Page 52 of Sex Coach

That was the most likely reaction .

Some impish part of me wanted to say it just to see which one it was .

But that was a terrible reason to do anything, I told myself. Wasn't it ?

As she continued to watch me, I said, "No." I even forced my voice to be quite firm. "I'm not seeing anybody ."

It wasn't even a lie. Jake and I had a sex thing going on. She was talking about a relationship. That definitely didn't describe what was going on between me and Jake, did it ?

Aunt Blair nodded slowly, and I could tell she believed me but there was still that small part of me that wanted to mention Jake. And I realized it was because I wanted to talk to her about him. I wanted to ask her about what she thought, see what she had to say...not just because I wanted a reaction either .

What would she think about him? I knew what I thought about him. My heart clenched a little bit when I thought about him and that wasn't just sex .

Other things clenched that were related to sex, but it was completely and totally possible to feel a dozen different things and all of them be real and valid. I didn't even think this was because of something as simple as infatuation either. I'd felt that before, the pangs of a crush, that keen edge that almost felt like obsession, but not quite .

This was...different .

"So," Aunt Blair said, seemingly unaware of my distracted thoughts. "So maybe you're not dating anyone right now. But are you ready to think about dating? Because I was thinking that there is somebody I'd love to introduce you to. He's one of the copy editors, and he seems like just your –"

"No." Cutting her off, I shook my head. "No blind dates. I love you dearly, Aunt Blair, and I know you mean well, but I'm so not into the blind date idea ."

She threw her head back and laughed. "Okay, okay. Maybe you're not a brand-new Michelle after all." She leaned over and hugged me. "That's good. Because I absolutely adore you ."

I hugged her back, warm inside. "I love you too ."

"Now, let's talk about the next article you're going to write." She wagged her eyebrows at me, grinning. Delight sparked in her gaze. "Tell me...do you have any ideas ?"

* * *

I t wasn'tuntil I got home that I really let myself start to think about what had transpired earlier. Aunt Blair and I had come home on the subway, which had been enough of a distraction to keep me from thinking about much of anything else. Including Jake...and my feelings for him .

I did have feelings for him .

But I'd rather think about them when I was alone, not while experiencing the New York subway system. And it was an experience. One that a person had to truly...well, experience themselves to understand .

I hadn't gotten lost this time, although that was because of Aunt Blair, I had no doubt. Near the end of the ride, a group of gentlemen all dressed in dressy black slacks, suspenders and black bowlers got up and started singing .

Once we'd disembarked, Aunt Blair told me that wasn't exactly the normal ride, but it did happen .

She also assured me what happened earlier wasn't exactly normal either .

That, in my opinion, was a plus .

I'd give up the snazzy singers in their excellent hats if I didn't have to witness two women getting ready to brawl because one had talked to the sky and the other woman hadn't liked it .

"Typical New Yorkers ignore crazy," Aunt Blair had said with a sniff. "It's what we do ."

She'd been irate that the second woman had been irritated by the woman talking to nothing. In truth, the woman who'd been talking to nothing hadn't been hurting anybody. She'd just been...talking .

And...odorous .

But harmless .

Hell, I often talked to myself too. Just not in public. At least I hoped I didn't .

I'd assured my aunt that I knew all about the rules when it came to ignoring things. After all, I'd lived in the city for years now. I'd learned to ignore plenty .

Now, sitting in the living room of my loft apartment, I studied the subway map without really seeing it .

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