“Would you ever get special requests?”
He smirks. “I got a few, but I didn’t stray far from what I knew.”
“Did Marge or Tobias ever ask where you were getting the money from?”
“Not really. They didn’t pay close attention. I used the money for new gear and gas for the people who drove me when I needed a ride. Simple shit like that.”
“Did you ever keep pictures for yourself?”
He lifts his spoonful of mint chocolate chip ice cream. “A few.”
Chuckling, I ask, “Did you ever get a boner drawing them?”
This time, he laughs and nods. “A few times.”
“Wow, just wow.” I wipe my mouth with a napkin. “I never would have pegged you for an erotic artist.”
“You have to make a living somehow. Thankfully for me, I found my niche and ran with it.”
“Did anyone ever try to copy your business model?”
“Oh, yeah. There was this guy who thought he’d try to undersell me, but his stuff wasn’t nearly as good as mine. I learned shading in my art class and used that to my advantage.”
“Do you draw still?”
He shakes his head. “Not really. And honestly, I think if I did, all I’d draw is topless women because that’s all I know how to draw. Then what do I look like at that point? Not someone trying to make money for ice time. I’d just look like a twenty-eight-year-old creep.”
“You’re right about that. Oh, I can only imagine what the guys would say if they caught you drawing on the bus.”
“Let’s not even think about it.” He finishes the last mouthful of his ice cream—which he took three giant scoops of. I’m not here to judge, but it was a lot of ice cream, and he ate it with no problem. “Ever step into the realm of drawing penises?”
“Only the basic silhouette on a random person’s notepad just to—no pun intended—dick around with them.”
“Were you a troublemaker in school?”
“Depends. When it came to class and school, I was a respectful student. I never wanted to get in trouble, and if I knew I could kiss my teacher’s ass for a better grade, I’d do it. But with my friends, I was a bit of a troublemaker. I had so much fun pranking Pacey, so I found ways to get under my friends’ skin as well. I was a tease.”
“Ah, kind of like the mild torture I’ve been through since I’ve been here?”
“Exactly.” I smile at him. “And I appreciate your use of the word mild because, let’s be honest, half the stuff I’ve done to you is barely a blip on the things I could be doing.”
“Oh? Are there pranks you want to pull on me?”
“There are things I could be doing, but I’m also a smart woman, and I know you probably have a vengeful side in you. I know you wouldn’t just let my pranks go unanswered. There would be retaliation.”
“You can bet your cute ass that I’d retaliate. And you wouldn’t know when or how.”
“Exactly why I don’t go there. Well, besides the whole baby chip thing, I couldn’t help myself. It was too easy. Plus, I needed that laugh.”
“Glad I could assist in making your day brighter.”
“You did. There have been some rough days, so that was definitely a bright one.”
“When you speak of rough days, are you talking about when we weren’t talking?”
“All of it,” I say while I absentmindedly twirl my spoon in my bowl. “Finding out I was pregnant, telling you and Pacey, and the fallout from that. The awkward phase we went through, and then, of course, the fight between you and Remi and the ramifications from that.” I let out a deep sigh. “I feel like I hopped on a roller coaster unwillingly. But today has helped a lot. Today has been one of the best days I’ve had in a while, so thank you.”
“It has been a pretty great day.” He smiles back at me. “Now, how should we end it?”
“Maybe we watch some Ozark?”
“Sounds perfect.” He stands from the table and takes my bowl. “I’ll clean up. You go get in your pajamas, and I’ll meet you out here for some Ozark.”
And then he walks into the kitchen with our bowls, leaving me feeling warm and . . . anchored. And after such a crazy last month or so, that’s a good way to feel.
Chapter Eighteen
ELI
“Penny?” I whisper.
“Hmm,” she mumbles against my arm.
“You fell asleep.”