Page 14 of Missing Pieces (Men of Manhattan 3)

I shook my head.

"We each get to ask each other 21 questions and we have to answer honestly no matter what. But we each get one pass."

"I don't know..."

"It's fun. I promise."

I stared at him skeptically. "Fine, you go first."

"Okay. What's your last name?"

"Shaw."

He nodded, as if satisfied by my answer. It seemed like a waste of a question if we only got 21, but it was better than him asking me why I had suddenly decided to become a hitchhiker.

"Thanks," he said to the waitress as she set down our drinks, without taking his eyes off me. "Your turn."

"Well I already know your last name, Tyler Stevens." If I asked him why he left New York, he'd certainly ask me the same thing. I needed to keep it safe too. "What's your favorite color?" Crap, that was just as lame as the question he asked me.

He smiled. "Green. What's your favorite food?"

"Pizza. Isn't it everyone's?"

"Is that your question to me?"

I shook my head. "No." I didn't want to repeat any of his questions.

Emery walked by again, clearly trying to get his attention, but he didn't even look toward her. I watched him pick up his coffee and take a sip, seemingly oblivious to her flirtations. Had he seemed oblivious to mine last night? I had kind of thought he seemed into me. But he had gotten distracted by the TV while we were talking. And it wasn't even because of a game. It was the news.

"Are you gay?"

He immediately spit the coffee back into the cup. "No. Why would you ask that?"

"You seem awfully defensive."

"I'm not gay." He lowered his voice slightly. "Seriously, why do you think I'm gay?"

I shrugged. "Don't get all upset about it. I was just wondering."

"Well, I'm not."

"Okay then. Question answered. Your turn."

He stared at me. He was even cuter when he was flustered. "Are you seeing anyone right now?"

"Are you trying to prove you're not gay or something?"

"It's not your turn for a question, Hailey."

I sighed. "No, I'm not in a relationship. What about you?"

He took a sip of his coffee and then set it back down. "No. How many boyfriends have you had?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "Technically just one. Back in high school."

"That's a long time ago."

"Well, I'm not as old as you."

---