Page 15 of The Dating Coach
“Gemma Spears, having an existential crisis? Alert the media.”
She shoved me, laughing. “Shut up. This is all your fault.”
She swept a hand between us. “You—making me question everything. I was perfectly content in my lane until you waltzed in, all complicated and interesting.”
“Complicated and interesting?” I grinned. “Careful, Spears. That almost sounded like a compliment.”
“Don’t let it go to your head. You’re still annoying.”
“But annoyingly good at chemistry tutoring, right?”
“The most annoying,” she said, her eyes warm.
The air between us felt charged, like the moment before lightning strikes.
"We should get back to studying," she said, but made no move to return to the textbook.
"Absolutely," I said, not moving either.
We sat there, caught in the space between what we should do and what we wanted to do, until Mia's voice called up the stairs about dinner being ready. The moment broke, but the understanding remained.
As we headed downstairs, Gemma caught my hand, squeezing briefly before letting go. "For what it's worth," she said quietly, "I'm glad my initial assessment was wrong."
"Me too," I said, following her to the kitchen where Mia was proudly displaying something that might have been lasagna.
Watching Gemma joke with my roommates, seeing Mia bloom under positive attention, feeling like my house had become a home in ways it never was before – I realized I was in trouble. The kind of trouble that came from falling for someone whose life was as complicated as mine, whose timing was terrible, and whose trust was hard-won but worth everything.
Frank caught my eye over dinner, mouthing "you're fucked" with a knowing grin.
Yeah, I thought, watching Gemma laugh at something Mia said, her whole face lighting up with joy. I really was.
Chapter 9: Gemma
The campus coffee shop buzzed with its usual morning chaos—stressed students mainlining caffeine, study groups staking out the best tables, and an endless line of people who still didn’t know their orders after waiting ten minutes. I’d chosenThe Daily Grindfor its visibility and steady stream of potential subjects for Liam to practice on, fulfilling my part of the deal. What I hadn’t anticipated was how strikingly professional Liam would look when he walked in, clad in dark jeans and a fitted henley that made several heads turn.
"You brought a clipboard," he said, sliding into the seat across from me, amusement dancing in his blue eyes. "An actual clipboard with color-coded tabs—just to teach me how to pursue women?"
"This is a structured learning experience," I said, refusing to be embarrassed by my preparation. "If we're going to do this, we're going to do it right."
"Yes, Professor Spears." He smiled, leaning back in his chair. "Should I be taking notes?"
"Actually, yes." I slid a notebook across the table. "Documentation helps with retention and practical application."
He picked up the pen I'd provided, twirling it between his fingers. "You know, most people just wing dating. It's supposed to be spontaneous."
"And how's that working out for you?" I challenged. "When's the last time you actually asked someone out?"
The silence stretched long enough that I knew I'd hit a nerve. Finally, he set down the pen and met my eyes. "Never."
"Never?" I couldn't hide my surprise.
"They always approach me first," he said, and for the first time since I'd met him, he looked genuinely uncomfortable. "It's been that way since high school. I guess I just... got used to it. Path of least resistance."
"But you were in love with Hailey," I pointed out, then immediately regretted bringing her up when something painful flashed across his face.
"Yeah, and I did nothing about it. Watched my best friend pursue her while I stood on the sidelines like a coward." He picked up the pen again, clicking it restlessly. "So maybe these lessons are more necessary than either of us thought."
The vulnerability in his admission made my chest tight. I cleared my throat, returning to safer, more academic ground. "Right. Well, let's start with basics. Recognizing interest versus politeness."
