Shea
I stareat my flushed face in the foggy bathroom mirror.
Emma chatters behind me, having just gotten out of the shower.
But I’m processing nothing she says. I’m too busy being shocked at myself.
What in the world got into me? Talking to a thirty-six-year-old man like that?
Emma’s dad!
I don’t know, I entered some kind of flow state where I couldn’t stop telling him inappropriate things about myself. My taste in thongs and movies.
It just felt so…good.
Pushing boundaries with that man in a way I’ve never been tempted to push them with anyone else. The way Jason looks at me…makes me feel found, claimed…and restless at the same time. I don’t know why. It’s like my body knows something I don’t.
He asked me the color of the thong.
Was that confirmation that he feels some interest in me, too?
What if he does? What then?
Nothing, dumb dumb.
You have one friend at college so far. This is her dad.
All right. The angel on my shoulder is correct. I definitely need to chill.
No more flirting with the giant man in his mid-thirties.
I should probably start small, like a fraternity pledge. My age. Regular sized.
My mouth turns down into a frown.
“Shea! Are you listening to anything I’m saying?”
“Yes!”
“So you think Ishouldlure Diego to his bedroom tonight and seduce him?”
I turn away from the mirror to face my friend. “Since when do you ask my advice on seduction?”
“Never. But I’m nervous! I really like this guy.”
“Let the night unfold organically. If it’s meant to be, it’ll be.” I frown. “Also, shouldn’t he be taking some of the initiative?”
“Wait for a man to make a move? I’d never get laid if I followed that advice,” she says, with no small amount of disgust.
I shrug. “Not getting laid is a noble pursuit.”
Emma makes a face.
“Girls,” comes a deep voice from the other room, causing goosebumps to break out all over my body, even my tummy. “Sushi is here.”
“Thanks, Dad,” Emma calls. “Be right there.”
I follow Emma out of the bathroom, through the guest room and back into that incredible living room. I have to stop myself from basking in the glory of it on the way to the kitchen/dining room where Jason is removing containers from a brown paper bag, setting them out on an oval mid-century modern table that begs to be admired.
