Page 31 of Teach Me How

She worries her bottom lip. “And if you’re up for it, I want your help with that.”

“Why me?”

“Because I trust you. And you’re hot.” She bites her lip, trying to keep a grin under control. “And you have a big dick.”

A laugh tumbles off my lips. “Laying it on real thick, Kitty Cat.”

She shrugs. “I’ll make it worth your while.”

“How?”

She scrunches her face up. “Besides the easy sex?”

“I get the feeling nothing with you is going to be easy.”

She glowers at me, and I realize it sounds like I’m saying she’s tough to deal with… sexually. Which couldn’t be farther from the truth. “I mean, it’s a complicated situation. We have a lot of history. And there’s your brother…”

“Yeah, I know. But I don’t know who else I could ask.”

“I don’t want you asking anyone else.” The words are off my tongue before I can stop them, surly and bossy.

“I hate to say it, but it doesn’t matter what you want. This is happening with or without you. I need a change, Skyler. I’ve always molded myself around the men in my life. My dad. My brother. Boyfriends. I let them tell me how to think. How to act. I’m fucking tired of it. I’ve got this opportunity to wipe the slate clean and start over. Be who I want to be. And I’m going to do it.”

“And that involves sexy things?”

“God damn right it does.” She pauses. “How about this? You help me with this side of things, and I’ll help you with dating.”

“Who said I need help with dating?”

She gives me a flat look. “Everybody.”

“Judas.”

She tilts her head. “Well, do you?”

I sigh, letting a slow breath flutter between my lips.

In the last year, I’ve probably been on two dozen dates. Not a one of them led to a second date.

I convinced myself there was something wrong with each of those women, but there is only one common denominator.

Me.

I’m doing something wrong. There is something damaged about me that’s getting in my way. Apparently, everyone else has noticed, which makes me want to shrivel in on myself. I hate pity.

Hate.

It.

This is why I keep to myself, but apparently, that’s not been enough. My problems are too big. Too obvious.

I want what the guys have. Unconditional love. A home that I actually want to come back to. Someone like Reese, who isn’t Reese. Because among other things, she’s trying to find her independence and I don’t want to be the asshole to chain her down to Silver Bend.

But if Reese could wave her adorable fairy wand and fix me, would I let her?

“No.” The word falls between us, harsh and cold.

Her eyebrow slides up. “No?”

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