“That is funny.”
He narrows his eyes, making me laugh.
I take another drink and settle in. “Fine. What do you want to know?”
“What do you want to tell me?”
“Nothing.”
He laughs. “Wrong answer.”
“Gavin, really—what do you want to know? My birthday? Favorite color? Favorite Paula Abdul song?”
He sits up like we’re about to square off. “Birthday?”
“July twenty-eighth.”
“Color?”
“Vermilion.”
“Fancy,” he says.
“It’s color perfection.”
He nods. “Noted. Paula Abdul song?”
“I’d say ‘Straight Up,’ but the video for ‘Opposites Attract’ is perfection,” I smirk. “You have no idea who Paula Abdul is, do you?”
“I’ll YouTube it later.”
“Cool.”
We stare at one another like we can’t decide if we’re friends or enemies. Our eyes are narrowed, brows furrowed. It stays that way until the corners of Gavin’s lips begin to pull to the ceiling. They bring mine up along with them.
“Your turn,” I say. “Birthday, color, and … Aerosmith song.”
“February first, cerulean, and ‘Cryin’’ is the best Aerosmith song of all time.”
I make a face. “Wrong answer.”
“How can it be wrong? They’remyfavorites.”
“Everyone knows that Aerosmith’s best song is ‘Rag Doll.’ Maybe I’ll agree with ‘Dream On’—maybe. But it’s not ‘Cryin’’ in any way, shape, or form.”
He grins. “Have you seen Alicia Silverstone in that video? I rest my case.”
Together, we laugh.
Gavin stretches his legs out, much like Chase does when he’s itching to get up after dinner but is polite while Kennedy and I chat.
“Do you need to go?” I ask.
“No. Why?”
I shrug.
“I saw Patti this morning,” Gavin says. “We were getting gas at the same time. She asked me for your number, and I told her that I didn’t have it. She thought I was lying.”
