Page 57 of Studious
Truth be told, it is annoying to have only a few followers trickle in, like I’m a baby social media person. Which, I suppose, I am. At any rate, I’m not going to let Charlie know it’s getting to me. If I lose, I’ll survive the stakes, even though it would be embarrassing. Still, I like to win.
And I want to see Alden succeed.
He’s twitchy as I drive, his knee jumping and his fingers tapping. I want to tell him to relax, but I’m pretty sure dismissing his feelings is the last thing I should do.
“You don’t have to go to the club if you don’t want to,” I say instead.
He shoots me a glare. “No, we’re doing this.”
“All right, but it’s okay if this makes you feel… however. Stressed or excited or anywhere in between. I know you asked me to help you be more like me, but really, you just need to be yourself and try a few different things. That’s all. If you hate clubbing, you never have to go back.”
“But wouldn’t I be failing if I did?” I can hear the smile in his voice, even though I’m concentrating on traffic. “I want to pass your course.”
“Your grade depends mostly on class participation. All you have to do is show up with a good attitude.” I reach over and squeeze his hand. “You’re already acing everything.”
His voice is small. “Okay.” And then, a moment later, “Thanks.”
When we walk into One, the music is thumping. Julian Hill’s latest release, a catchy dance song, is playing. While I’ve been here so often I know every inch of this place better than I know my own house, I can tell Alden’s uncomfortable. I don’t want that for him. But I don’t know any way to help except to give him a moment to adjust.
“So, Julian Hill is really Sam’s boyfriend?” Alden asks, his mouth so close to my ear that I can feel his breath.
I want to turn my head and kiss him, but instead, I reply, my lips grazing his skin. I don’t miss his shiver. “He is. Sam came to work with us a little bit ago, and he fits right in. I think his old firm wasn’t the best for him. Julian comes into the office sometimes. You’re sure to meet him.”
He grins. “That would be very cool.”
We make our way through the crowd to the bar. A lot of guys try to catch my eye, but I’m focused on Alden. I’m sure the regulars are wondering why I brought a date, but I don’t really care.
“Want a Coke?” I ask, shouting over the music. At the last happy hour, he stuck to sparkling water. I don’t blame him.
“Thanks.”
I come up behind him and put my hands on his waist to steer him closer to the bar. In doing so, I’m reminded how much smaller than me he is. He might weigh a buck fifty soaking wet.
I like how he feels, though. And I really like how he smells. I like the bounce of the curls on top of his head.
He shudders under my touch, and I like that I did that to him. That he’s not unaffected by me. Because I’m affected by him.
Except, wait. He’s supposed to be looking for someone else. Not me. All this is just to teach him what to do with other people.
I wave down the bartender and get our drinks. Then we turn our backs to the bar and check out the dance floor on this level.
He goes up on his toes and says in my ear, “Can you show me how you do it?”
Frowning, I make a motion with my hand for him to continue.
“I want to see you pick up a guy,” he explains.
I blink. “I thought that was your assignment tonight.”
“I want to observe first.”
A few of the guys sitting at the bar are the types I would normally go up to. But I feel like that would be disrespectful to Alden. Which is ridiculous, because he just asked me to do it.
But I don’t want to leave him alone. Truth be told, I’m not in the mood to pick someone up. Lately, I’ve been wanting something else, but I don’t want to analyze why.
“I’ll do it later. For now, dance with me,” I say. And before he can say no, I lead him out onto the dance floor.
Once we’re there, he stands still, looking bewildered. “I’m not sure …”
