“If a child had just started walking and fell on their face, would you give them a hard time?” Sean asked.
I snorted. “Thanks for pointing out I fell on my face.”
He grinned.
“But I get it. I know I’m being too hard on myself. It’s just, I don’t know what I don’t know, and it’s left me floundering. Like, now I’m wondering if I missed red flags in his bio or our messaging before the date. I couldn’t pick anyone from the app to try to talk to because my thoughts kept spinning.”
“Want me to look through them with you?” Jack offered.
I blinked at him. “You’d do that?”
“Of course. Go ahead. Bring them up.”
I pulled out my phone again.
“Masochist,” Sean muttered with a cough.
“Shut up, Sean,” Jack shot back.
I paused with my phone screen still locked, glancing between them. “Do you hate the apps or something? You really don’t have to do this if it’s a pain. I mean, I appreciate the offer, but—”
Jack’s groan cut me off, and I watched him bury his face in his hands.
Did he hate the apps that much?
Sean chuckled, trying to swallow it.
I started to put my phone away.
“I told you, it’s fine,” Jack said, his voice muffled. He dropped his head back, holding out a hand for my phone. “Just let me help you.”
“Okay.” I unlocked my phone and brought up the app I’d been using before handing it over.
Jack’s brows drew together. “I haven’t heard of this app.”
My cheeks heated. “It’s kind of a… well, a hookup app. It’s specifically for sex partners, often for things like, um, threesomes. That’s part of why I’m struggling so much. I tried to look up tips for navigating the apps, but they all said to block guys as soon as they talk about sex. Since that’s all I’m looking for…” I shrugged.
“Right. Got it.” Jack started looking at the first match.
“I probably shouldn’t ask, but I’m curious about something,” Sean said, leaning forward on the chair, his hands clenched between his knees.
I glanced at him. “Curious?”
“You said you weren’t thinking about the kinky sex stuff, but it sounded like you had some sex stuff in mind. What’s one thing your boyfriend refuses to do?”
The hairs rose along my arms as the thing I’d asked him for most came to the forefront of my mind.
“You don’t have to answer that,” Jack said, glaring at Sean. “Don’t push her.”
Sean lifted his hands in surrender, settling back. “Sorry.”
“No, I don’t mind. It’s just kind of embarrassing. I think you’ll be disappointed because it’s kind of a regular thing. Not kinky at all.” I shrugged, wiping my hands on my jeans again. “At least, the first thing that pops into my head isn’t.”
“So we’re not talking about bondage or submission or anything like that?” Sean asked.
“Well, um—” I cleared my throat, remembering the wrist and ankle clamps I’d purchased once that Neil had freaked out about.
Jack was staring at me now, too.
