“Guess how many jellybeans there are in my heart?”

She tossed out the challenge without much of a thought.

Two could play this game so he answered immediately.

“215.

Not one more,

Nor one less.”

Her throat coughed up a laugh covered in pectin.

Then she tossed up a jellybean, smacking her lips,

swallowing it whole.

“Nice try for an amateur.

But it’s 214.

And every single one is nasty black licorice.”