“It's not rocket science, Rosie Posie. You see a guy you like; you flash him your smile and approach with a "hi." Has a 95% success rate, and it's 100% dick pick and video proof. Did I just change your life?”
I hummed. “Potentially. Do you maybe want to give me lessons?”
Derek coughed as he lifted the water to his lips, but my questions startled him. “Lessons in what exactly?”
I bit into my lower lip. “I don't know... flirting, texting, dating... the basics?”
His eyes fell on my lips, where my teeth met flesh before they jumped back to my eyes. “You're a girl, Rosie. I'm sure you know better than me how to drive a guy crazy.”
“I don't think so,” I shook my head. “I never had a boyfriend.”
“Yeah, but...” he started, with the excuse, but I shook my head again.
“Derek,” I said his name more assertively, as our eyes collided. “I never had a boyfriend.”
The way I emphasized “never,” I saw his face fall.
“What the fuck, Rosie,” he muttered, his hand raking through his hair. “Are you telling me this is a deflowering movement?”
I winced. “When you put it that way, it sounds bad.”
“Jesus,” he stared at me as he saw me for the first time. “How are you almost twenty and have never had sex...”
“Are you judging?” I narrowed my eyes at him. “Not everyone likes to just fuck around. I was busy dancing.”
“Very busy,” he nodded, and I punched his arm.
“Stop.”
Dex burst out laughing and shook his head. “Sorry, I'm just masking my shock with humor.”
“Why is it so shocking that someone wouldn't have the... opportunity to have sex?” I turned towards him, eyes wide. “Explain.”
“You're... pretty, smart, and a dancer,” he pointed out some of my features, making me blush.
Was he complimenting me? Or just saying what I needed to hear?
I shrugged, dipping my chin to hide my blush. “Guess, I just haven't found the right person.”
Derek arched his eyebrow and snorted. “Clearly, your standards are so high that you would pick anyone off an app.”
“Asshole,” I muttered, punching his arm again. “If that were the case, I would have already been done with my quest. So, yes, I do have standards. I want to find someone good, someone who is not just going to fuck me and leave. I want them to be kind and caring, not like all these frat boys. No offence.”
“None taken. So, we are looking for a boyfriend,” Dex smirked, and I really wanted to wipe that off his face.
“No... I don't know.”
“But you do, Rosie,” he chuckled, his voice dropping lower as his gaze darkened. “We are looking for your Prince Charming,who is going to magically solve all your problems. We are searching for a Max to your Ivy. The Liam to your Brooke.”
“I get the point,” I cut him off, my cheeks burning from anger. “You don't need to make fun of me.”
“I'm not,” he shook his head, and I saw pity in his eyes. “But love isn't something you can learn, Rosie. It's something you experience and fall into, hoping the other person will be there to catch you. You can't plan for it; it just happens. And usually, in the most inconvenient time.”
I scoffed. “What do you know about love, Casanova? All you do is fuck your way through all the sororities.”
Derek laughed, my jabs clearly not hitting him. “I know more than you think, Thorn. That's why I'm fucking my way through every sorority. I'm not interested in love.”
There was a long silence between us. The suffocating tension was broken up by the steady bass and chatter from around, but we didn't break eye contact as we stared at each other. His blue eyes were full of pity; mine were angry or upset. I didn’t even know what I felt, because all I could think about was who would be stupid enough to lose a guy like Derek.
