Page 5 of Look, Don't Touch

“Believe it or not, yes.”

“Why wouldn’t I believe it?”

“Because I’m…different.” There’s a weight in his voice that wasn’t there a moment ago.

“The notion of normal and sameness are bullshit.”

“Is that a clinical term?”

“Absolutely. We all have our hang-ups, glitches, tics. The biggest problem is that we think we’re alone or unique because of them. When, in fact, it’s what knits us together. Tell me about your friends.”

He clears his throat.

“Karris is the head of tech for Judge. We met freshman year at Harvard and were roommates until grad school. Celeste is the head of real estate for Judge. We met in grad school. Dobson is the head of media for Judge. We met when he was bartending the first Judge Conglomerate holiday dinner.”

“He makes the meanest vodka martini?”

There’s the barest hint of a laugh. It’s decadent. “No. Actually, his drinks were shit. He managed to put my head of media in a headlock and the spotlight for selling company secrets.”

“You repaid him with the position?”

“He earned it.”

“Fair enough.”

“Then there’s Hotaru.” Mr. Judge pauses for a moment. “He’s my guy.”

I perk. “Your boyfriend?”

“No.”

“Your…”

“My best friend. I met Hota at boarding school, and we just got each other.”

I catch myself sliding my hand down my skirt over my thigh a little too intensely for company and fold my hands in my lap once more. I decide I’m not getting any more out of him, so I move on. “Do any of these people have the privilege of touching you or earning your touch?”

“No. They touch me less than a stranger would attempt.”

“Because they know you.”

“Yes.”

“And they’ve never pushed you?”

“Once upon a time, Celeste fancied herself in love with me.”

“How hard did she push you?”

“One hug, one failed hand hold, two failed kiss attempts, and her last-ditch effort.”

“Which was?”

“Naked ambush.”

Not much reading the room going on for Celeste. In her defense, it isn’t often a naked woman goes unappreciated. But if someone doesn’t want to hold your hand, they’re probably not going to want to touch your pussy either.

“How did those experiences make you feel?”

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