Page 16 of Wish You Would

Gigi made a noise of agreement, and the girl gave my arm a squeeze before she struggled to her feet. “You were really good,” she said as she slid past Gigi to leave the stall.

“Thank you,” I called, face still in the toilet.

“No problem, sweetie,” she called back. “I hope you feel better!”

Straightening, I leaned my back against the stall wall and watched Gigi step inside. She shut the door behind her and joined me on the floor.

“You’re lucky I know this bar inside out,” she said as she got comfortable. “You wouldn’t catch me dead on any other public bathroom floor.”

At that, I gave in to the impulse to laugh. Just a little. “I can’t say I’ve been on too many bathroom floors,” I said, “but this one is pretty nice.”

“Damn right.” She draped her arm over her knee, her dark eyes zooming in on my face. She looked me over like a doctor assessing for injuries. “What happened?”

Humiliation flooded through me anew. “Ugh.” I threw my head back and squeezed my eyes shut. “I choked. I choked so bad.”

“Did you really tell her you had to barf?” I could hear the amusement in Gigi’s voice, and I squeezed my eyes harder. “I don’t think I need to tell you, barfing is not sexy.” She paused. “Unless you’re into that. In which case, no shame. But from the look on Halle’s face as you ran away, I don’t think she’s into it.”

“I’m not into it, either!” I buried my face in my hands. “Oh, god. Does she think I’m into it?”

The stall filled with Gigi’s laughter. I lifted my head to glare. She pressed her lips together and made an effort to look serious. The corner of her mouth still twitched with amusement.

“I hate you,” I growled.

“Aww, come on, Samuels.” She bumped my foot with hers. “We’ve all made fools of ourselves in front of hot people before. It’s not the end of the world. You just gotta try again. Except, maybe practice what you’re going to say first.”

“Are you kidding? No way.” I shook my head. “I’ll be lucky if I can walk out of this bathroom without bursting into shame flames. I’ll never be able to look her in the eye again.”

“Oh, wow.” Gigi grinned. “You are dramatic. I never would have guessed.”

I kicked her foot. “Screw you.”

She smirked. “Okay, well. I’ve got a bar to run.” She pushed to her feet. “So as much as I’d love to hang out in here with you all night, I should get goi—”

“Wait.” I reached for her. There was a thought on the tip of my tongue. An idea. A half-formed string of syllables I wasn’t sure how to complete.

Her eyes dropped to my hand wrapped around her wrist, then found my face, watching as I opened my mouth then immediately closed it. Simon’s voice rung out in my mind, snippets and soundbites building a new picture altogether. A few practice runs. A little role playing.

I couldn’t take Simon up on his offer, but what if…

“Spit it out, Samuels.” There was a curve to her lip that threatened to twist into a smile, softening her words.

“I…ah…” I released her and stood so that we were eye-to-eye. I couldn’t spit it out while staring at her crotch. “I was just…what if…”

No. I shook my head, dismissing the thought. I couldn’t ask her. I couldn’t throw myself at her mercy any more than I already had. I couldn’t—

“Parker.”

Screw it. What did I have to lose? Except maybe my dignity. And I’d already lost that when I told Halle about my bodily functions.

I inhaled and stiffened my spine. And then: “Teach me.”

Gigi’s brows drew together. Shoving her hands into her pockets, she cocked a hip and eyed me like I’d asked her to join a cat-worshiping cult. “Come again.”

“Teach me,” I repeated, gaining steam. “I’ve seen you. You’re so good. Teach me how to be like you.”

Confusion took up residence on Gigi’s face like it was going to stay awhile. “Not that I don’t appreciate the flattery, vague as it is, but I’m gonna need you to be clearer.”

I nodded. Fair. Twisting my hands together in front of me, I blew out a hard, bracing breath. Then, I met Gigi’s eyes dead-on. “Teach me how to flirt.”

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