He grinned. "Noted. I'll warn the team." He leaned forward on the counter, chin in his hand, looking at me sideways. "What else?"
"What else what?"
"Flaws. You said terrible in the mornings like that was going to satisfy me. Keep going, I want the full picture. I want to know everything about you."
I thought about it. "I laugh at my own jokes."
"I noticed already. I like it."
I looked at him. He looked back, like he hadn't just said anything.
"I also," I said, recovering quickly, "have very strong opinions about music that nobody asked for and will share themanyway."
"Such as?"
"Such as the aux cable is a privilege and most people should not be trusted with it."
"And you should be trusted with it?"
"Absolutely. Without question. I have excellent taste."
"Everyone thinks they have excellent taste."
"Everyone is wrong and I am right."
He shook his head, smiling at the counter. "You know what, I believe you." He glanced at me sideways again. "I actually completely believe you, Rhys. So what kind of music do you like then?”
“Mostly rock, I guess. Some metal.”
His eyebrows lifted slightly. “That tracks.”
“What does that mean?”
“I don’t know. Feels right for you.”
I rolled my eyes.
"Good. We finally found a real flaw."
"What?"
"You do that every time I compliment you."
I blinked. "Do what?"
"Deflect." His smile softened. "I say something nice and you immediately make a joke."
The heat crawled up my neck so fast it was embarrassing. "That's not true."
"It's absolutely true." Marcus looked unbearably pleased with himself. "See?"
Our food showed up a minute later, baskets hitting the counter still hot enough for steam to curl up off the fries. Marcus reached over immediately, stealing two off my plate before thewaitress had even fully set his burger down in front of him, looking unrepentant about it.
"Those were mine! You have your own," I whined.
"Captain's tax."
"That's not a thing."
