Page 38 of Studious
“Him.”
“So say that.”
“Nope,” I say quickly. “That’s cheating. And besides, he doesn’t need to know.”
“Well, what else you got?”
“That my ideal man is male and doesn’t make fun of me.”
Mason pauses. “Good start.”
“I’m Hopeless,” I whine. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Did you capitalize that? You did, didn’t you?”
“Kinda.”
“Are you looking for someone who is more of a friend? Or do you want passion?” He says that with a ridiculous French accent, and I laugh.
“I just want someone I enjoy being with. Is that bad? I don’t really care what they look like, although I want to find them attractive. But I’m attracted to a lot of people, you know?”
“Yeah,” says Mason. “I know. You’ll find him. Or maybe your teacher daddy will do the trick.”
“That’s not going to happen.”
* * *
The next day at work, Danny comes into my office right at twenty-four hours after he sent the text.
“Have you done your homework?” The way he says “homework” is so deep and dirty it makes me think he means something else.
“I wrote down what I want,” I say. “So, yes.”
“Read it to me.”
It takes me a moment to open the document on my phone. I clear my throat and glance up. He looks amused. “Ready?”
He nods.
“I want someone who is male and who won’t make fun of me,” I dutifully read.
Danny snorts. “Those things are given. This list needs to be more aspirational.”
“Well, give me a minute.”
“Sorry. I got impatient. Hit me.”
“I want him to like me when we wake up in the morning and when we go to bed and all the time in between. I want him to want to tell me things and trust that I will support him. I want him to listen and not tell me that what I’m feeling is wrong. I want him to accept me for who I am. And I want to love him back with all my soul.”
I glance up. Danny’s eyes are warm and welcoming. I could swim in them.
“I want him to be patient with my inexperience.”
Danny nods. “Okay, good start. We can work with this. And how inexperienced are you? Have you ever held hands?”
“Just with my best friend.”
“Have you danced with a guy?”
