Page 29 of Studious
“Most stores have stylists who can help.”
“I don’t just need a stylist, though. I need a full-on glow-up.”
“Meh. Glow-ups are overrated.”
“Coming from someone who’s already had one. Or was born that way.”
He snorts. “I wasn’t born this way.” A dark look passes over his face. “I definitely became who I am.”
I wonder what he means. What has he gone through? Whatever it was, he made himself irresistible.
“I wish I were more like you.” Then my eyes widen. “Shit, I’m embarrassed to say it like that.”
“It’s okay. It’s a compliment.” He grins. “I can be complimentary, too. You look good in my space, wearing my shirt, with that sexy pillow mark on your cheek.”
“I do?”
“Yes.”
But he hasn’t given me any tips. Maybe because I haven’t asked him right.
“Can you help me?” I blurt out.
He blinks. “Help you how?”
“Help me be more like you.”
Danny throws his head back and laughs. “Why on earth would you want to be more like me? Just be yourself. You seem like a pretty cool person.”
“I’m too shy, and I don’t know how to ask for what I want.”
“You did it pretty well just now,” he points out.
“That’s because I’m desperate.” I bite my lower lip and let out a sigh. “Never mind.”
He holds up his hands. “Whoa, whoa. What is it that you want?”
“I’m really inexperienced,” I say. “It’s embarrassing. I see you all confident, and I wish I could have that kind of confidence.”
“You have plenty of confidence. You’re the absolute boss of spreadsheets.”
“But I know nothing about what to dobetweenthe sheets.”
Danny smiles. “Oh, is that all? You can get experience in the bedroom. That’s easy.”
“That’s what I’m saying. Itisn’teasy. I don’t even know where to start.”
Now his face morphs to confusion. “What do you mean?”
I straighten my shoulders. Might as well confess everything. “I’ve never even kissed anyone. Like a real kiss, I mean.”
He studies me. “You haven’t kissed anyone?”
“Go ahead and say it,” I mutter. “I’m the biggest nerd you’ve ever met.”
“No. I think you may be the most genuine person I’ve ever met. You’re not letting yourself be talked into something you don’t want to do.”
I falter. “But that’s the point. Idowant to.”
