Page 32 of Wish You Would

But when I finally fell into bed in the early hours of the morning, exhausted and cookie-scented, Gigi’s voice chased me into dreams.

Babycakes, she said as she leaned over the bar. Baby cakes, she whispered as she closed the space between us. Baby, she murmured into my ear as she—

I blinked. Hard.

“—how you let someone know you’re interested,” Gigi was saying when I forced my attention back to her. And far, far away from the dirty, delusional path my mind had wandered down. “And how you know someone else is interested—or not.”

Nodding as if I’d been listening intently this whole time, I leaned closer. “Okay.”

Her eyes trailed over me, from the top of my messy bun to the tips of my sock-covered toes. For a moment, I thought she was going to call me out on my lack of focus. I steeled myself, readying an excuse. Something miles away from the reality of my thoughts. Grocery lists. Reading assignments. Cookie recipes. Anything but the truth.

Because the truth was…

Well, it was so far removed from reality, I questioned my sanity.

“For example,” Gigi continued. She gestured my way with her hand. “Your body right now language says you’re very interested.”

Heat blossomed in my cheeks. I straightened away from her. “Oh, I—”

“You’re angled toward me, making eye contact. You’re paying attention to what I’m saying.” Her lips tilted upward, eyes flickering. “Good girl.”

My next breath in caught in my throat. The simmering low in my belly heated to a boil. Squeezing my thighs together, I forced myself to exhale. “What’s next?”

Her gaze snagged on mine, something flashing across her face. She schooled her features before I could examine too closely. Before I could decipher if she’d read me like a book and was uncomfortable with what she found.

Or intrigued.

“Demonstration.” The word came out husky. Gigi cleared her throat and shook her hair away from her face. “Demonstration,” she repeated, her voice solid. All business. She stood and straightened her t-shirt. A cartoon puppy panted out at me from her chest.

I smiled, thankful for the distraction. “Cute shirt,” I said as I stood, too.

Gigi glanced down and huffed out a short laugh. “Thanks. It’s no moose and squirrel, but I like it.”

I looked at my own shirt. “Supernatural,” I explained. “It’s my favorite TV show.”

She nodded in recognition. “Ahh, yes. The straights love those guys.”

“Not just the straights.” I jabbed a thumb my way.

Laughing, she tilted her head in concession. “My bad.”

I waved her off, thankful for the break in one-sided tension. Dragging a deep, welcome breath into my lungs, I squared my shoulders. “Anyway,” I said. “Demonstration.”

“Right.” Gigi nodded. “So. When you’re into a person you’re talking to, and you want them to know, it’s important to have open body language. Loose. Comfortable.” She dropped her weight to one foot, cocking a hip. One arm hung loose at her side while the hand of her other landed on her hip. Her face was open, friendly. “Approachable.”

“All right.” I took in her stance and mimicked it. It felt awkward as all get out. “Like this?”

“Almost.” She stepped forward, hands reaching out. She paused before she made contact. “Okay?”

I nodded my consent her hands overed for a moment longer before she placed them on my hips. “You’re tense here. Like you’re about to run away.” Her brown eyes locked with mine. “Do you want to run away?”

Not a chance, my brain answered, focusing every bit of attention on where her hands rested on my body. Fingertips burning through the soft fabric of my sweats. I fought my body’s urge to lean into her touch. “N-no.” I shook my head. “I’m good.”

Gigi’s hands tightened their grip, then released. My breathing stuttered. “Relax,” she murmured, her mouth right next to my ear. “Breathe.”

My eyes fluttered closed. I exhaled, a long, unsteady breath, letting my muscles loosen.

“There ya go.” She gave my hips one last squeeze, then moved away. I opened my eyes, cold and bereft. Shaking it off, I focused on her next words. “Now. We’re gonna combine lessons one and two. Ready?”

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