11. Not Going to Start with a Full Frontal
11
Hadley
I’ve been wandering around the house all morning, feeling antsy as I dust and vacuum rooms that don’t necessarily need it. Foster left for practice before I rolled out of bed this morning, and I found a note in the kitchen thanking me for the pastries I left on the counter for him before I went to bed last night.
Last night.
That’s why I’m so wired up today. My dinner with Foster has me all tied up in knots as my mind replays every second of it over and over again. My cheeks hurt from smiling so much, and I’ve been dancing around as I clean to the soundtrack of his deep voice and husky laughter.
And when he hugged me good night…
I swear, he wanted to kiss me. And I don’t mean that considerate peck on the cheek he gave me. Sure, it felt nice, but I wanted more. And despite my obvious lack of experience in the matter, I’m perceptive enough to know when someone is struggling to fight their desires.
And Foster McKenna almost lost the fight.
Dropping the dust rag onto the coffee table, I plop down onto the couch. I am right, aren’t I? I mean, it seemed like he wanted to kiss me but was holding himself back.
But what if I was wrong? What if I was only projecting my own deepest desires and saw what I wanted to see?
“Shit,” I mumble, then lean forward to tug my phone from the back pocket of my shorts.
Pulling up my group text thread with the girls, I tap out a message.
Me: Help! I need some insight and advice.
I only have to wait a few moments for the first response.
Tessa: What’s going on?
Me: I made Miss Nelly’s lasagna for Foster last night.
Roxy: Ooh, breaking out the big guns. Nice.
Me: We talked and laughed the whole time. It was really nice. You might even call it romantic. And afterward, I was sure he wanted to kiss me, but stopped himself. And now I’m second-guessing my instincts.
Skye: Of course, he wanted to kiss you. You’re hot as fuck.
Me: Thanks, but how do you know for sure? He seemed to freeze up for a second, then hugged me and kissed me on the cheek. Like it wasn’t his first choice.
Tessa: Sounds like he wanted to kiss you, for real. *heart-eyed emoji*
Skye: You should’ve just taken the lead. Kiss the daylights out of him to see what would happen.
Roxy: Skye, you know Had would never do that.
Me: Maybe I would.
Roxy: …
Me: Okay, fine. I wouldn’t. But how do I get him to kiss me first? And maybe take things even further?
Roxy: You don’t have to rush things. You already waited this long, there’s no reason to jump right into bed with the first guy who’s peaked your interest.
Tessa: Yeah, make him woo you, Had. Enjoy the buildup.
Skye: Or walk into the room buck-ass naked and see what happens.
Tessa: Jesus, Skye.
Skye: What? It’s a solid plan.
Roxy: Hadley’s not ready for that…YET. We need to come up with something a little subtler.
Tessa: A lot subtler.
Me: Thanks, Skye, but I’ll pass on the unexpected full nudity.
Me: For now. *laughing emoji*
Roxy: You two are all alone in that house. Just keep being yourself. He’ll give up the fight eventually. You’re fucking irresistible.
Am I, though? Irresistible, that is? Seems like men have been able to resist me my whole life. Hence the reason why I’m still holding my damn V-card at thirty years old.
Roxy: Stop overthinking it, Had. You are irresistible. You just haven’t met a man you’ve wanted to give the right signals to until now.
Me: You read minds now?
Roxy: Your radio silence was very telling. Anyway, all you have to do is show some interest, and you’ll have Foster McKenna eating out of your damn hands. Trust me.
Me: How do I do that?
Skye: I already told you.
Tessa: Stop, Skye. She’s not going to start with a full frontal. Hadley, look for reasons to touch him. Use your hands while you’re talking, and grip his forearm like it’s a subconscious act. See how he reacts.
Roxy: Oh, that’s good. And wear your hair up. See if he stares at your neck like he wants to bite it.
Hadley: Like a vampire?
Skye: Like a human man that needs to put his mouth on you.
My face heats with that one, and I’m glad they’re not here to see it. What would it feel like to have Foster’s mouth on my skin? A shiver runs down my spine at the thought.
Skye: You could always masturbate loudly and call out his name. No hot-blooded man can resist that.
Tessa: Jesus. Don’t listen to her. But I do have an idea.
That text from Tessa came directly from her, outside of the group thread. I tap the screen to exit the group chat and respond to her.
Me: What is it?
Tessa: Foster is coming over for dinner tonight. Riggs invited him so they could talk strategy for the game this weekend. You should come.
Me: You don’t think that’ll seem a bit…clingy? I don’t want to impose.
Tessa: Hell, no. You’re my best friend. I’m inviting you, and this is my house, too. I’ll just tell Riggs I’m having you over to keep me company while they talk. He doesn’t even have to know the real reason.
I ignore the text alerts and pop-ups as Roxy and Skye continue to give suggestions in the group chat. I’ll read them later. Right now, I have a decision to make.
Should I go to Tessa and Riggs’ place with Foster? How would that even work? As if she’s read my mind, Tessa texts again.
Tessa: I just texted Riggs to tell him you’re coming and that he should tell Foster to drive you over.
Tessa: He just texted back. He talked to Foster, and it’s a go. You’re coming.
Me: Okay, then. I guess I’m coming.
Tessa: Yay! Be ready by five. See you soon. Operation Entice Foster McKenna is a go!
I check the time on my phone. It’s just after three, and I still need to shower. Hopping up off the couch, I rush up the stairs. After stripping out of my comfy cleaning clothes, I hop in the shower to get clean and shave all the unwanted hair from my body. After wrapping my hair up in a towel, I rub lotion over my skin and spritz on some lightly-scented body spray.
I dress in a low-cut black tank top over a push-up bra and a pair of tight jeans. The combination gives me an hourglass shape, accentuating my curves. Twisting to the side, I look at my ass in the mirror.
Does Foster like a curvy figure? Or does he prefer a more slender build?
I shrug at my reflection. Either way, I’m hiding nothing tonight. What you see is what you get.
Remembering Roxy’s advice, I blow dry my hair and tie it up into a high pony tail, leaving my neck and shoulders bare. I put on some light makeup with some pink-tinted lip gloss and finish the look off with a pair of dangling earrings and my favorite black wedge-heeled sandals.
Taking a long look at my reflection, I give myself a nod. I look good.
I can’t wait to see if Foster thinks so, too.