each other?"
"Well, yeah, but clearly we both like each other already. So the pact is void."
"Clearly." She scrunched her face to the side.
"Stop looking at me like that! I never wanted the pact to begin with."
"I know, I know. Look, I have to go. If I'm late my boss will kill me. But think about what you're doing, Keira. That's not you. And odds are, he really isn't looking for anything serious. Because he's told you that. This is an awful, awful plan."
Why did she always think all my plans were so bad? "But..."
"Just think about it, okay? I have to run. But Jim is going to be out of town tomorrow night, so I can make it to your party after all. Maybe I can be your wingman." Emily winked at me and walked out of the restaurant.
***
I sat down on the couch and stared at the blank notebook page on my lap. I hadn't been able to write a good article since Rory had moved in. And now I was playing with the idea of writing a piece about his lifestyle. About how dating was devolving into meaningless hookups.
I heard the creak of the front door and looked over as Rory walked in. He tossed his keys onto the kitchen counter.
"Hey! So I was wondering if you wanted to start those lessons?" I asked.
"Right now?"
"Yeah."
"Okay, just let me go change." He came back out of his room while he was still pulling a white t-shirt over his head. His jeans sat low on his waist and hugged him in all the right places. He sat down next to me on the couch. "What exactly do you want me to teach you?"
"All of it." He smelled like cinnamon. It must be from something he made at work. I found myself wanting to lick his skin. Calm down!
"You seemed to be doing pretty well with Connor the other night. I didn't even believe you when you said you two hadn't hooked up."
"That was just fooling around. It was all him."
"Well that's how it works. I'm usually the one being forward. And then if the girl responds, I know she's interested."
He hasn't been forward with me at all. "So, what if the guy isn't being forward? Is there something I could do in order to let a guy know that I'm interested in hooking up?"
"Yeah, just be flirtatious and slutty."
I have been! "I've tried that. It doesn't seem to work."
"So maybe he's gay."
"No he's definitely not gay. I've heard him having sex."
"In your office?"
"No. No, that's not what I meant. I've heard about him having sex. From other people. He has sex with women and people talk, you know? Normal office stuff."
"No, not really."
"Okay, well he's not gay. He's straight. Just take my word for it."
"I'm sorry, Keira, but maybe he's just not that into you."
I bit my lip. "Oh." Of course. Of course you're not into me.
Rory was staring at me.
"Well maybe I just don't know how to be forward enough. Maybe you could show me exactly what a girl would do if she was interested in you. I mean, have you ever slept with a girl who you didn't find super attractive?"
"No."
"Well, just show me what to do." This wasn't working. He's not attracted to me.
Rory sighed. "Okay. So obviously if I'm sitting at the bar or something, she'd come and sit right next to me."
I can do that. I'm doing it right now! "Good to know." I scribbled that down in my notebook.
"You're taking notes?"
"I don't want to forget anything. Keep going."
"Lots of flirtatious touching. So when you laugh, touch his shoulder. Or put your hand on his thigh."
"Hand on thigh, got it." I bit my lip. "Wait, like right above the knee?"
Rory put his hand on the middle of my thigh. "Higher is better."
Yes it is. I gulped.
"And if you really want him to know you mean business, slowly move your hand up his thigh. He'll get the picture, unless he's an idiot." He moved his hand off my leg.
I scribbled that down. I've got you just where I want you now, Rory.
"Also, laugh at all his jokes. You don't want to wound his confidence if you're trying to take advantage of it."
"Done."
"And wear something that makes you seem easy."
"Like what?"
"Doesn't really matter as long as it's tight and barely covers anything."
"So like, legs and boobs?"
"Yeah." He ran his hand through his hair. "And it's gotta accentuate your ass."
Great, he likes big butts. Maybe that's the problem.