Page 26 of Something Real with the Sea Monster
To lift the mood, I nudge him. “Hey, match with anyone yet?”
He sighs. “No. I’m afraid I’m a lost cause. You should probably give up on me.”
“Why is that? Seriously? And don’t say it’s because you’re too picky. That’s an excuse.”
He seems to consider a moment. His eyes get all serious. “There might be a bit more to it than that.”
“Does it have to do with the fated mates thing? Because you’ll never find her if you don’t put yourself out there.”
Jack opens his mouth to speak, then the bell over the door rings, and he freezes. It’s a delivery of stationery, which Jack deals with while I burn with curiosity over what he was about to say.
As soon as the delivery lady leaves, I turn to him and fix him with a look. “Tell me.”
He groans. “OK, but promise not to laugh.”
I make a cross over my chest. “Cross my heart. Come on. I could use a distraction today.”
THIRTEEN
Jack
I wish I could distract her as well as she did for me on the Ferris wheel, but all I’ve got is an ill-advised idea and the ugly truth. “Well… do you know any virgins my age?”
“No, but you know I think it’s sweet. That you waited? Jack, it's adorable.”
I’m still feeling hot under the collar, but the word adorable helps a little. “Well I kinda wish I hadn’t. It seemed like agood strategy when I was eighteen, but now it’s just fucking awkward.”
“Oh! Is that why you haven’t matched with anyone yet? Are you worried about it?”
I shift uncomfortably. Should I confess?
Her phone buzzes and she glances at it with a growl, dismissing the call. “Oh my god. Would he just fuck off already?”
“Your ex?”
She nods. “He’s just being a dick.”
I frown. “Do you want me to have a word with him?”
She waves her hand in a dismissive gesture. “He’s not worth it. Let’s focus on your problem for a minute.”
Great.
She takes a deep breath, looks as if she’s about to say something, then places her finger over her mouth and stops herself.
“What?”
She looks back at me and there’s a cheeky grin growing on her face that I’m not sure if I should trust. “OK, hear me out. This might be a very bad idea, but what if… just imagine you had a coach. Who could help show you what to do. And tell you how to please a woman.”
Oh fuck. Does she mean her? She’s right. This probably is a very bad idea, but also a really, really great idea. “Keep talking.”
“Well, what if we fucked? Purely for training purposes you understand. It wouldn’t have to be weird. Like fuck buddies. We’d just be friends who fuck. I’ve had fuck buddies before.”
Is she trying to convince herself or me?
“And you would be OK with that?”
“Yes!” She coughs. “I mean sure. I could help you out.”
