Page 22 of Butter My Biscuit

I smile. “We’re gonna have a blast. Plus, I’ve never been before, so it will be a whole-ass experience.”

“Toes in the sand, margaritas on the beach. Also, we’re staying at a really nice resort.” She starts to cry again.

“Hey, hey.” I wipe her cheek with my thumb. “Don’t think of it as the end, but rather the beginning of something else. Something better.”

“At this rate, you’re gonna get married before me,” she says, and this causes me to burst into laughter.

“Doubt it.”

“Why? You can have anyone you want.” She makes a face. “You have zero issues finding a date for anything. Right now, you could unlock your phone and pick any phone number in your Contacts, and they’d meet you anywhere you asked. I wish I could switch places with you.”

I shake my head. “No, you don’t.”

“One-night stands. Random men tripping over their dicks for me. The ability to walk into a room and command it. I haven’t had sex in almost two years. Fuck.” She drinks more whiskey, and I think I see her eyes blink at different times.

“Gracie, one-night stands don’t fill the void.”

“Will you coach me?”

“What?”

“Be my dating coach. Teach me how to be exactly what men want.Please?” When she blinks, more tears stream.

“That’s really what you want?”

“Yes,” she whispers, not waiting a beat. “Right now, I’m not living. And I’m not getting any younger. So, it’s either that or I need to start adopting cats when I get home; otherwise, I’m gonna be lonely as hell.”

“Okay.”

“Okay, as in yes?”

“Sure.” I shrug, gulping whiskey down, feeling the burn from head to toe.

Grace wraps her arms around me and squeezes me tight. I hold her for a second, kinda hating myself for agreeing, but I’ll do whatever it takes to make her happy.

“Know that being the woman every man wants isn’t full of shits and giggles.”

“I just want choices. Right now, I have zero.”

“Zero?”

She pulls away. “Yeah. The only person who wants to hang out with me is you.”

“Thanks. You make it sound like?—”

She places her finger over my mouth. “It’s not meant as an insult. You’re great. But I want to be swept off my feet. I want my fairy tale.” She chokes out the last two words.

I wipe a tear away. “I’ll do whatever I can to make sure you get it.”

“What would I do without you?” she asks.

“Adopt a fuck ton of cats.”

This makes her laugh.

“I think I’m drunk.” She hiccups. “And suddenly, nothing really matters. I just don’t understand why most men aren’t like you. Sure, you’re a fuckboy, but I know you’d never cheat.”

“Never. I respect relationships. And marriage? The fact that he disrespected something so sacred? Piece of shit. When I’m with someone, I’m one hundred percent dedicated to them and only aim to please.”

---