‘Date me. I’ll help you win the bet. You won’t have to trawl through dating apps and potentially go to jail for tossing guys out of windows.’
‘You’re not serious.’ Her eyes darted all over my face, waiting for the punchline. Thegotchathat told her I was kidding. When the silence stretched out between us, her mouth dropped open. ‘Oh God, you are serious, aren’t you?’ She shifted out of my hold, shaking her head. ‘George, I can’t date you.’
Those words pelted me harder than they should have.
‘Why not? It’s not like it would be real.’ Those words tasted like acid, but they made the scepticism on Rosie’s face soften.
‘Okay, say I agree, which I’m not,’ she hurried to add. ‘Why would you even want to do this?’
Because I’d get to spend time with you.
No. Those feelings needed to stay locked away in a dark corner, never to see the light of day.
‘I can’t want to help a friend when there is a high probability of them getting a Disney character permanently inked into their skin?’ When she didn’t look convinced, I added, ‘Look, you don’t know how to date.’
‘Thank you, Captain Obvious.’
Ignoring her snark and how much I loved it, I continued. ‘I do know how to date. Let me show you.’
Still not convinced, she said, ‘You want to teach me how to date?’
‘It would prove Fallon wrong on multiple levels. You can connect with someone and hold down a relationship without sex being involved.’ That statement had the wheels in her head turning.
She toyed with her bottom lip. ‘This is insane.You’reinsane.’
‘Only on Tuesdays,’ I deadpanned.
She paused, then burst out laughing. Hearing that sound made all the rationale fornotdoing this fade further into the background.
‘Well?’
Her silence had my heart slamming against my chest. When her eyes peered up at me through thick lashes, and her lips parted, it nearly stopped beating.
11
‘Third door on your right.The instructor will be in once everyone has arrived.’ A perky redhead flashed me a professional smile, gesturing down a well-lit hallway.
Giving her my thanks, I hiked my workout bag higher up my shoulder and walked in the direction she’d pointed. I woke up that morning, brain fizzing with the previous night’s events, when my phone buzzed with the notification, reminding me of the introductory yoga class I’d signed Fallon and me up for. I only had an hour. After a record-breaking shower and scrounging my closet for anything that resembled yoga pants, I’d hightailed it downtown.
Two steps into the gym, I started to loathe Past Rosie, who thought getting sweaty in a room full of other people, trying to channel my inner Zen master, sounded like a good idea. The only bright spot was Fallon. She texted me last night to tell me they were home safe, and she’d see me at yoga—not before she also sent me another image of a Disney character followed byupper thigh?I sent several middle finger emojis in response.
Trudging down the hallway, I spotted the aerobics room off to the left.
The second I spotted pink hair tucked away in the corner of the large studio, I let out a loud squeal and sprinted across the room. The few women who had also arrived early to warm up, startled at the noise. A few soft grumbles of disapproval sounded. I didn’t give a fuck. Dropping my bag and mat to the ground when I was a few feet away, I all but leapt into the air, throwing my arms around Fallon’s shoulders, squeezing her as tight as I could.
A soft grunt punched from her chest. ‘Oof, jeez, woman.’ Fallon laughed, reaching around my waist and hugging me back just as violently.
‘It’s been over a week, you cow. Next time you’re away that long, you’re taking me with you,' I muttered into her hair. We shook side to side, soaking up the comfort and familiarity each other gave. It struck me how lonely I had been without her this past week. My stomach did an uncomfortable twist.
‘Deal.’ The smile in her voice as she said that nearly made tears crest in my eyes. I pulled away before I completely embarrassed myself and turned into a weepy mess in the middle of yoga.
Swiping a finger under my eye, I stepped back, holding her by the shoulders.
‘Your payment for leaving me is joining me in contorting ourselves at odd angles in front of a room full of strangers.’
Her head fell back on another soft laugh. ‘I accept my punishment.’ Navy yoga pants hugged her curvy body, showing her midriff in a matching sports bra that made her look like a goddess.
‘You look hot.’ My eyes dipped down her body, taking in her entire outfit. My old band T-shirt and black leggings paled in comparison to her expensive-looking set.
