Page 13 of The Book Signing

I laugh along, full well knowing it was a pathetic line, but I needed to think of something to keep her attention and that’s what my brain offered.

For someone who does the wooing and schmoozing on a daily basis, I’m failing at it and can’t understand why.

*

An hour has passed, and after another dish of chips, we are on our third round of drinks, except this time she’s persuaded me to try a pineapple malibu. I’ll be frank. It tastes like sugary shit. But, although I don’t agree with her taste of drinks, she makes good banter and can switch from sass to hot. The more I watch her talk, the more I notice her lips and the shape of them, so very kissable.

I try my best not to stare at them for most of the night, imagining all the kinds of kisses I would like to give her. Or what she could do with those lips. Every time my eyes fall on her lips, I find myself licking my own. Fucking ridiculous.

Another thing that I noticed is her reaction to food and drinks. Her every ‘mmm’, and ‘oh god this tastes delicious’ is pronounced in an erotic tone, which makes my pants tighten. My thoughts go rogue, and I wonder if she’s the kind of girl to go for a guy like me. Based upon what she writes, I doubt it. But what if?

“You’re doing it again,”

I hear her voice cut through my dirty thoughts.

“Sorry, what did you say?”

Abigail laughs and sips on her straw, then says, “I asked if you find the pineapple malibu delicious, then you zoned out, staring at my lips.” Her mouth curves into a teasing grin, and she gives me a pointed look. Maybe it’s because I am an open person, or the drinks are rattling my shame meter, because I say, “I was imagining what it’d be like to have me on top of you and if you’re just as delicious as the cocktail we just devoured.”

Abigail just sits there, staring at me with her mouth open.

Shit, I hope she doesn’t throw her drink in my face and leave.

I’m enjoying her company and trying not to think about what happened earlier. That Meet and Greet did not go as planned, and Greg justhadto remind me.

It was a fuck up I can’t afford.

Her eyes widen, and she clears her throat. “Umm… okay. Is that the drinks talking or your usual charm?” Abigail gives me a pointed look, but I can see her suppressing a grin.

I chuckle and shrug. “What if I told you what you see is what you get?”

I see the curiosity flicker in her eyes, the way she bites down on her lip and, for some fucked up reason, I get nervous. I feel all out of sorts with Abigail. It’s easy banter. With other women, I don’t have to try hard. But Abigail… it’s as if she’s undeterred by me. I know she finds me attractive, so I can’t understand why she isn’t as forthcoming as I am. I mean, I’ve literally seen her salivate when she was remembering my naked ass. It’s like push and pull between us, even in our random banter. If that chance ever presented itself, I wouldn’t be surprised if we argued our way to the bedroom.

“I can’t imagine winning many women over by saying things like that.”

“Did it work for you?”

The sparkle in her eye surprises me, but just as quickly as I see it, it disappears. Instead, Abigail cocks an eyebrow and says, “Is this what you usually say to get women into bed? I’m sensing you can do much better than throwing cliches at me.”

“Not usually, no. This is far from how I am with the ladies” I grin and give her a wink, bringing back the charm that usually works well. In most situations, either midway of a meal or the end of it, I’m already hooking up and the lady of the night is straddling me in the taxi back to my place. In fact, it’s rare that I sit with a woman, eat in silence orengage in casual banter, then have a few drinks. This feels unlike me. I chill with the guys and the most time I spend with women is a couple of reruns in bed with breakfast the next morning. But to sit and discuss stuff with them? No, I see no reason for it. If I will not pursue anything afterwards, then why do it?

Suddenly, a young woman rushes up to our table, practically hurling herself at Abigail. My defensive shields rise, and I get up slightly to assure myself that Abigail is not about to be attacked. Only then I hear, “Oh my gosh, I love your book. It helped me so much. I stopped sleeping around, and then I met my fiancé. You made me rethink my actions and reflect on how I acted.

The woman is literally having a fan girl moment and Abigail looks pleased. However, it makes me nauseous hearing the crap this fan girl is sprouting.

I clear my throat, because I don’t want to hear any more of her naivety, and then she looks at me and grins. Turning to Abigail, she points at me and says, “Oh my gosh, is this him?”

I look at Abigail, confused, and meet a worried and flummoxed expression.

“Excuse me? Who am I?” I ask because my intrigue meter has risen.

This lady begins a rant and I eye Abigail, who seemed to be excited before and now looks like she wants to be anywhere but here.

Is that mortification that I see?

The fan girl gives me a smirk. “Oh, I get it. It’s because you just got back into the relationship club, you’re on the down low. Don’t want too much attention until you’re ‘there’. It’s okay, I get it. Not a fan of publicity myself.” She laughs, and gives us a cheerful wave before saying, “Enjoy the rest of your meal with your boyfriend!” Then she prances off.

I look at Abigail, whose pouty lips are now thinned and unhappy.

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