Page 49 of Hooking Up

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Iris: Why?

Walker: 'Cause I want to. I don't have complicated motivations. I want something. I do it.

Iris: Okay. In two weeks. I'm supposed to try new things.

Walkers: Supposed to?

Iris: It's gonna sound stupid.

And I can't tell him.

Walker: I have a much higher bar for stupid than you do. I promise.

Iris: I'm doing this ten step program.

For life after addiction.

But I need to spin it some other way. I'm not letting another person look at me the way Alice did. I'm not letting anyone else hurt me like that.

I'm not telling anyone until I'm sure they're worth trusting. Until I'm sure I want to trust him. Until I'm sure I want more than easy.

Iris: For life after a breakup. And that's one of them. Trying new things. Finding new hobbies.

Walker: Ah.

Iris: Ah?

Walker: Sleeping with tattooed manwhores is a new thing.

Iris: True.

Walker: What have you tried so far?

Iris: Barre classes.

Walker: Verdict?

Iris: You ever done one?

Walker: Really?

Iris: I've never seen a guy at one, but you might live to defy stereotypes.

Walker: Not that one.

Iris: I wasn't into it. Too much stuff that isn't scientifically accurate.

Walker: Yeah?

Iris: Yeah. There's no such thing as toning. And you can't make muscles longer. I don't like those classes that focus on how you look.

Walker: You look fucking amazing.

Iris: Yeah?

Walker: Yeah. Your ass is perfect.

Iris: I always thought it was a little big.

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