“Are you going to help me or what?” I asked at last.
“Yeah, I will,” he nodded, taking a long breath in. “But you need to help me with Pilates in return. Not a fan of Sam.”
I rolled my eyes. “Fine.”
“Fine,” he threw my underlying attitude back at me. “Love happens outside of your comfort zone, Rosebud. So, you must meet me there to start your quest.”
“God, you're annoying,” I muttered as he laughed.
“This is just the beginning, darling.”
“Ready to dance?” Daisy appeared in front of us, her eyes firmly on me. “Ivy is calling us to the dance floor.”
I glanced behind her, where her sister and Nova danced and cringed. I did many things to blend into college life. But this party dancing was flat-out embarrassing to someone withprofessional training. Not like I could whip out my pointe shoes and do a full-on pas de deux with the guys here, but still, there must have been something better than what I was witnessing.
“I’m good,” I muttered with a small shake of my head. “We are having a conversation.”
Truth was, I was done with the discussions on my sex life. But I would take my insecurity over not knowing how to flirt and date over dancing in a crowded living room any time.
“I’ll find you later,” Daisy nodded, with a smile, and skipped towards her sister.
“Want to talk about it?” Dex asked, his shoulder brushing mine as he nudged me. As usual, when around him, the tiny fraction of a touch sent butterflies flapping in my stomach.
“Not really, but we could drink. I really need to find a drink I enjoy.”
Derek chuckled and jumped up from the sofa. He extended his arm to me, and with a hint of hesitation, I wrapped my fingers around his hand and let him pull me up. He dressed casually in jeans and a button-down shirt, leaving the top three buttons unbuttoned and showing off his toned, tanned chest.
Gosh, why did he have to look so good?
He pulled me after himself without a care in the world, all the way to the kitchen where the makeshift bar was placed. It wasn’t a bar. It was a table filled with various drinks and chasers. Everyone around us grabbed a cup and poured their poison before moving on.
Dex stopped us at the side and glanced at me with a grin. “We know you hate beer.” I rolled my eyes. “Wine is out of the question. Why don’t we try a gin and tonic?” he asked, pointing at the gin. “They have Pink Gin, so you can stay on brand.”
I shrugged. “I trust you.”
The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them,but other than a quirk of his eyebrow, Derek didn’t acknowledge my choice of words.
“But if it tastes horrible, I'll lose all my confidence in you.”
Dex barked out a laugh at that and started mixing the pink liquid with elderflower tonic water.
I probably should have warned him I wasn't a fan of tonic water, but he seemed so excited about the prospect of making me a drink I might enjoy that I didn't want to ruin it.
“Pink isn't my favorite color,” I informed him calmly and matter-of-factly.
His eyes flashed to me before stirring my drink and topping it with red fruits. “You could have fooled me.”
“I mean it used to be,” I added, feeling stupid for even saying something. “I still like it, but... I don't know.”
“So, what is it then?” he asked, handing me the cup.
Our fingers brushed as I took it from him and shrugged. “What's what?”
“Your favorite color,” he continued calmly as he popped open a beer can for himself.
I took a tentative sip of my drink. It was not too sweet, but slightly bitter. Flavors mixed in my mouth, and I couldn't pick just one to identify. It was fruity and bitter. Looked sweet based on the color, but then it hit me with that bitter, sparkly aftertaste. Kind of like me.
“Blue,” I offered the first color that came to my mind. I remembered that when we played UNO, I always asked for blue. “Blue like the summer sky, or your eyes.”
