Page 55 of Teach Me How

“If I wanted to go in there dressed in a bikini, I should be able to do that without every shithead thinking they have a right to touch me.”

He chuckles, the sound vibrating against my chest. “Might be a little chilly outside for swimwear.”

“I’m serious.”

He sighs, tugging me closer. “I know. I’m just trying to laugh about it because I’m pretty fucking furious right now.”

“At me?”

“At you?” He spins me around, staring down at me with a fierce look on his face. “Not at you, Reese. Never at you. I’m mad at that piece of shit in there. I want to rip his head off.”

“Not a bad idea.” I slide my arms around his body, pressing my cheek against his chest. “Can I watch?”

36.

Skyler

The only thing that’s stopping me from going back in there and kicking that guy’s ass is the fact that I’d be leaving Reese alone… again.

She’s having a terrible time and I can’t help but to feel like I’ve failed her in some way.

I’m supposed to be demonstrating what a fantastic date I am and instead I’ve got her shivering and sad standing outside. “Tell you what, from now on, you can wear whatever the hell you want, and I’ll act as your official bodyguard.”

She pulls away, tugging at the sleeves of her jersey. “That’s sweet, Skyler, but what fucking year is this? Why do I need a bodyguard to go into a bar?”

“You shouldn’t.”

“Yeah. I know. And I shouldn’t be afraid to walk through a dark parking lot.” She peers up at me. “When you get in your car, do you check the back seat?”

“Check it for what?”

“Murderers. Rapists.” She tosses her hands. “That’s my point. Do you know how they teach us to walk to on a dark night? With your keys between your fingers. As though you could stab anyone with a set of keys.”

“Who taught you to do that?”

She shrugs. “It’s common knowledge. Never go to a party alone. Use the buddy system. How about, instead of us women having to figure out how to protect ourselves, the men of the world learn to control their base instincts?”

My first impulse is to point out that I’m not one of those guys. My mama taught me manners. I open the door. Pay the bill at dinner. I always get consent before I take a woman to bed. To my knowledge, I’ve never pressured or intimidated a woman.

Have I?

Is it possible to get consent from someone who’s intimidated by you? An uneasy feeling settles in my stomach as I replay each and every hookup I’ve had in the last year. I’m fully confident I had consent, but what about the way I treated them after? Casting them off like litter.

Her expression softens. “I’m not talking about you, Skyler. I’m sorry for taking it out on you.”

“You don’t have to apologize for speaking the truth, Reese.” I run my hands up and down her arms. “Do you want to head home?”

She looks down the street, frustration in her eyes.

I release her from my hold. “How about coffee instead? No drunken football fans in the coffeehouses, I’m willing to bet.”

She brightens at that. “There’s a little place around the corner. I used to go there all the time in college.”

“Crescent Moon?”

“Yeah. You know it?”

I take her hand in mine, and we start down the sidewalk. “I used to study there, too.”

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