Page 25 of Green
It took me a second to realize she was making a joke, because she looked so mad at me. Bugs Bunny—big teeth. Hilarious. But I didn’t laugh, because this wasn’t funny. This was her love life we were talking about. “I’m not kidding about his teeth. I’ll bet you anything it’s stunted his growth in some subtle but significant way.”
“Oh my God. Stop talking.”
“And I’m not talking about dick size—I’m talking about a character flaw. Did you see how quickly he backed off when I showed up?”
“You’re really going to turn that intohischaracter flaw?”
“I’m just saying he doesn’t have a lot of stamina.”
“Okay, we’re done here.”
“My point is that he didn’t ask any more questions about our situation. I would have.”
“That’s because you’re an annoying question-asker.”
“You really think that?”
“You see what I’m saying?”
“Where are you going?”
“Back out there, to the party, where there are people. People who aren’t you. People we invited to come here for fun times. People who will be wondering what we’re up to in here.”
“Let them wonder.” I was grinning. I didn’t mean to be grinning, but I couldn’t stop grinning at her.
She shook her head and waved a hand, dismissively. “Stop this.”
“Stop encouraging you to aim higher? You should be dating a rock star. Or a senator.”
“Okay. I promise to date a rock star or a senator. Can I go now?”
“Are we good?”
She exhaled loudly and crossed her arms. She was so exasperated with me, but it was more than that.
I finally asked her the thing that I didn’t want to know. “You really like that guy?”
She looked down at her feet before looking over at me. “Maybe. I don’t know yet. I don’t not like him because of his tooth size. He’s nice to me. And he’s really good at his job.”
I clenched my jaw.
“And he makes me laugh.”
She may as well have punched me in the gut. I was the guy who made her laugh.
“I mean. Not the wayyoudo. I really think you’d like him if you gave him half a chance.”
I blinked twice and re-crossed my arms in front of my chest. “Okay. I’ll give him half a chance.”
“Really?”
“You want me to explain our situation to him?”
“That won’t be necessary.”
“I think I should. I mean, if this guy’s so important to you, I should at least explain to him that we’re strictly platonic.”
“Oh, that.” Her expression changed. “Yeah. Make it clear to him that you aren’t interested me in that way.” She was frowning at me.
