“Is there anything you don’t know?”

She blushed. “Sorry. I know my fact spouting can get annoying.”

“I never said that.”

“It was implied.”

“There was no such implication.”

That shut her up, for all of two seconds, before she burst out laughing.

His brow furrowed. “What’s so funny?”

She didn’t answer, she was laughing too hard, doubled over with an arm wrapping her stomach.

His hands went to his hips.

She held up a hand, palm out, halting him or telling him to wait a minute—he wasn’t sure.

Her laughter turned to a few stray giggles and she wiped tears from her cheeks. “Sorry.” Her hand landed on her stomach as she took a deep breath. “I don’t know why I found that so funny.” Another stray giggle. “It just sounded so formal coming from someone like…” Her words trailed off as her eyes widened.

He crossed his arms over his chest. “Are youimplyingjocks are stupid?”

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