Page 98 of Flirting Lessons

“First of all, it was your fault I lost that bet. Luring me into bed with your come-hither eyes, you should be ashamed of yourself. Secondly, I didn’t realize that losing the bet meant not only that I’d have to plan a baby shower but that I’d have to plan it withSloaneand especially that I’d have to go to a Saturday-morning brunch at nine with Sloane and Erica to discuss said baby shower. Every word of that sentence is antithetical to my very being! A meal at nine a.m. isn’t even brunch! That’s just breakfast! I don’t care if it’s on a Saturday.”

Avery opened her mouth, and Taylor put her fingertip on her lips.

“And don’t say, like I know you’re about to, that it’s so earlybecause I have to be at work at ten thirty, I know this, it will not make me feel better. Thank God you’re coming with me, is all I can say.”

Avery moved her hand down the side of Taylor’s body. Taylor closed her eyes and let herself enjoy the feeling of Avery’s skin against hers, Avery’s arms around her, Avery’s hand caressing her. She’d said all of that in a half-joking tone, but she wasn’t joking at all about that last part.

“I mean that, you know,” she said. “I’m really glad you’re coming with me today.”

“I know you are,” Avery said. “Me and my baby shower–related spreadsheets are going to make you look good.”

That’s not what Taylor had meant, but she let it go.

“That, and your sparkling personality, and your ability to elbow me if I start to say something deeply rude to Sloane.”

Avery raised her eyebrows.

“Only if you start to say somethingdeeplyrude?”

Taylor sighed.

“Okay, fine, anything rude at all. You’re not going to let me have any fun today, are you?” She kissed Avery once, and then again, longer this time. “How much time do we have?” she said in Avery’s ear.

Avery looked at her watch and kissed her hard.

“Enough. Barely. I know how long you take in the shower.”

“Hey! I can hurry up in the shower if I have to. I can’t believe you’re going to use my good hygiene habits against me.”

Avery giggled as Taylor rolled over on top of her.

Afterward, she kissed Taylor’s neck.

“We need to get up. I want to look nice today. I’m meeting your best friend for the first time, and I don’t want her to think that I just rolled out of bed and to this brunch like I don’t care.”

Taylor kissed her shoulder.

“It’s breakfast. And you always look good.” Wait. Taylor turned so she could see Avery’s face. “Are you nervous about meeting Erica?”

Avery didn’t meet her eyes, in that way that she did when she was stressed.

“Um, sort of. Yeah, I mean…” She sighed and finally looked at Taylor. “Yes, of course I am. I’ve met your other friends, and they were all nice to me, including after they knew we were together, so I assume she will be, too. But she’s your best friend, and that’s different. Plus, I didn’t know I was meeting your other friends in advance that first time. I didn’t have time to get nervous.”

They’d gone back to trivia this past Tuesday night, and the crew there swarmed them like they were the paparazzi and Taylor and Avery were a celebrity couple. She’d stuck to Avery’s side most of the night, not because she was worried that one of her friends would hit on Avery again—she knew they wouldn’t—but because she’d worried that one of her friends would quiz Avery about their relationship. They had that habit.

She hadn’t needed to worry, though—the night had turned into an impromptu birthday party for her, which surprised her a little and touched her a lot. She hadn’t made a big deal about her birthday to Avery, because she didn’t want to stress her out about it, but she’d underestimated Avery, who had managed to sneak a cake for her into the bar. It had been a really fun night.

Erica hadn’t been there, though. Which, there was no reason Erica should have been there, it’s not like she regularly went to trivia anymore, especially now that she was pregnant and going to bed even earlier than she used to, and it hadn’t been a planned birthday party for her or anything. Still, it was weird that she was only now meeting Avery for the first time. Taylor had barely heard from her in the past few weeks, other than her happy birthday text. She hadn’t even really asked about how things were goingwith Avery. And things were going great, actually. They saw each other multiple times a week, and it felt good, not suffocating; they had a blast together; and the sex got better every time. But Erica wouldn’t know any of that. The most they’d communicated was to plan this stupid brunch. Breakfast!

“Don’t stress about meeting Erica. She can be kind of judgy about people I date, but I’ve told her only good things about you, not that there’s anything else to tell. But she’s pretty wrapped up in baby stuff right now, so I’m sure it’ll be fine. If Sloane wasn’t going to be there, she might grill you a little if I go to the bathroom or something, but I’m sure she’ll be focused on all the shower stuff today. I wouldn’t worry about it.”

She could tell from Avery’s face that she was even more worried. Great, she’d handled that all wrong. Time to deflect.

“Go get in the shower so we won’t be late.”

Avery looked at her watch and fled to the bathroom.

Even though they were early—well, her version of early—Erica and Sloane were there before them, already at a booth. And, even more irritatingly, they were sitting across from each other, which meant that Taylor didn’t get to sit next to Avery.

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