Page 60 of The Broken Heart Playlist
“There’s not much I wouldn’t do for you, Kate,” he informs me softly.
Our eyes connect. And just like that, the tables have turned.
I’m the first to look away. “Before you think too kindly of me, remember when Uno sprayed blood all over me?”
“I remember.”
“You said you were in my debt.”
“Correct. Are you cashing in?”
“I am.”
He smiles. “Okay. What do you need help with?”
I clear my throat. “I bought Lisset a desk from IKEA and I need you to assemble it.”
The smile leaves his face. “No.”
“You owe me one!” I protest.
“No way. That’s too big an ask.”
“It was a lot of blood, Gideon,” I remind him. “Lots and lots of blood. It was like that scene fromThe Shining. I had to throw away my clothes.”
“I had a feeling you’d get rid of them,” he mutters, running a hand through his hair. “Look, anything but IKEA.”
“I don’t understand what the problem is.”
“They enjoy messing with your head.”
I can’t help my grin. “Don’t tell me you’re an IKEA conspiracy theorist?”
“The rumors are true,” he insists. “IKEA is all about breaking people. They make sure there are leftover screws in every flatpack, because they want you to think you’ve missed a step.”
“Come on, it can’t be that bad.”
His face is pale. “I don’t like the person I become when I have to assemble anything from IKEA.”
I tap my finger to my lip. “I’ll have to make it worth your while then.”
Interest flares in his face. “What do you have in mind?”
“How about dinner?”
His eyebrows lift at my offer, then he nods slowly. “I accept your offer of dinner.”
“Good,” I say in a brisk tone. “Just let me know what day works for you. I’ll cook you dinner and drop it off.”
He immediately shakes his head. “Uh-uh. Not good enough. Not for IKEA.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “Hey, I’ll have you know I’m a pretty good cook.”
“You’re also pretty good company,” he retorts. “I’ll take the dinner, but I’ll take the company too.”
I blink at him. “But that’s not what I was offering.”
“But it’s what I’m insisting on,” he says with a smile. “Invite me to dinner.”
