"Okay." I pulled out a notepad, feeling oddly like I was back in school. "Let's start with the basics. Siblings?"
"None."
"Parents?"
"None."
I waited for her to elaborate. She didn't. I didn't push. "Favorite color?"
"Blue."
"Favorite food?"
"My daughter's mac and cheese. She helps me make it."
"Favorite snack?"
"I don't really snack."
"Everyone snacks."
"I don't have time to snack. Or the budget."
I moved on. "Hobbies?"
She almost laughed. "Hobbies require free time, Xavier."
"What would you do if you had free time?"
She considered this. "Read, maybe. I used to read a lot. Not anymore."
"What kind of books?"
"Anything. Everything. Romance novels, mostly, when I could find them." Color rose in her cheeks, like she was embarrassed to admit it. "I know happy endings aren’t realistic, but..."
I stored that information carefully. She cleared her throat.
"My turn," she said. "Favorite color?" she asked, moving on.
"Don't have one."
"Everyone has a favorite color."
"I genuinely don't. I like them all. Depends on my mood."
She made a small sound that might have been amusement. "Favorite food?"
"My grandmother's cook makes this chocolate soufflé that I would commit crimes for."
"Noted. Favorite snack?"
"Anything sweet. I have a problem. My dentist despairs."
Now shedidsmile.
"Hobbies?"
"Disappointing my family, apparently." I flashed a grin. "I used to sail. Haven't in years. I like cars, obviously. And..." I hesitated.
