He grinned. “So you’ll do it?”
“I’ll do it.” I held up three fingers. “On three conditions.”
“Which are?”
“Number one. No talking about the past. I don’t want to spend two days arguing with you over who was right and who was wrong and who cheated and who lied and what we could-have should-have done differently. Let’s leave the past alone.”
“Next?”
“Nick!” I slapped his shoulder. “Do you agree to no talking about the past?”
“Jeez, you’re always hitting me. I forgot about that. Fine, no talking about the past. Although there were plenty of good times too.”
“Yes, there were, but we’re going to leave the memories alone. Now, number two. This weekend is not to be seen as an opportunity for a second chance. We are friends hanging out and going to see Noni.”
His full lower lip protruded a little, but he shrugged. “I can handle it.”
“And number three.” I pinned him with a cold, hard stare. “No. Sex.”
He laughed. “OK, if you think you can stick to that.”
I slapped his shoulder again. “God, you’re so arrogant. Of course I can stick to that. It’s my rule.” Please, please, Lord, help me stick to that.
“Relax, Coco. I’m kidding. God, next you’ll say No Scrabble and the whole weekend is shot.”
I lifted my chin. “Scrabble is permissible. In fact, I’d enjoy the chance to obliterate your ass at Scrabble again.”
“When did you ever obliterate my ass at Scrabble?”
“All the time! Is that gray hair affecting your memory or what?” I went to ruffle his hair but he ducked, grabbing my wrist again.
“Look at you, you can’t keep your hands off me,” he said, laughing as I tousled his hair with my other hand. He hated when anyone messed with his hair.
“Ha! Can too.” But I knew I’d be battling the urge to touch him all weekend long.
“Then it’s a deal.” He offered his hand, and I took it, giving it one solid pump before letting it go. The less physical contact between us, the better. “But from here on out,” he went on, “I get to make the rules. After all, you’re the one who needs me to do the favor.”
“Fine,” I said. “But no tricks.”
“I’m offended you’d even suspect it.”
I rolled my eyes. “This from the guy who tried to claim zyzzyv was a word.”
“Excuse me, it was zyzzyva, and it was totally a word. We looked it up, remember?”
I held up a hand. “Please. Before we looked it up, you did not know it was a tropical snouted weevil or whatever, and you snuck the ‘a’ on the end when I wasn’t looking.”
Nick looked smug. “Doesn’t matter. It was a word. I won.”
“You cheated. Once a cheater, always—”
He held up a finger and clucked his tongue.
“Ah, ah, ah. You just broke rule number one. No talking about the past. Two and three can’t be far behind.” He winked at me. “Come on, let’s go back to my apartment and bake a cake for Noni. I’ll let you lick the beaters while I watch.”
“Nick.” A warning. “You promised.”
“I know.” His eyes glittered with mischief. “That’s why there will be no frosting put on your body and licked off. Absolutely none.”
“Nick!”
Ignoring me, he signaled Sebastian and pulled his wallet from his back pocket. “I should check in at the restaurant before we go. Are you hungry?”
I was turned on, that’s what I was, and if he was going to keep flirting with me like this, I was in so, so much trouble. In fact, I actually felt light-headed. Was it him or was it the booze without dinner?
“Yes, I am hungry. Can I grab a quick bite there?”
“Absolutely. I’ve got a burger on the menu I bet you’ll love. You inspired it, in fact.”
“Oh yeah? What’s it called, the Bitch Burger?”
He smiled as he pulled a few bills from his wallet and laid them on the bar. “No, it’s called a Beirut Burger. It’s got ingredients in it found in Lebanese cooking.”
My heart fluttered. “Really? Sitty would be so pleased.”
“How is she?” Nick took my arm to help me off the chair. He also reached down and picked up my purse, handing it to me as we walked toward the door.
“Thanks.” I slung it over my shoulder, remembering how I’d always liked Nick’s manners. He might have been a flirt, but he was always quick to open a door, pull out my chair, give me his jacket when I was cold. “She’s the same as ever. Quiet and observant but always ready to cut you to pieces with a remark carefully crafted to make it seem like she’s just confused about something when really she’s being critical.” I affected my grandmother’s accent and tone as I rubbed at the words tattooed on my wrist. “Oh, sorry, habibi. I thought it was dirt.”
Nick laughed. “My mother feels the same way about mine, but never says anything. Just sort of stares at them, like they might disappear if she concentrates hard enough.”
I rolled my eyes. “Don’t even get me started on my mother. Hey, thank you for the drinks, by the way. I’ll get the next round.”
“You’re welcome.” He pushed open the door for me, and we walked back down to The Burger Bar. The sun had set, and more people were lingering out in front of popular places like Slows and The Sugar House. The Burger Bar had a line too.