Chapter Ten #2
Then he walked closer again. Why did his proximity wipe away every thought? I couldn't explain it.
"I can help with that."
"What?" I asked, thoroughly confused.
"I don't think you should cut your teeth on a stranger.”
I blinked several times. "What do you mean? Do you want to set me up with a friend of yours? Or one of your brothers? Wait, no. It’s only Nick who’s available, right?"
"Fuck no," he said. Then, after a beat, he added, "You want to go out with Nick?"
"No, no. I was just… Never mind. I don't get it. What do you mean?"
The cheeky smile was back. It looked downright seductive now.
"I can be your dating coach."
It took me a few seconds to process his words, but then I started to laugh and took a few steps back, putting some distance between us.
"That's hilarious. I needed a good laugh. Thank you. I can feel the tension leaving my body."
He was still smiling. "I'm not joking. What better person than me?"
"I see. Singing your own praises. That was always one of your favorite activities."
"Only when I deserve it."
"And you're so great at dating?"
He tilted his head. "Relationships are not my forte. But I’m excellent at dating."
I rolled my shoulders, and a cracking sound filled the air. “Nope, joking. Tension still here.”
Leo walked up to me, and I figured that he wanted to grab something from the counter, but he simply put his hands on my shoulders and started pressing several of my knotted muscles with his thumbs.
"Ouch," I said, then, "Oh, wait. Oh, that's actually so good."
"I learned the technique from a masseuse at Nick's gym."
I softened my shoulders, enjoying the way his hands felt on me.
"So, what do you say?" he pressed.
My God, he’s serious?
"I don't even understand how that'll go."
"We could go out one evening and pretend it's a date."
"Okay, that sounds easy enough."
In fact, the more I thought about it, the more the idea appealed to me. I trusted Leo. I knew him, obviously. That was a bit of a detriment because it wouldn’t mirror a real date, but I so wasn't ready for that. This was just dinner between two friends, right? What could go wrong?
"You’ll try your flirting game on me, and I’ll give you pointers."
"That sounds like a recipe for disaster."
"It won't be," he said confidently.
He glanced at my lips for a split second before focusing on my eyes.
I hesitated, then figured, Oh, why the hell not?
"Let's do this."
He nodded. "All right."
"So, how exactly is this going to go? I need to know the when, the how, and the where."
He laughed softly but didn't answer right away. Then he brushed his fingers across my skin instead of pressing, moving one up the back of my neck. "Are you free tomorrow evening?"
A shiver went down my spine. I hoped he didn't notice. "I'm free every evening."
"Then it's going to happen tomorrow, and that's all you need to know."
"I'd love some more details.”
He brought his mouth to my ear. “Tory, I'm going to take you out on a date, and I intend to do it properly. I promise you’ll fucking enjoy it.”
He straightened up, and I immediately looked over his shoulder.
Apparently, I couldn't look this man in the eye while his hands were on me. It was just too much, and I felt like I might combust any second now. How on earth would I go through with him being my dating coach or whatever we’d just agreed to?
The rest of the evening passed by quickly. Leo got on the treadmill, then closed himself off in his bedroom for a business call. I went straight to my room. He was bound to finish his call at some point, and maybe he wanted the house to himself. I didn't want to be in his way.
And… I wasn't exactly sure how to be around him tonight. Something had shifted between us for sure.
I took a long-ass time with my nightly routine. To give myself something to do, I applied two types of masks on my hair. I loved the aftereffects, as it shone and seemed extra full and wavy. The blonde color popped. Perfect!
After drying it, I went back to my bedroom and checked my phone. To my surprise, Leo had texted me. Then again, it was only ten thirty. He usually went to bed later.
Leo: Want to come down for a drink? We can discuss some more details about our date.
Hmmm… I didn’t want to go to sleep yet, but I didn't want to go downstairs either.
I truly didn't know why, but I didn't trust myself to be around Leo tonight.
Over these past few weeks, there had been moments when I'd been certain that he was flirting, but truth be told, he was always flirting with everyone. Why should he be different with me?
The real question was why it affected me now when it never had in the past.
I looked out the window, sighing. Then I grinned. There was a new moon tonight. How did I miss it?
Tory: No, I've got something else to do right now. I’m going to be doing a new moon ritual.
Leo: You're still into the whole astrology thing?
I'd always been a bit quirky like that. I liked to make wishes on new moons and full moons.
On new moons, for example, I made affirmations. On full moons, I released what I no longer needed. I wrote on small pieces of paper what I wanted to let go of, then burned them.
Tory: Yes, of course. I seriously doubt one can be born and raised in New Orleans and not have at least some quirks.
Leo: Enjoy the evening. Tomorrow night, you're all mine.
A shiver ran down my spine. Then heat coiled through me. Seconds later, my throat went dry, as did my mouth.
Tomorrow is going to be interesting for sure.
I sat down at the small desk in front of the window and took a sheet of paper from the drawer underneath it, which I’d stocked with stationery last week.
What should I write as affirmations? Oooh, I have some ideas.
1. Enjoy your date with Leo tomorrow.
2. Don't forget that it’s not a real date.
3. Do not think about Walter. You wasted enough time on that moron.
I smiled, realizing I hadn’t thought about Walter in a while. But it still felt good to write it down.
I looked at my list, feeling very proud of myself. I was going to ace every single one.
Well, except maybe perhaps the second one because Leo was a bit too good at playing his part.