Page 64 of Prince Charmless
“Since your sloppy kiss from grade seven?” he asks. “Were his hands all greasy?”
“Like pizza. And I’m surprised you remember me saying that.”
“I’m forgetful, but I remember lots of things.”
I burst into laughter. “That doesn’t make any sense! You couldn’t even remember my name when we first met.”
Taylor swallows. “You’re a painter, you’re allergic to sesame, and your favorite flowers are peonies.”
The smile on my face disappears. He rattles these facts off with complete soberness. I didn’t think he was paying that close attention.
He slides his hand over the back of mine, resting on the railing. As soon as he grabs it, Taylor whips his arm over my head and spins me to look right into my eyes. “You like Justin Timberlake, the silverware in your kitchen drawer goes forks, knives, then spoons, and you always wear a tiny star in your right ear and a moon in your left, but.” He runs a finger through my dangly fake-diamond earrings, “not tonight, I guess.”
His face is millimeters away from mine. I lean back against the railing because the last time our noses were this close, I tried to kiss him. Does he keep a library of facts for everyone or just me? Why does he remember what I said at the wedding? Hell,beforethe wedding with that peony shit. That spin move reminds me of when we were dancing way back then, when I thought those couple of minutes of chemistry were going to be all we ever got.
He points to his temple. “Told you.”
His cockiness provokes me to challenge him. “What was his name?”
“Whose name?”
“My first kiss. I said it in the car.”
Taylor squints, then leans back. “Grant...something.”
“Noah Grant,” I say, laughing.
So he can’t remember the name I gave him a couple of hours ago, but he can remember the stupid little detail of my bridesmaid’s speech.
“Your brain is weird.”
Taylor’s hair tousles as another chilly breeze flies past. I wrap his coat around me like a robe.
“You and your brother were wrong, by the way. Hugo Foust isnothere. I was kind of looking forward to seeing that beautiful half-Scottish face of his. I bet he’s too busy sponsoring some Middle Eastern airline in the English clubs.”
“Sorry, I’m disappointed too. But I could probably never get him to switch teams.” Taylor laughs a bit. “In whatever sense of the word.”
“What do you mean?”
He furrows his brow. “You haven’t figured it out yet? You’re usually very percepti—” He pauses.
“Figured out wha—”
Taylor shushes me. He tries to put a finger on my lips but misses and puts it on my cheek. “Do you hear that?”
“Why are you acting all strange?”
I swat his hand away. I guess he usually acts strangely. Thisisthe man who broke into my apartment.
“Hush, look.”
He points down towards a bush. After a few seconds, it rustles. After a few more, I spot a man hiding in it.
“I can see you!” Taylor booms.
Not one but two photographers pop out of the foliage. Startled, I lean into Taylor.
“Our apologies, Your Highness!”
