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“I like sushi. I like Tex-Mex.”

“You’re going to have to be more detailed than that. What are your go-to sushi rolls? And if you say a Philadelphia roll or a shrimp tempura roll, I’m going to call you a basic bitch.”

“Hey, what’s wrong with a Philly roll?” Amusement tugs at my cheeks. “But, no, I’d say my favorite is a spider roll.”

“Ooh, classy.”

“What about you?”

“I’m not huge into sushi, but if I go to a Japanese restaurant and they mainly have sushi, I’ll get gyoza and egg rolls, and sometimes, I’ll get hamachi. For some reason, I really like hamachi with mango.”

“That sounds tasty. So, I’m guessing you don’t want to do sushi tonight.”

“I’d prefer something else.”

“So, what’s your favorite food then?”

“I love steak.” She laughs. “Give me a juicy rib eye or a filet with some fries and a peppercorn sauce. Yum, yum, yum.” She licks her lips.

“Okay, good to know.”

“What? I’m a carnivore.”

“I’m a carnivore, too, though I prefer to eat more fish.”

“Oh, watch out, healthy Brett.”

“I try to be healthy. Don’t you?”

“I mean, I guess.” She giggles. “Not all the time, but anyway, next. What’s your coffee order in the morning?”

“I like my coffee black. No milk, no sugar, and I prefer a double shot of espresso.”

“What sort of bean would you get?” she asks. “Dark, light, medium?”

“If I could have my pick of any bean, I like a dark roast of an African bean. Kenyan is usually my favorite.”

“Oh wow, that’s very specific.”

“What about you?”

“I like lattes. Caramel latte, mocha latte.”

“I see. So, you like it sweet?”

“Yep, sweet, just like me.”

I hand her a glass of wine and take a seat next to her on the couch.

“Cheers,” I say, holding up my glass, and we clink.

She nods and takes a sip. “Ooh, this is really good. You’re trying to get me drunk.”

“Not really,” I say. “Just a little bit.” I tap the side of my head. “Though maybe that’s a really bad idea.”

“Okay, so how did we meet?” She looks at me consideringly. “And do not say mountain climbing or at a strip club.”

“I think we keep this simple. We met through Dalton, which is true. The best thing we can do is keep our answers as close to the truth as possible. That way, it’ll be harder to forget what we’re meant to say. The more lies, the more trouble we may find ourselves in.”