“I have black T-shirts.”
She threw her hands up. “I give up.”
I leaned against the stone vanity, arms crossed, watching her shake her head at me like I was a broken toy.
“Let me guess,” she said. “You’ve never named a car either?”
“No.”
“No comfort item?” she asked again, hopeful.
“No.”
She gave me a look that bordered on tragic. “That’s bleak.”
I shrugged. “You?”
She turned fully to face me, hands gesturing with every word. “Yes. My pillows, for one. I have three I love and one Ineed. My own satin sheets if I can sneak them into the bag. My tea, the exact blend, Vince, none of that hotel bullshit. And my charger. But not justacharger. My long one. The braided cord with the gold tip.”
I just watched her, something in my chest cracking at how fiercely she loved the little things. How she defended them like they were royalty.
“And my robe,” she added, “the blush one. My emergency chocolate tin. My silk eye mask. The real one, not the promo ones dynasties hand out at events.”
I was beginning to wonder what wasn’t a comfort item. Couldn’t help it but I almost smiled. The fact was, I could listen to her list forever.
She kept glancing toward the sunken bath. Then the skyline.
“And, my vibrator. Helps me sleep. See…I can be efficient too.”
I blinked.
Then blinked again.
The silence hung for half a second too long before she arched an eyebrow, clearly enjoying herself.
I didn’t respond. I didn’t have a response.
Because now all I could think about was her in that ridiculous robe, lights low, satin sheets tangled around her legs, one hand gripping her pillow while the other?—
“You okay?” She tilted her head.
I cleared my throat. “Fine.”
“I’m going to regret asking,” I ran my hand over my jaw, “but why’s it your favorite?”
“It never disappoints. It doesn’t vanish for weeks and come back angry.”
That hit harder than I expected.
“Also,” she added, like she hadn’t just gutted me, “it’s waterproof. And bath compatible.”
“So,” I said, “Does it go everywhere with you?”
She looked over her shoulder, grinning. “Wouldn’t be my favorite if it didn’t. Travel-safe, discreet, loyal. I’m nothing if not committed.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Can’t just use… any one?”
She looked offended. “What do I look like? Some barbarian who uses whatever’s nearby? No. It has to be that one.”
