Page 19 of Wish You Would

But in the meantime…

I hopped down from my stool and ran my fingers through my short hair, giving it a tousle. Then, I straightened my tank top and adjusted my boobs. “How do I look?”

Luke frowned. “Uh…fine. Why?”

“Because I’m gonna go get Tiff’s number,” I said with a cheeky grin as I backed toward the hallway. There were some definite perks to living with a man whore with good taste in women after all.

“Georgia,” Luke growled. “Don’t you—”

I ignored him—and the little voice in the back of my mind, asking me what I was doing. Tossing a wink over my shoulder, I sauntered toward his bedroom. What better way to forget that the woman you’d been crushing on for months asked you for help with someone else? What was the saying? The best way to get over someone was to get under someone else?

Maybe a pretty blonde was just what I needed to forget my silly little crush.

10

PARKER

STEP BY STEP

I stood on the sidewalk outside of Heathcliff’s, the spring rain soaking through my cardigan as I tried to talk myself into going inside. I didn’t know what awaited me on the other side of this door. Not really.

Last night was fueled by adrenaline and desperation. Now, in the light of day, dim as it was, mortification was front and center. Past me was an embarrassment. I did not claim her. She was a stranger.

And yet, here I was, as Gigi had instructed. At Heathcliff’s. For flirting lessons.

I asked her to teach me to flirt.

Embarrassment flooded through me. Again. It was honestly a shock I hadn’t burst into flames from embarrassment yet.

“Give it time,” I muttered to myself, glancing over my shoulder. I could just…walk home. Text Gigi that I wasn’t feeling well. Pack up my bags and move to Liechtenstein, never to be seen again. I was pretty sure my passport was still current. I could—

“You gonna stand in the rain all day, or what?”

I swung around to find Gigi behind me, two coffees in hand and the hood of her jacket pulled over her head.

“It’s unlocked, you know.” She tilted her head toward the door. “Vaughn’s got a study group in there right now”

“Oh. I—”

“So, you could, like…open the door?” She raised her brows and lifted her coffee-laden hands. I jumped into action. “Shoot, sorry. Yeah, sure,” I said as I flung the door open and held it for her.

“Thank you,” she said as she entered the bar. “You’re so very chivalrous.” Her tone was sarcastic but her smile was kind. And I was confused.

I let the door close behind me and followed Gigi inside. True to her word, Vaughn and a group of fellow students were gathered in the corner booth, table covered with books and papers and such. To be honest, it looked much more my scene than the woman leading me in the opposite direction. Maybe if I sat at their table, I’d blend right in and Gigi would forget about—

“Move your sweet ass, Samuels. We don’t have all day.” Gigi said, ending any hope I had of getting out of this.

She led us to the opposite side of the bar, putting plenty of distance between us and Vaughn’s study group. Once she reached our table, she put the coffee down and shrugged out of her jacket, shaking her hair away from her face. Then, looking me over, she asked, “Do you need a towel?”

“I’m okay.” I ran my hands over my wet hair and shivered involuntarily. Gigi huffed out a silent laugh and shook her head. “I’ll be right back. The left one’s yours.”

I looked down at the coffee and reached for the cup she indicated. It was warm to the touch and I cupped my hands around it. Closing my eyes, I soaked in the heat and tried to gather my bearings.

I could tell her I changed my mind. That I don’t need her to teach me how to flirt. I’d tell her thanks for everything, but no thank you. I would…

Ugh.

I would repeat the disaster of meeting Halle over again.

---