"I mean it. You're intolerable."
"Stop." I feign modesty. "You're going to make me blush."
"Do you blush?"
"Yeah." I turn right at the next intersection. There. This street will take us most of the way. "I don't think you need any hints on making that happen."
"Oh." Her cheeks flame red. She gives me a long, slow once over. Her dark eyes fill with desire. Then caution. She considers her options. Settles back into her seat.
I give her a minute to take the bait, but she doesn't.
Better change the subject before my thoughts are too far gone to come back. "How long have you lived at home?"
"Always. It's kinda—"
"It's sweet."
"Really?" Her nose scrunches. "The last time I tried dating, guys seemed to think it was pathetic."
"They were just worried about where you'd fuck."
Her laugh is soft. "God. You're probably right. I never thought about it like that."
"We're all the same."
"You really are."
"Where did you fuck?"
"Alex had his own place."
"After that?"
"Where do you have sex?"
"I usually go to a woman's place."
"Why?"
I stop at a red light. "Easier to leave than to ask someone to leave."
"That's really—"
"Cold?"
"Smart. For you."
"Must have read it in a magazine or something."
"Probably." Her teeth sink into her lip. Her eyes flare with jealousy.
She pries her gaze from me to look out the window. Studies the shop fronts of the strip mall.
This street is rows and rows of strip malls.
"What if they want to go to your place?" she asks.
"Then I do that."