“Wow.” A host of follow-up questions poured through my mind. I brutally forced myself from running down the rabbit-hole.
Spending more time with Jack wasn’t what either of us needed.
“If this horde is still lost, why don’t you and Tennyson track it down? It will give you something to do and perhaps help you work through the emotional issues you’re facing.”
“Perhaps.” He snorted, eyes focusing intently on me. “What about you, Chiara?”
“What about me?”
“If I face my issues, will you face yours?”
“Excuse me?”
“I think it’s time you considered finally growing up. How old will you be this year?” he asked.
My gaze narrowed to tight slits.
“Perhaps even date—” Jack mock-gasped. “—aman?”
My eyes nearly popped out of my head. No way he just said that! I was trying tohelphim.
Jackass. For reals.
Fine. Jack wanted a fight? He would get a fight.
“I do date men!”
“No.” His voice infuriatingly calm and snobby. “You date manlike children.”
“Don’t make me hate you,” I hissed.
Hurt briefly flashed across his face, instantly replaced by grim resignation. “I think the ship has already sailed on that one, my dear.”
“You didnotjust ‘my dear’me—”
“Love bird, then?”
“Do you have a death wish?”
He swept a hand down his body again. “Guilty as charged.”
Sparks and gasoline, folks.
“And you still haven’t answered my question,” he continued.
I stomped my foot. “Idodate adults!”
Naturally, Jack’s iPad took that as permission to spring to life.
“Looking up adult. A person of mature responsibility and behavior,”Siri intoned.
Jack laughed. “Even Siri is agreeing with me now. You date man-children.”
“Takes one to know one.”
Yeah. It was a terrible comeback. Right up there withI know you are, but what am I?The verbal equivalent of tapping out.
I seriously needed better communication filters.
