Had she been shouting?
Charles peered intently at her.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Because from the look on your face, there’s either a man in your room or you had a very delicious dream and took matters into your own hand.”
“I already told you there is no man in my room.”
What’s more, I didn’t need my own hand.
“So, by process of elimination …”
Nico sighed. Charles wouldn’t let up until she told him. She didn’t have to give him details—just enough to shut him up.
“Yes and no.”
“What do you mean,yes and no? It can’t be both.” Charles paused. “Unless … you didn’t need to take matters into your own hands. The dream was that good? Lucky girl. Details, please.”
“No, I don’t feel like it.”
“What’s the deal? We’ve always talked about our sexy dreams before.” Suddenly Charles’s eyes widened and he slapped both cheeks with his palms. “Oh!”
“Ohwhat?”
Nico took a sip of coffee. It gave her an excuse to lower her head so she wouldn’t have to meet Charles’s scrutinizing gaze.
“Just tell me this,” Charles said. “Is this a fictional man or a man we both know and love?”
“Neither.”
“Aha! Is he, by chance, a prick?”
Nico could feel her cheeks burning. “Just stop already!”
“Oh my.” He clapped his hands, a giddy smile on his face. “So, the prick makes house calls. If he’s that good in the dreaming world, makes you wonder what he’s like in the waking one when he’s made of all that sumptuous flesh and not just the pixie dust of dreams. It might almost be too good. If there is such a thing.”
“Stop already, I don’t want to talk about him.” Nico pushed past Charles and flopped onto the living room sofa. “When’s your flight? Is Mateo still driving you?”
“Yes,” Charles sighed. “I plan on enacting a romantic airport scene from a film.”
Nico grinned. “Which one?”
“The Mexican. Once we hear those ominous words,Boarding flight 101 at gate 101 in terminal 101”—Charles struck a dramatic pose—“I will turn to him and say,If two people love each other, but they can’t seem to get it together, when do you get to that point that enough is enough?”
Nico struck a theatrical pose of her own. “And he’ll respond,Never.”
“He better,” Charles said, collapsing on the sofa beside her. “I’m going to take it as a sign. If he says the right thing, then I know it’s meant to be.”
“And if he doesn’t?”
“Then I’ll turn on my heels, fart, and walk away so quickly everyone will think it was him.”
They both doubled over with laughter.
“Wait a minute,” Nico said once the laughter subsided, “I think there are some potential flaws in your plan. Can you fart on command?”
“I’m getting a smoothie on the way to the airport. It will be comprised of whole wheat, bran, prunes, peaches, apples, pears, asparagus, artichokes, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and broccoli. Not to mention I’m also going to have a latte and ask for regular milk rather than almond, and you know I’m lactose intolerant.”
