Page 11 of Cocky Nerd
Olivia
Besides what he’s offering, there is only one reason I’m even considering this. My hand accidentally brushed past it once, years ago. It was tucked into the right leg of his jeans, it was harder and bigger than I ever would have expected, and I would gladly have a fake relationship with that thing. Maybe we’ll get to the point where we’re so comfortable being together that he’ll leave the bathroom door open when he pees and I can finally get a look at that surprisingly significant part of him that has wandered into my fantasies uninvited more than once in my life, like an obnoxious, engorgedthief.
Until today, that was the only moment where it had occurred to me that the tension between Johnny and me might be sexual. Usually being around him had felt like being in a room with a fly. Always aware of the constant buzzing of his brain, never quite knowing what to expect, always ready to swat at him if he landed nearme.
It’s in a true dancer’s nature to be up for anything most of the time, and I am up for this. Obviously I’d love to take time off from waiting tables to go to Shanghai and New York, but there’s something about this whole scenario that intrigues me. Johnny Brandt has graduated from annoyance to enigma, and I want to know more abouthim.
Every single term he has verbally specified is included in the contract, including the exact amount I make in two weeks times five. “How did you know how much money Imake?”
“Research, observation, instinct.” he shrugs. “You’ll note that there is a non-disclosure agreement built in,” he says. “No one else will know about this arrangement, including my personal assistant Sanjay. Or any of our family members or friends, including yourroommate.”
“You want me to lie to my family—to their faces? When we’re inCleveland?”
“Perhaps by then it won’t be alie.”
“Hah.”
“Stranger things have happened. Regardless, by then I’m sure you’ll be more comfortable with thearrangement.”
“Theruse.”
“Such a stickler for words, Miss Montgomery. And here I thought you preferred to speak bodylanguage.”
“I do, but you aren’t exactly fluent init.”
He smirks. “Is that what youthink.”
“Only based on every single interaction I’ve ever had with you.”Hold up. What’s this?“It says here you want me to ‘forego interactions with any and all current and/or past boyfriends and/or sexual partners throughout the month-long period of thiscontract?’”
“As will I. Is that aproblem?”
“No. I mean. Julian’s not in town anyway.” He’s as close as I’ve come to having a boyfriend over the years, as my sexual partners have, for one reason or another, never interested me enough to merit more than a few encounters. Julian is a choreographer who’s based in New York, and we’ve been seeing each other off and on since I lived in Pittsburgh. The sex is always hot and fast and now that I think about it, he’s never taken me on an actual date. But he’s brilliant and wildly talented. So that counts for a lot. At least, that’s what I tellmyself.
“You’re still seeing thatguy?”
“When we’re in the same city. You know aboutJulian?”
“No. Sort of. Due diligence. I will remind you that we’ll be in Manhattan for a fewdays.”
“Oh. Right. Well—it’s a big city, I’m sure we won’t crosspaths.”
“You actually enjoy crossing paths with that guy?Really?”
“Well…I mean, he’s a geniuschoreographer.”
“Let’s not use the word ‘genius’ so freely. If he’s a genius then why hasn’t he cast you inanything?”
“I’m under contract with the companyhere.”
“Not at the moment. Does he work on shows for thesummer?”
“Well…Yeah. I mean, not here though. It’s not just his decision, there’s also the producers and the artistic directors. Why are we even talking about him? And I don’t just date him so he’ll want to work with me—I had a crush on him long before wemet.”
“Really?” His nose iswrinkled.
“Excuse me. I’m sure your taste in women isimpeccable.”
He grins as he slowly looks me up and down. “I think itis.”
