Page 168 of You've Got Hate Mail
A massive hamburger for him, and brussels sprouts and cheesecake for me.
Because there are no rules.
I can have brussels sprouts and cheesecake for dinner if I want to.
“It wasn’t boring,” I reply.
“You think you’d be happy staying in one place and not exploring more fascinating subjects?”
If we save the winery.
It’s the lingering question that he doesn’t ask, and so I let myself live in a world where we do it as I take a bite of cheesecake.
And sigh happily.
I should have cheesecake with my dinner every day.
“Everything’s fascinating if you look hard enough,” I tell Heath. “Look at our little community. Lav’s always fighting dragons. You and I have gotten drunk together and broke a building and you caught me…” I pause and glance around the room.
“Yeah. I caught you,” he says, and I don’t feel the need to finish.
Not with the way his gaze has gone feral and protective and interested.
Don’t cause a scene, Cricket.
Last thing I need tonight. Or ever again.
“Mabel’s super cagey about her projects, so I know there’s a story there—” I say quickly.
“You don’t want to know.” He tilts his head. “No, actually, youdowant to know.”
I grin.
He leans closer. “She makes furry costumes.”
“I knew it.”
“You didn’t.”
“I did. I did a lifestyle piece that my boss refused to air about people who are into being furries once, both the sex kind and the cosplay kind, and I’ve seen Pip open the boxes with Mabel’s supplies from time to time. Just put it all together.” I tilt my head. “Does Mabel…?”
“No idea. Didn’t ask. No judgment if she does, but it’s not my business.”
“See? We might only be a few people, but we’re fascinating. And there’ll be more new people with more stories, and not just about how the internet ruined their lives. Therefore, no, I won’t be bored.”
I pop a brussels sprout into my mouth, and I sigh in happiness again.
These things shouldn’t be so good.
It’s probably the frying. And the toppings.
Bacon and cheese and balsamic drizzle make nearly everything better.
Huh.
I top my cheesecake with some of the bacon, cheese, and balsamic, and try a bite.
Heath stares at me.
