Chapter 4
4 Days After The Choosing
Parker
The journey from Kedua with Dominique and Imani is full of our usual banter and bullshit. They give me shit; I give them shit. Dominique jumps down my throat if she thinks I’m too rough with Imani—which is laughable since Imani and I are like a hive mind, finishing each other’s sentences and laughing before we can even get our full sentence out.
Sean is a bit more reserved but tries to join in where he can, and I can tell he’s awkward around girls in general. Just a timid dude.
“Hey, Parker! Do you wanna jog up ahead with me for a bit?” he calls out as we pack up camp and get ready to head out for another day on the road.
“Yeah, sure. I could use some guy time after being kept up all night by these two arguing.” I wink at the twins and laugh as they scoff at me, strolling over to him with my pack and the dismantled tents.
We set a rapid pace to get ahead of the girls and don’t speak until we are out of earshot and have slowed to a walk.
“So, what’s on your mind?” I ask, raising a brow at him, catching onto his bid for a private conversation without the girls.
It tumbles out of his mouth in a rush. “This is so embarrassing, but could you give me some tips to help me with the ladies?”
“Tips to help with the ladies?” I confirm, chuckling under my breath. I stick my hands in my pockets and look to the sky, giving it some thought. “Honestly?”
“Yes, do you think I would embarrass the hell out of myself if I didn’t mean it?!” he splutters, his flush now creeping down his neck toward his chest.
“You’re a fit guy—what makes you think you need help to attract someone?” I ask, pointedly gesturing at him with my hand.
He rolls his eyes, looking discouraged. “I don’t want to just attract a girl, Parker. I want to woo her.”
Wow. Okay then.
“That’s actually really sweet, Sean. And what makes you think I can help you with that?”
“Um, have you seen yourself and the twins? You’re obviously close with them, and therefore, probably know a hell of a lot more about how women’s minds work than I do.” He rakes a hand through his hair, grunting in disgust when his hand gets caught in his half up bun and he has to fix it.
I amble alongside him, thinking for a moment.
“I’ll give you that. I know about these two. Take this with a grain of salt because I can’t claim to be an expert.” He nods along. “If you want a girl to notice you, don’t worry so much about getting them to notice you. They can sense vulnerability from a mile away, and you don’t want to come across as desperate. Be confident and try to do the things that you’d normally do. Just leave openings for them to approach you and ask about it.”
He thinks about that. “You know I basically work out for a living right now, right? What girl is going to be interested in that?”
“Trust me, some of them will be quite interested in that. Particularly if they get to watch you do it.” I wiggle my eyebrows, so he gets the hint. “Physicality is generally attractive, as long as you don’t go all caveman about it.” I laugh and clap him on the shoulder as he blushes.