Page 60 of Hooked
She frowned. “What about my friends?”
“I don’t mean real-life friends. I mean online friends. You may not have the highest follower count, but the people who do follow you are some very big names. You know the people with the high counts and they respect you. The people with the biggest following aren’t interested in outreach. They’re interested in raising their profile. You, on the other hand, know everybody. At least you know them online. You’re the model other models like.”
“I guess so.” She finished her martini and waved at the waitress to order another one. “I’ve never thought about that. A lot of those girls I just know because we all started blogging around the same time.”
“Yeah, but you’re a serious person and you don’t chase drama. And now some of those early contacts arehugenames. That’s valuable. I think SOKA was brilliant to spot your potential.” He glanced to the side and eyed her legs. “I spotted it years ago.”
She laughed. “Never going to happen.”
“Why?” He reached for her hand. “We don’t work together anymore. All the reasons you gave me for not hooking up aren’t reasons anymore.”
Tayla slipped her hand from his grip. “Because… of other reasons. And I’m kind of seeing someone right now.”
“I don’t mind. I wasn’t asking to marry you.” He frowned. “Wait, where? Where are you seeing someone? In that little town?”
“Yes, in that little town. And I knowyoudon’t mind, but he would. I don’t think he’s a casual-fling kind of guy.”
“Are you serious?”
“It’s not serious, but…” She was at a loss. How did she explain Jeremy to someone like Tobin, who thought buying an Android over an iPhone was cheating, but dating three women at the same time without telling them was no big deal? “We’re seeing each other. It’s fun. I don’t have time to juggle. It just doesn’t work for me right now.”
Tobin blinked. “That sounds like… Dare I say it?”
“Don’t be a shit, Tobin.”
“It sounds like arelationship.” He took her hand and pulled her closer, staring into her eyes. “Who are you, and what have you done with Tayla?”
“Didn’t I tell you to not be a shit?”
“I do what I’m good at, which you’d know if you slept with me.” He shrugged. “So tell me about Mr. Wonderful.”
“No.”
“Why? Are you embarrassed? Is he a cowboy? Please let him be a cowboy.”
“He’s not a cowboy.” Though his grandfather was. “He owns a comic and game shop. He’s an old friend of Emmie’s. He likes the outdoors a lot. He’s a mountain climber. He—”
“Hold up.” Tobin smiled. “He does what now?”
“He’s a mountain climber. And he likes the outdoors.”
“Oh my God, you’re dating someone crunchy.” His eyes went wide. “Does he wear deodorant? Does he have back hair? I’m so curious now.”
“Of course he wears deodorant.”
“There is nothingof courseabout the crunchy kind! I hooked up with a rafting guide once when I went up to Tahoe. She was superhot, but you should have seen the hair on her legs.” He shuddered.
Tayla finally got the server’s attention and ordered another drink. “You’re such an ass, Tobin.”
“Why?”
“When was the last time you shavedyourlegs?”
“Uh… never.”
“But a woman has to or she’s…” Tayla pantomimed his shudder. “You suck. That is another reason I’d never hook up with you.”
“Fine, I suck. But does your mountain man wear deodorant or not?”
