Page 51 of Jagged Little Pieces

“Can I tell you a secret?” he asks as we sway to Blake Shelton on the overhead system. When I nod, he admits, “I fucking hate this song.”

“I don’t like country music.”

Walla Walla smiles wider. “Me, either. What do you listen to?”

“On Spotify, it’s called Lilith music. I guess it’s like feminist lady music.”

Cocking an eyebrow, he asks, “Are you fucking with me?”

“No,” I reply, despite wanting to lie. “I tend to listen to quiet music.”

“But you like that Offspring song,” he mumbles, sounding so brokenhearted.

“I’m not wild.”

“I know.”

“Do you?”

“I do now.”

I give him a sheepish grin. “Should I pretend to be different?”

“Never fake anything with me,” Walla Walla insists with too much force. His beautiful blue eyes go sharp as he adds, “I want to fall in love with the real you.”

“What if you can’t? I’m a boring person.”

“That’s okay. If I wanted to date a chick version of me, I’d have nailed things down with Goose.”

I glance at our table, where Goose yanks Coco’s chair closer and plants a kiss on her lips.

“Oh,” I say, startled by how quickly things escalated. My gaze returns to Walla Walla as I consider his words. “Did you two date?”

“Do you want the truth?”

“No.”

“We’ve never been attracted to each other or fucked out of boredom.”

“I’m glad. I’d be insecure if you had sex with her. She has a powerful body.”

Walla Walla stares into my eyes and asks, “Have you ever fucked anyone out of boredom?”

“Do you want the truth?”

“No.”

“I’ve had so much sex. I can’t even remember the reasons behind all the sex. So much sex. I’m super comfortable with sex and my body.”

Walla Walla smirks at my words and shrugs. “Well, that’s too bad. I’m worried I won’t be able to live up to all those other men.”

“You should be concerned. I’ve had all the sex with plenty of men far more attractive than you.”

“We’re still lying, right?” he asks and flashes me a bright smile capable of sending butterflies to my stomach and an unfamiliar heat to the unloved spot between my legs.

“You’re the only man I’ve ever wanted,” I admit, suddenly feeling extremely sad over what could have been.

Tears well up in my eyes despite my best efforts. Walla Walla’s hands leave my shoulders. He wipes away my tears and leans down to kiss my forehead and damp cheeks.

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