Page 45 of Flirting Lessons

They smiled at each other, both with eyes full of laughter, and Avery suddenly realized how close they were sitting. So close, their hips were touching. So close that if she moved just a little, their arms would be touching, too.

She stayed right where she was. But that tiny space between their arms felt like it was almost pulsing. She could feel the warmth coming from Taylor’s skin.

What was she doing, fantasizing about Taylor like this? Taylorwasn’t interested in her! Taylor had women throwing themselves at her all the time—as was clear from what Liz and Callie had said. Taylor didn’t want someone as inexperienced and awkward as Avery. Taylor was only out with her because she was teaching her how to be not quite so awkward.

Wait, hadn’t she decided it was fine to have a crush on Taylor? That it was a nice way to warm herself up, to get some practice in, to make herself feel a bit less awkward around women? That it was an Exciting New Experience and that she was not going to fight it but instead let herself enjoy it?

That was before she was one strong margarita in and sitting this close to her.

“Okay,” Taylor said in her ear. An actual tingle went down her spine. How could Averynothave a crush on her? “I bet you’re very good at trivia,” Taylor continued.

Avery turned to look at Taylor. She had a sly little smile on her face.

“Kind of, but I’m making no promises,” Avery said. “Are you good at trivia?”

Taylor shook her head.

“No, but I’m good at being able to figure out who knows what they’re talking about versus who is bullshitting. Let’s see how this goes.”

Taylor probably shouldn’t have goneover to Avery’s side of the table, not with her friends around, watching for any sign that something was going on between the two of them. And she definitely shouldn’t have sat down so close to her. But she had to save Avery from Liz, who was clearly annoying Avery and absolutely dying to cross-examine her. The only problem was that Lizwas now back and sitting in Taylor’s old seat and kept looking at the two of them. Whatever, if Liz stared at them, she stared at them. The important thing was that Avery enjoy herself.

“You having fun?” she asked Avery in a low voice.

Avery nodded quickly, a smile on her face.

“Definitely. Your friends are all fun, and the margaritas are great.” Avery took another sip and laughed. “And also very strong—I can’t have more than two of these, I have to be up early tomorrow for a breakfast meeting.”

Taylor opened her eyes wide.

“A breakfast meeting? Those are two words that should never be paired together.”

Taylor saw Dani and Liz exchanging glances at the other end of the table. She sighed internally but shook it off. Whatever, this whole group would gossip about her later, not like that was anything new. She sort of asked for it by bringing Avery around them—though she probably wouldn’t have done that if she and Avery hadn’t already run into them at the dance class. But the queer community in Napa wasn’t all that big; she and Avery definitely would have run into her friends at some point. And once it happened, it made sense to just bring Avery to a group event so the rumor mill wouldn’t go quite as wild about what was going on between the two of them.

Still, the knowing looks and raised eyebrows in her direction were getting on her nerves. She didn’t love the way they gossiped about her, though she knew none of it was malicious. It had been different when Erica was around the group all the time—then, it had been easier to not be bothered, to laugh it off. Then, it had been fun to be the one there were always stories about, the one who everyone gossiped about, who everyone wanted to know what she was doing…or who she was doing, more specifically.

But now Erica was married and pregnant and hanging outwith her friends who had elaborate dinner parties and organized their home offices. If she complained to Erica about the way they were acting about her and Avery, would Erica say something likeWell, you know how you are with womenor evenCome on, tell me, have you slept with her yet?

At least Erica wouldn’t size up Avery like she was fresh meat, like everyone else here was doing. Well, not everyone, Rex wasn’t. But Dani and Nadia were staring at her cleavage, Callie was staring at her whole body, and Liz was just staring at her. Granted, Avery’s cleavage was on display tonight, which both surprised and impressed Taylor. That wasn’t something the Avery of a month ago would have done.

She was glad that she’d waited until this part in their flirting curriculum to bring Avery to hang out with her friends. She was way more relaxed and comfortable with them now than she would have been at first. She hoped Avery would come away from this night buoyed by all the people flirting with her.

As a matter of fact, she should probably move away from Avery so the rest of the group could continue to flirt with her. Slightly reluctant, she stood up.

“I’ll get us another pitcher before things get too busy at the bar,” she announced to the table at large. She walked over to the bar and nodded at Sofie, who was behind the bar that night.

“Another pitcher of margaritas?” Sofie asked her.

“You know it. See, this is why you’re the best bartender in Northern California.”

“Only Northern?” Sofie shook her head. “I’ve obviously got some work to do.”

Taylor laughed and handed over her credit card. As she waited for the margaritas, she wondered who would take advantage of her departure to get up to “go to the bathroom” and then quickly comeback to sit down next to Avery. She refused to turn around—someone at that table was definitely watching her—so she pulled out her phone to text Erica.

Taylor

I brought avery to trivia night tonight and the whole crowd is flocking to her. I just got up to get drinks, want to bet on who grabs the seat next to her?

Would Erica be too busy with work or her house or Sloane to see and respond to her text?

---