“It’s not often that people get confused reciting their own name. Going out on a limb here, but does your confusion have something to do with that ring on your finger?”
He pulls his hand from the table and hides it from view, sitting somewhere on his lap. “That’s none of your damn business.”
“I can still taste your babies in my mouth, so maybe what’s not my business actually is my business.” I brush my tongue over the front of my teeth. “Salty by the way. You should really consider adding some fruit into your diet.”
“The fuck are you talking about?”
I won’t be answering that question. “Did he leave you or did you leave him?”
“How about you tell me your name before you startdigging into my life like some kind of twinky Dog the Bounty Hunter?”
Oops. I have an excuse for not knowing his name because I’m not in the habit of remembering the guys who pay me to suck their dick. What’s his excuse? “Seven. No last name.”
“Everyone has a last name.”
He’s right, but as someone who doesn’t want to be found, I’m not about to spill. “You asked me what I’m running from, but wouldn’t it be an interesting story if I was running from my last name?”
“You know what I just realized? I don’t actually care. I’m not into that cryptic shit.”
“Unfortunately for you, I’mveryinterested inmyquestion. Did you leave him?”
“Sort of.”
“Did you love him?”
“Complicated.”
“If I suck your dick again, will you elaborate?”
“I’m sure you’ll suck it regardless, so forgive me for not seeing the incentive to spill my life story to a stranger.”
“What is it with men? Ya’ll have no problem being vulnerable by opening your pants, whipping your dick out, and letting some stranger gag on it, but god forbid you let someone in.”
“Have you ever been in love?”
Not even close. Always felt like such a foreign concept. Never been in love and not sure I’ve everbeen exposed to people who are in love. Everything’s a facade. “We’re talking about you.”
“Have you ever hated that person at the same time? Like you want to die every time they touch you, but you cuddle up next to them every single fucking night because it’s the only place that feels remotely safe in the whole world?”
“I’m not a cuddler.”
“You don’t appear a day over twenty. I’m not sure you’d have any idea what I’m talking about.”
“I’m twenty-two.”
“I’m twenty-seven.” He smiles a shit-eating grin—always trying to match my energy. “Look at us, sharing secrets.”
I’m inquisitive. Always have been. Think that’s why my mom first realized I wasn’t a good fit to lead the future of the church. Questions were dangerous. She tried her best to steer me away from my inquisitive nature, but when she realized she couldn’t, she tried steering me toward a way out. That didn’t quite work out as planned.
But we’re not talking about me. We’re talking about Noah. “Did he buy you that car of yours?”
He lets out a sigh and averts his gaze. “I didn’t hate him much that day.”
“If someone bought me something nice like that, I think I’d pretty much excuse anything.”
“Material things don’t buy happiness.”
“I don’t think anyone is truly happy in this life.Considering that, I’m content to find happiness in the little things like a full stomach or a mouth full of cock.”
