Page 31 of Not Your Valentine
First of all, Taylor was wearing bowling shoes and nothing else. Not even socks. Gross.
Second of all, we were in my bedroom. We were inside my apartment and he was wearing shoes. Also wrong.
Thirdly, he didn’t even take off those shoes when he climbed into bed.
Fourthly, my friend/fake boyfriend was doing sexual things to me. Yet again.
Fifthly, there was a bowling ball on the bed.
“Helen?” Taylor says. “I was trying to tease you, but if I upset you…”
Oops. I guess I was thinking about my disturbing dream for too long.
“You didn’t upset me.” I mean, it was the sort of thing I’d say about myself, and Taylor has always been the sort to joke kindly, and he’d never complain about someone not being able to take a joke if he accidentally insulted them. “You’re right. It’s a lot of socializing for me. After seeing people on Saturday, I’ll probably spend all of Sunday in my bedroom with the curtains drawn, not…” I was about to say, not wearing shoes in my bed, but managed to stop myself in time. “With a cold compress on my head and a stash of chocolate on my bedside table.”
“Your family really likes chocolate, don’t they?”
“Why the fuck would we not like chocolate? Chocolate’s fucking amazing.”
I realize I’m talking loudly and look back to see that our drinks are ready…and Vin has definitely heard me swearing vehemently about chocolate.
Oh, well.
Taylor jumps up to grab the bubble tea, and I figure I ought to take a picture of us and post it on social media. I pick up my phone.
“We should both be drinking for the picture,” he says.
“Ugh, fine.” I snap a picture of us with our cheeks pressed together, both sipping our tea. It’s hideously cute.
Also, he has really nice cheekbones.
“Damn you,” I mutter under my breath.
“What did you say?” Taylor asks.
“Nothing. Nothing at all.”
Then I make the mistake of looking at him while he’s sipping his bubble tea through that purple straw, and why does that turn me on?
My brain is so weird. Lately, I’ve been finding the strangest shit sexy.
I wonder what Taylor’s like in bed. Probably very attentive and thorough and concerned about his partner’s pleasure.
Hmm.
He’s probably very good at giving oral sex.
Again, hmm.
I need to stop having inappropriate thoughts about my friend. And bowling.
“By the way,” Taylor says, “the flowers are lovely. I really appreciate it, Helen.” He has a super-eager look on his face, and it kills me.
What, exactly, is he like with the people he dates for real, versus the one he just pretends to date? Yes, I’ve seen him with a few of his past girlfriends, but what’s he like in private? I hope, after we “break up,” that he finds someone who loves him with all her heart and properly appreciates him.
For a moment, I’m jealous of this woman, but that’s ridiculous. Taylor’s my friend, and I want good things for him…and he’s very different from me. He likes being in love and celebrating Valentine’s Day, whereas I’ve sworn off love.
Maybe that was a mistake.
