Page 43 of Good Girls Beg

"Not that I know of," Fade admitted. "But if he doesn't, then there's something seriously wrong with the dude. I mean, I like to be fit and healthy as much as the next guy, but a sugar hit once in a while keeps us sane. Wouldn't you say, sweetheart?"

"I like a sugar hit," I agreed. "So, what are we watching?"

"I figured you could choose first. Then I'll choose," Fade said.

I didn't bother to hide my suspicion as I picked up the remote and scrolled through the streaming services, looking for something I was sure he'd dislike. I couldn't help it, I wanted to see his reaction.

I settled on a romantic comedy and pressed play, watching Fade out of the corner of my eye. He took more popcorn and sat back, his knees crossed, one arm over the back of the couch, his hand almost close enough to touch my hair.

"You're all right with this?" I asked.

"It's one of my favorites," he said easily.

"You like romantic comedies?" I turned to stare at him.

"Are you forgetting the book I was reading when you almost bumped into me?" He toyed with his lip ring with his tongue and quirked an eyebrow.

"You mean the one you were reading when you almost bumped into me?" I said. "I remember."

"And?" he asked. "Do you have a problem with guys who like romance?"

"Not at all," I said quickly. "You just don't seem… "

"I don't seem what?" His other eyebrow rose to match the first. He was baiting me, and we both knew it.

"You don't seem like the kind of guy who'd like romance novels or movies," I said.

"What do I look like I watch?" he asked.

"I don't know, action movies, I guess," I said. "The kind with car chases and explosions."

"I like those too." He uncrossed his legs and propped them on the coffee table in front of him. "My taste is varied."

"I can see that," I said.

He leaned towards me. "Let me guess, you've never met a man who liked romance before?"

"Not ones who'd admit it," I said.

My fathers preferred comedies that didn't have romance in them. And no guy I'd ever dated liked the kind of movies or books I did. Honestly, most of them preferred to watch sports than movies. That was totally valid, of course, but it wasn’t my preference.

"Let's get this straight. You assumed I was a Neanderthal. Now you've discovered I'm not."

"Oh, I still think you're a Neanderthal," I told him. "You're just a Neanderthal who enjoys romance."

For some reason, that made him grin. "I'm starting to think you're less annoying than I thought you were." After a moment, he added, "Only a bit," and held his finger and thumb slightly apart.

"I was going to say the same about you." I scooped up more popcorn. "You might be slightly tolerable."

"Sweetheart, I'm more than slightly tolerable," he said. "Wait until you get to know me, you'll be obsessed too."

"Oh?" I asked. "Who else is obsessed with you? Apart from yourself, that is." I smiled as I popped more popcorn into my mouth.

"The question is, who isn't obsessed with me?" He smirked and returned his eyes to the screen. "I love this part."

"Where she accidentally falls into the fountain." I'd seen this movie enough times before to remember the scenes, if not the specific details. "Let me guess, you like it when she steps out with water dripping off her."

At that point, her shirt was practically transparent, showing her cold, hard nipples.