Page 73 of Say It Again

“Why?” she asked between pops. “Why would he have to quit?”

“Because he’ll get too old. I’m pretty sure you can’t escort once you turn thirty. Isn’t that the rule?”

“What? First of all, that’s ageism. And second of all, I don’t think you could be wronger. There’s probably fifty-year-old escorts out there making a killing.”

“Oh, I would so bang a fifty-year-old Aaron. God, think about the salt-and-pepper hair and the un-ironic use of the phrases Vacation home on Lake Tahoe, or Let’s get up early and go hiking, or We’re considering boarding school for the labradoodle.” He narrowed his eyes to a squint. “But would I pay to bang a fifty-year-old Aaron?”

“Yes?”

“Yes.”

“Let’s do it.”

“Let’s. But first, and hear me out, what if I give him an ultimatum someday? People do that in the movies all the time. Like, it’s either those jive turkeys, or it’s me.”

“Daniel.” Olivia’s tone lowered, and her eyes widened. “What turkeys?”

“I like your attitude.” He nodded his approval. “What turkeys is right—”

A knock sounded at the front door. They both scrambled to their feet in a process that hurt as they each thwacked different body parts on the coffee table, then stood wild-eyed in his living room like a couple of busted burglars.

“Someone’s already in here!” he shouted and then slapped a hand over his mouth.

They screeched in laughter until the knock sounded again, making them startle.

“Hello?” Another gentle knock. “Daniel, it’s me.”

“Who the hell is me?” Olivia whispered.

“Yeah.” Daniel deepened his voice and puffed his chest at the door. “Who the hell is you?”

“It’s Aaron.”

Oh. Oh, Aaron was here. Of course he was here. He’d said he was coming over—no big deal.

“Kid,” Aaron said, his voice closer to the door, “I tried calling. I know you’re probably upset with me. If I were you, I’d be upset with me too.”

So why did his being here feel so… enormous?

“I am so sorry. I get that you’re mad, but can you please open the door? Please?”

Daniel’s heart was going to fracture his rib cage, it was suddenly beating so intensely. He tried to smooth his outfit, and hopefully the way he probably looked like a frazzled mad scientist with a bona fide Igor, but Olivia’s hair refused to comply with any grooming. It also didn’t help that the door creaked like an eerie castle as Daniel opened it.

“There you are. Sweetheart, I am so sorry. My night has been….” Aaron’s concerned expression gradually transformed into confusion as his gaze zipped back and forth between them. He licked his lips, his eyes narrowing to a squint. “Are you guys okay?”

“We’re belly dancing,” Daniel said, and because that probably made no sense, he followed up with, “Not with our bellies.”

“You are a lot of man,” Olivia said, her eyes all pupil as she scanned Aaron from top to bottom. “A lot. Maybe more than I can handle right now.”

“Are we… high?” Aaron cocked his head. “Is that what’s going on? We’re high right now?”

“Yes,” Daniel said. “It’s technically called psilo-something. But on the streets, we refer to them as—”

“Mushrooms?” Aaron’s eyebrows shot up. “You two are on magic mushrooms?”

Daniel tossed his hands up. “Well, how does everyone know what that is but me?”

“So, Aaron.” Olivia grinned as she gently squeezed one of Aaron’s biceps. “Daniel mentioned your brother might be the best man in the wedding?”

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