Sex Says(19)

“I never said anything about sex,” he answered with ease, leaning back in his chair and running his fingers against the scruff covering his jaw. “But it’s interesting that you brought it up. Do you do that often with people you’ve just met?”

I narrowed my eyes. “Can anyone have a conversation with you and actually enjoy it? I mean, seriously? I’m honestly curious here.”

“Most people would describe me as pleasant, intelligent, easy to talk to.” He ticked off his supposed attributes with that irritatingly comfortable smile of his. “And my mother often tells me that I’m a very good boy and she wishes I’d call her more often.”

“Your mom doesn’t count,” I refuted. “Everyone’s mom thinks they’re the best. That’s what moms do.”

“She also thinks I’m too old for my brand of bullshit, as she calls it.”

“Your mother is brilliant.”

He laughed, but I got back to the topic at hand. “And I’d love to meet these other people you speak of.” Lightning from the Almighty practically struck me down with a case for the opposite. “Or, wait…maybe I wouldn’t. I should stay far, far away from anyone who finds you enjoyable.”

He quirked an amused brow in my direction. “And why’s that?”

I huffed at yet another question as an answer, but for some irritating reason, I found myself perpetuating his game by responding.

“Because they’re either one bad day away from having a psychotic breakdown, or they are already locked away in a padded room and are suffering from a psychotic breakdown.”

“Do you have a dislike for people with mental illnesses?”

“What the hell?” I snapped. How fucking dare he? “Do you always twist people’s words around like that?”

“I wasn’t twisting anything,” he said, and his tone lacked the normal, defensive tone you’d expect from a question like mine. But obviously, a case was being constructed in support of one thing: Reed Luca and the word normal weren’t peanut butter and jelly. The idea of customary and this guy went together like anchovies on a birthday cake.

“I was only asking a question based off of what you said,” he answered without hesitation or doubt. “And if my ears heard you correctly, you mentioned staying far away from someone suffering a psychotic breakdown.”

“First of all, buddy,” I started and held up a pointed finger, “anyone who is not trained in the medical field to provide care to someone suffering a psychotic episode would stay away from someone who was, in fact, suffering a psychotic episode. That is not because they have a dislike for people diagnosed with mental illnesses, but because they are literally following the normal, human train of thought that, maybe, it isn’t the best time to hang out with someone, when said someone is in a psychopathic state of mind.”

He nodded, not the least bit offended by my little tirade. “That’s understandable.”

“What?” The question flew out of my mouth without thought.

“I said that’s understandable. I can understand where you’re coming from.”

“I fucking heard you the first time,” I retorted. “My What was because you don’t make any sense. Having a conversation with you is like being on a goddamn merry-go-round. We’re up, we’re down, and while it seems like you’re having the time of your life, I feel like I’m going to be sick.”

“I don’t—”

I held up my hand. “Just stop right there. I can’t handle any more of whatever you’re about to say.”

Seriously. I had reached a breaking point with this guy. He was infuriating. He was sexy as hell, and I could actually melt into the insanely blue hues of his eyes, but he was off his fucking rocker.

He ignored me. “Lola, I’m not an average kind of guy. I look at things differently than most.”

“That’s an understatement,” I muttered.

“And, if I have an opinion, I speak it. If I have a question, I ask it. That’s just how I am. I also don’t waste my time worrying about what anyone else thinks of me.”

I scoffed. “Yeah, I heard that loud and clear when I watched your little video.”

“You know…” he said and glanced down at my bike helmet. “Besides your reaction to the video, I don’t think we’re all that different. There are definitely some aspects of your personality that follow my mind-set.”

I narrowed my eyes. “What do you mean, my reaction to the video?”

“Well, your frustrated and angry reaction stems from the fact that you’re worried about what people think of you and your column at this point.”