“It’s a pimple,” I told him.
Morelli grinned. “I hadn’t noticed, but now that you mention it.”
“Liar.”
“Fortunately for you I know the perfect cure for a pimple of that magnitude. Sweaty gorilla sex. Lots of it.”
“I got this from yo
ur crazy grandmother. She gave me the eye, and she said I was going to get boils!”
“Cupcake, there’s no such thing as the eye. And that’s not a boil. It’s a monster pimple. It’s that time of the month, right?”
“Wrong!”
“Good to know,” Morelli said, slinging an arm around my shoulders, hugging me into him. “I have plans.”
“Where are we going to eat tonight?”
“It’s a surprise.”
“Pino’s?” I asked him.
“No.”
“Campiello’s?”
“No.”
“Sal’s Steak House?”
“No.”
Morelli wasn’t a surprise kind of guy. Maybe about doggy-style sex but that was it. So I was getting a weird feeling.
“Where are we eating tonight?” I asked him again.
Morelli blew out a sigh. “At my mom’s house. It’s my Uncle Rocco’s birthday.”
“No, no, no, no.”
“Oh man, I’m begging,” Morelli said. “I hate these parties. I’ll make a deal. You go with me, and I’ll give you a back rub.”
“No way. Your grandmother will be there, and she’ll put another curse on me.”
“Okay, a back rub and I’ll buy you a birthday cake.”
“No!”
Morelli looked down at me. Serious. “What’ll it take?”
“I’ll hook up with you after dinner. That’s the best I can offer.”
“Better than nothing,” he said. “Can I still give you a back rub?”
“Yes. Do I get the birthday cake?”
“No.” He looked over at the bonds bus. “Are you going in there?”