Page 6 of Valentino

“Lies.”

She giggles.

“Ha!” I point at her. “You haven’t read it. Have you?”

“Sshh,” she whispers as she looks around.

“Did you just shush me?”

She chuckles and I do too and something about having to be quiet makes me want to laugh out loud with her.

“I’ve read it already, anyway.” I act nonchalant as I hold it in my hand.

“You’ve read it?”

“Uh-huh.”

“So what’s the plot then?”

“Don’t try that old chestnut. Answer my question with a question.”

“What does that mean?” She frowns. “Who’s chestnut?”

“You know, an old chestnut.”

“I have no idea what you are talking about?”

“It’s like a saying….” I smirk.

She frowns. “I don’t get it. Explain what a chestnut has to do with anything.”

“I don’t know, it doesn’t make sense now that I think about it but it means like an old wives’ tale.”

“Oh.” She smirks. “Okay, so start talking.”

“About?”

“The plot.”

“That’s easy.” I roll my lips, what is the fucking plot, Einstein…. “Okay.” I try to think on the fly as I turn it over and look at the back.

“No cheating by reading the blurb.” She goes to take it from me and I snatch it out of her reach.

“The Shape of All,” I read out the title. “It’s about….” I purse my lips.

Fuck…what is it about?

“It’s about underwear.”

She bubbles up a surprised giggle. “What?”

“Well….” I shrug. “The shape of all.”

“What does that mean?”

“Underwear comes in all shapes and sizes.” I widen my eyes as if she’s stupid. “Obviously.”

She bursts out laughing and I do too.