Noel should refuse, on principle, but his curiosity is irrevocably piqued. He shifts a little closer without meaning to. "Okay, then. You're not afraid I'll sell it to the tabloids?"
"Insurance." Rae winks. "You sell me out, I'll sell you out. This way, you can also trust that I won't blab."
"I didn't think you'd—"
Rae waves him off, pushing himself to sit up straight. "This doesn't really measure up to yours," he starts, "because it wouldn't exactly ruin me if it got out, but I would prefer it didn't get out. For various reasons." He reaches down, as though to pat his pocket, but stops himself. "Damn, I left my cigarettes with Clover. I could really use one right now."
"Like, real cigarettes? I don't think I've ever seen anyone smoke one of those outside of old movies."
"Oh, I can't stand vaporizers. Cigarettes just have a mystique about them, you know?" Rae mimes holding one between two fingers, smiling slyly. "Hard to look sexy with one of those plastic pens."
