I nodded.
“How would that work? For example, the wear an outfit you normally wouldn’t. Does that mean you join me when I wear something strange, or—”
I shook my head. “I also wear something strange.”
“So, if I have to make out with a rando, you make out with someone too?” The tips of her cheeks turned bright pink, almost matching her shirt.
I ignored her question because that wasn’t something current me would do unless she asked me to. “I have a more important question. Are you comfortable just making out with someone random?” My heart thudded against my ribs, my muscles tense as shit waiting for her answer.
Why?
I wasn’t sure. The thought of watching her hook up with someone felt gross, and the weighted pressure returned behind my chest. But I also didn’t want to make out with a rando, not after what happened.
Whoa. You haven’t thought about Jessica all day.
That was what Mack did to me. She brought me out of my headspace, and I craved being around her. In less than twenty-four hours, she’d distracted me so much from my life that Iwould move mountains to keep being near her. That was why the disgusting feeling was there. Nothing else.
She sighed and moved her attention toward the front window. She wet her bottom lip with her tongue as she spun the purple ring on her thumb. “I don’t know. If I have a drink or two, I’ll loosen up and maybe not freak out about it. But I need to do this. I have to put myself out there before I become that role model and live and breathe my job. I’ve been so focused and perfect all my life, and I wanna be a little unperfect.”
“I understand, Mack, I really do. But you also need to know your limits.” If she couldn’t handle making out with someone, she sure as shit couldn’t do more than that. Or skinny dip. Grinding my teeth, I forced my voice to come out calm. “I’ll do whatever you want me to if you think you might need support.”
“What is this, Dean?” She leaned onto her knees, her face set in serious lines. “We’ve gotten along, sure, but we don’t hang out. What is this?”
“Uh,” I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. Her question was legit. Valid. She opened up to me… I could do a varied version. “I’m not the most trusting person, and I’ve been…burned a few times. The bar, and last night....” I shook my head, laughing as I held her gaze. “I had fun with you. It’s been a while since I enjoyed a night out. I’ve been stuck in my head, and you’re easy to be around, so it let me just be free and myself. I’m selfish, okay? I’m begging you to let me come on your hot girl summer tour like a weird third wheel. I know it’s pathetic.”
HGST—Hot Girl Summer Tour. I was a third wheel on an event that sounded like HGTV.
“It's not.” She smiled and set her hand on my knee, squeezing. “I’m probably crossing some boundary here, but Lo has been worried about you. I’m not getting in your business,but whatever it is you’re going through, people care. They want to help.”
My throat tightened, and I cleared it, pushing back into the couch and away from whatever spell Mack put on me. “I know she is. I’ll talk to her. But joining you would help distract me. So, if you’ll have me—"
“Saturday,” she blurted out.
“What about it?”
“Come out with me Saturday.” She swallowed, hard. “Callum and I were going to head to one of the bars on the west side. Join us.”
“For the body shots?”
“Yes. There is a lot on the list, so I need to strategically do these, or I’ll never complete them all. If I do the body shots, dance on the bar, maybe streak after, I could—”
I arched a brow, fighting the slap of annoyance swirling underneath my skin. I scratched at my forearm. “You’re gonna streak withCallum?”
“Dean Romano. That man has seen more tits and ass than a locker room. I get naked all the time. That is the least of my worries.” She laughed. “You’re a bit of a… hm, well, you’ve had your fair share of hookups. How do you do it?”
“Clarify your question, Mack.”
Her blush intensified. “How do you just flirt and know to kiss someone? How do you know its gonna lead to more? I think that’s my problem. I’ve gone on dates, and at the end, it’s obvious there’s a kiss. Date two is more. Date three is sex. At a bar though?”
“You have rules about dates?” I teased. “Date three is sex?”
“Shut up. Yes. No.” She groaned into her hands. “I regret this conversation.”
“I sure as hell don’t. This is great.” I cackled, absolutely charmed by her. “You feel them out, see if you have chemistry.Touch their chest, their arms. If they suck in a breath, you can kiss them. Men are simple and idiots.”
Clearly, since someone almost conned me out of my future.
“That I agree with. Minus Luca. He’s dreamy.” She stood up, her ass right in front of my face in her tight-ass shorts.
