By the time we get inside, the woman behind the counter is already smiling at us. She offers out the sample tray, and I accept one on instinct because I’m only human.
Caramel.
Of course it’s caramel.
For one ridiculous second, everything in me goes soft and hot at once. The plane. The low hum of the cabin. Ace watching me with that slow, wicked patience while I try very hard not to react to anything about him and fail miserably.
I eat the candy. It’s absurd that I’m having a sensual memory in a shopping center chocolate store in Hawaii. Clio pops her sample into her mouth and chews, watching me the whole time.
“Oh, it’s bad,” she says.
“What’s that?”
“Whatever memory just possessed your face.”
I nearly choke on the caramel.
Clio points at me. “Who is he?”
“What makes you think it’s ahe?”
She gives me a long look. “Please. I know your tells. That was a man face.”
I stare at the display case instead of her, because if I look directly at Clio right now, she’ll probably extract the entire story through eye contact alone.
“His name was Ace.”
There’s a beat of silence, then Clio says, very carefully, “No, it wasn’t.”
I let out a laugh before I can help it.
“That’s not a real name. It’s a man introducing himself like he expects background music.”
“He really did have that kind of energy.”
“Oh my God.” She leans closer. “Where did you find him?”
“Seattle.”
She softens a little then, still grinning. “Tell me.”
So I do, including how he brought me chocolate and we ended up being upgraded to first class.
Clio’s brows go up so high they practically disappear into her hairline. “Oh, that’s disgusting luck.”
“I know.”
“And then?”
I hesitate.
Clio sees it instantly and grabs my forearm.
“No.” Her voice drops to an incredulous whisper. “No. Adelaide.”
I start smiling, which is irritating because I would prefer to be mysterious and above this. Instead, I say, “And then I joined the mile-high club.”
Clio makes a sound so loud and scandalized that the woman behind the counter abruptly becomes fascinated by a box of truffles at the far end of the shop.
