“It doesn’t,” I assured her. “It’s just your mind making it taste like chocolate pie.”
“You remembered,” Raine said with a smile.
“Of course I remembered,” I said. “I’m not stupid.”
“I’ve been meaning to ask you about that,” Raine said. I looked over to her sharply. “I mean, you’re very well spoken for a high school dropout.”
“I still got my GED. Actually, Landon insisted on it.”
“That’s it?”
“No.”
“You went to college too, didn’t you?”
“Correspondence schools, but yes,” I said. “I have a master’s degree, actually.”
“Really?” Raine’s shocked expression amused me. I decided to take it a step further.
“In English Literature.”
“You’re kidding.”
“I’m not,” I said. “Do you want me to quote you something?”
“Yes, I do.”
I narrowed my eyes at her. I hadn’t really wanted to be called out on my bluff, but leave it to Raine to want some Shakespeare or whatever recited to her. A couple of sonnets went through my head, but I decided on something a little more fitting to our situation.
“When the waves are round me breaking,
As I pace the deck alone,
And my eye in vain is seeking
Some green leaf to rest upon;
What would not I give to wander
Where my old companions dwell?
Absence makes the heart grow fonder,
Isle of Beauty, fare thee well!”
“Paradise lost?” Raine said, not sounding completely sure of herself.
“Very good.”
“Another one, please?” She looked at me, and her teeth bit into her bottom lip. I took a slow, deep breath and told my cock to cut that shit out.
“I am as a weed
Flung from the rock, on Ocean’s foam to sail
Where’er the surge may sweep, the tempest’s breath prevail.”
“Apt,” Raine nodded. “But I don’t think I’ve ever heard that one.”