“Listen, Ivy League, I’m here until October. I work my ass off all day. If I’m lucky, I work first shift, so I can eat lunch at the café. You and your hateful-ass mouth have been the highlight of this job. I think you’re just being hostile because you think I’m trying to bag you, and clearly, I’m not capable of taming the shrew in this story. So, let’s turn the volume up on Aliens, so we can’t hear that piece-of-shit washer of yours and hang out.”

I blinked.

He shrugged. “I don’t care about whatever problem you have with your parents. I don’t care that you have some sort of fucked-up issue with men. I don’t want within five feet of your pussy, and you’ve gotta know that now because I’d never use the P word if I’m looking to get laid. Girls hate that. I just want to be around someone cool who also owns a washer and dryer and the best collection of VHS tapes I’ve seen since the nineties.”

“Five feet, huh?” I said. I crawled off my chair, across the scratchy carpet, and over to where Taylor was sitting.

He stiffened as I planted my hands on each side of his legs and leaned in, stopping inches from his lips.

“You sure about that?” I whispered.

He swallowed and then opened his mouth, speaking quietly, “Get the fuck away from me. I know full well that touching you would be like putting my finger on a loaded gun.”

“Then don’t pull the trigger,” I dared him, my lips almost grazing his.

He didn’t move forward, but he didn’t retreat. His body was relaxed, comfortable, with being that close to mine. “I won’t.”

I sat back on my heels and rested my hands on my knees, thinking about what he’d said. “You sound awfully confident for a guy who keeps coming to see me day after day.”

“You’re fucking weird—like, weirder than I thought. Did I pass the test?”

“Yes,” I said matter-of-factly.

“I might like being around you, but that doesn’t mean I’m a fucking fool. And that’s a ridiculous test. Any guy is going to go for it if a girl is begging for it like that.”

“You didn’t.”

“I keep telling you, I’m not an idiot. I know what you’re trying to do. I just don’t know why.”

I narrowed my eyes. “You say we can be friends, but you don’t keep your word.”

“Okay then. I promise to make relentless attempts to bag your ass. How’s that?”