Page 77 of The Plus One Pact

"Sex, again, Rome? You know there's more to life than the five minutes you get your dick wet," he says.

"Fifteen, please," I say.

"Women don't like it when you go too long," he says.

That's not wrong. I'll give him that. I'm not sure where men got the idea women want to go for hours. The flesh gets tired. But so many men put their pride above an actual woman’s satisfaction.

Daniel shakes his head in that older brother way of his. Oh, Romeo, you're so silly, so immature. When will you grow up?

But none of it is you don’t really have a girlfriend.

It’s much more you’ve probably spent barely any time together with your clothes on. I’ll take it.

He steps to the right as he motions to the left burner. Then to the kitchen island, where the cutting board and knife sit, ready for action. "I'm about done."

"Did Cyn say anything about Ivy?" I roll my shoulders back. I channel my poker face. I'm calm in the face of my brother's judgment. No, I'm not just calm. I'm beyond his judgment. I understand it, but I'm a changed man now that I'm with Ivy. I see my past self as foolish too.

"Yeah." He flips the omelet. "She likes her."

"Ivy too."

He makes one of those hmm noises that could mean anything. From him, it usually means yeah right, you are so full of shit, but I choose to ignore it.

I accept his invitation and move into the space. Mom's tea selection is only slightly better than mine, but I still find a solid English Breakfast and a ceramic tea set.

Then the eggs. Fresh basil. With tomato and mozzarella. Probably not Ivy's favorite breakfast. But she can claim a love of caprese salads.

"Wasn't that your old line?" Daniel watches me slice a tomato. "What can I fix you for breakfast tomorrow?"

"It's effective. For people with charm."

"People this handsome don't need charm," he counters. Back to playing an old game.

I can't help but laugh, the way I did when we were kids. "You've got me there."

"I think you might be delusional about the charm vs looks ratio yourself, kid." He looks to the table. Watches Ivy laugh at one of Mom's jokes. "She fits in here, doesn't she?"

"Yeah," I say.

"Almost like you picked her out to fit in here," he says.

"Isn't that what dating is?" I ask. "Picking someone who fits into your life?"

He shakes his head at my obvious bullshit, but he can't argue with the logic behind it. So, he tries another tact. "When did you learn her last name?"

"What's it matter what her father's name was?" I ask. "Does that really speak to her character? Her dreams? Her values?"

To that, he has no comeback.

I'm playing his game for once. His way. I just need to lean into it. "I won't argue with your perception of me. I've slept with a lot of women. Usually, it didn't matter. But there was something different about Ivy. I felt it right away. Isn't that how it was with Cynthia? Didn't you know, as soon as you kissed her, that something was different?"

He stares back at me, stone-faced. "That is something people say."

So, what does he say? Daniel has always been practical. He's never gushed over matters of the heart. "When was it for you?" I ask. "That you knew she was the one?"

"There's no such thing as the one," he says.

"Don't let Mom hear you say that."