Page 92 of Playing Flirty

“Yeah. Okay.” I looked up at William, hoping he’d tell me whatever he’d planned to say.

With half a smile, he leaned against the doorframe. “Another time. Good night, Rose.”

Rose. Would I ever get used to him calling me that?

What was it William wanted to tell me?

The question plagued me all the way to pole dancing class, which, even I had to admit, was fun.

This week we were working on the final move, what the instructor called the Ballet and Inside Hook. While I still felt like a child applying their mother’s makeup and putting on a fashion show, I had to admit the progress we had made was phenomenal.

When we began learning this move, the instructor had us plank. Invariably, I’d collapse at the twelve-second mark and lie there waiting for the buzzer. Now I could do it a full sixty seconds while still having control over my limbs the next morning. I was shocked and amazed I didn’t have six defined abs already.

While we rehearsed, I told Neema everything William had reported about the meeting, only leaving out the thing he’d left unsaid.

“In all the years I’ve dated Shaun, I can count on one hand how many times William has been awake before noon. I imagine he drove there half-asleep.” She laughed. “I guess he really likes your game.”

A warmth crept into my chest, and I found myself unable to keep the smile off my face. It was becoming a habit at the mention of him. “I guess so.”

Neema shot me a suspicious look, but then I landed a wicked spin, and she paused to cheer me on.

“Last chance to let me add a few sexy moves into this routine,” the instructor said in almost a plea.

“Nope. I don’t want my girls to be uncomfortable,” Neema said, making my heart soar. “Rose has tried backing out several times already.”

“Thank you, and I’m sorry,” I said. “I know this routine is kinda boring.”

The instructor brought her thumb and forefinger together. “Just a lil’ bit. Let’s add some spice.”

But Neema reached out and pinched my arm. “I love this routine. It’s fun and silly and kinda impressive, and that reminds me of us.” She turned toward the instructor. “But I will be using those other moves for the private show.”

I burst out laughing.

“Besides, we could go up there and do nothing and the boys would love it,” Neema said, her eyes shooting over to mine.

My throat went dry, and I looked away first before spilling all my secrets.

But she wasn’t wrong. The boys would love this.

When the endorphins eventually wore off, I curled up in bed wearing my favorite dinosaur pajamas and stared at my phone. William and I weren’t done talking. There was so much left in the air that we wouldn’t be able to walk through it without hitting our heads on something. I typed out several texts, deleting each one over and over.

My finger hovered above the dial button, but I didn’t want to do this over the phone or text. And I knew, whatever it was, he’d have told me by now if he wanted to.

I wanted to see his face. I wanted to feel his warmth. Hear his laugh. I wanted that pine and lavender smell to rub off on me.

Since I couldn’t have any of that, I called my mom.

“My Rosie!” she shouted into the phone.

“No,myRosie!” my dad shouted, challenging her immediately.

“Hello, Mom. Hello, Dad,” I said to their faces in the camera.

“I was starting to get worried! You haven’t called us in ages,” my mom said.

Because of my mother’s warning about Patrick and the relationship of sorts with William, I struggled to face her. I either wanted to force her to tell me the truth about Patrick or force myself to tell her the truth about William. I wasn’t good with secrets.

And if there was anything I knew about my mother, it’s that she wouldn’t break a promise. Assuming she’d promised Patrick she would keep his secret, it was certainly safe with her.

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