Page 11 of Nerdy Dirty Valentine

“You apologize way too much, James.”

“Sorry, I?—”

“That should be your resolution. Stop apologizing if you’re not perfect or for being you.”

He nodded, tugging on his trim beard. “What was your resolution?”

“Me? I don’t make them,” I lied.

“Smart. Well… Bye, Phin.”

“Bye.” I jammed my hands into my pockets as he started to open his car.

He rolled down the window and said, “Thanks for boosting my confidence a little and carrying Ginsberg. Maybe I will stop apologizing and start dating. Or maybe not.”

“You could practice those things. I could—no, dumb idea.”

“What?” James’ brows lifted, and his head tilted as he studied me.

“Date me? I mean, let me help you learn how to date and get comfortable with it.”

“I could use the help.” James nodded eagerly.

“I’m a good date. So I’ve been told. Not good at relationships,” I added to be clear. “But a good date.”

“Understood. And for the record, I’m hoping to find a relationship eventually, but not with the first guy I’m dating.” His gaze dropped to my mouth, lingered a moment. The tips of James’ ears turned red, and he rubbed the back of his neck. “But if I keep discussing my politics, parents, and dog flatulence, I might be in?—”

“Deep shit?”

James laughed. “True.”

“Under my tutoring skills, I guarantee you’ll get second dates. Even if we’re only fake dating.”

“Practice dating,” James corrected. “Nobody else needs to be involved. I don’t like the idea of faking things. I once faked a boyfriend to my family back in college.”

“Didn’t go well?”

“A disaster. They loved my Fake Harry too much. I hyped him up way too long.”

“And what was the hype you spun? For this ideal fake boyfriend?”

“Mostly, he was my clone. A short king, well-read, and committed to the academic world.”

I grunted. “Yeah, sounds perfect for you. Guess the whole family approved of Fake Harry?”

“So much, and that became the problem. My folks invited Fake Harry for the holidays and refused to take excuses. I had to fake break up with him before Thanksgiving.”

My lips twitched. “This experiment can stay between us. Nothing fake or permanent.”

“All right, but only if I can do something for you in return.”

I could think of lots of dirty suggestions to that. I swallowed hard. “Can you decorate?”

“What?”

“You dress so nice and all. And look at him—Ginsberg’s even dressed well. So I thought maybe… my apartment needs some love.”

“I already know your favorite color.” James beamed in agreement, his normally serious face lit up. God, he had a cute smile. Even the baby beard was growing on me. Lots of guys would find him adorable, exactly the way he was.

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