Practice Makes Perfect (When in Rome, #2)(59)
“So what do you practice?”
I shrug. “Just like regular stuff. Datey stuff, you know? Good topics to bring up on dates. How to flirt. Those sorts of things.”
Madison’s nose wrinkles. “Oh. I guess that makes more sense.”
“What do you mean?” I ask, having a bad feeling that I already know the answer.
She laughs lightly because she thinks I’m in on this joke. “It’s you; and it’s Will Griffin! You guys are polar opposites. He’s all sexy-fun-adventure, and you’re our quiet sweet-little-introvert. I’m just saying it’s probably for the best that you guys aren’t really dating because you’d rather be inside on a Friday night reading a book, and he’d probably be drunk in a club.”
She and Emily laugh, and I try to muster one, too, but all that comes out is a weak attempt at a smile.
“Which isn’t a bad thing at all. It’s just who you are. Our tenderhearted sweetie pie,” Emily adds, laying her head on my shoulder and squeezing affectionally around my waist. “But listen, I fully support your endeavor to get comfortable at dating so you can find someone right for you. Maybe this fall we’ll have a new student enroll with a single dad with a heart of gold and lots of love to give.”
“Oooh,” Madison says, lighting up. “That’s perfect for Annie! Brownie points if he’s a doctor.”
“A pediatric doctor!” Emily adds.
“A pediatric doctor who’s waiting until marriage to have sex again and also has a nonprofit helping stray puppies on the weekend!”
I can’t decide who makes me feel more upset right now. My sisters for once again telling me who I am and what I want—or me for smiling and nodding while they do. I love my sisters so much—which is why it hurts to not feel seen by them at all. I just want to be their friend and not their baby sister all the time. I want to be valued and taken seriously. But how do I do that without opening an entire can of slimy, messy worms? Or potentially hurting them when I tell them they’ve been inadvertently hurting me for years? I don’t want to seem whiny or fragile.
And please explain to me why I can’t for the life of me picture myself standing next to the man they just described, but I can perfectly picture a man with a pair of mischievous blue-gray eyes, a tilted smile, and tattoos hovering over me in my bed as he kisses my mouth again and again for the rest of my life.
Crap.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Monday
WILL: The town still holding up while I’ve been away?
ANNIE: Who is this?
WILL: It’s Will. We literally exchanged phone numbers just last night.
ANNIE: Sorry. I think you have the wrong number.
WILL: Seriously?
ANNIE: No. I was just messing with you.
WILL: Ha ha, funny girl.
ANNIE: Everything is holding up. But the scenery is oddly a lot less hot.
WILL: Annie Walker. Are you…flirting with me?
ANNIE: Maybe. Or maybe this is a forty-year-old man’s number and I’m catfishing you.
WILL: If you are a dude, are you at least sexy?
ANNIE: How do you feel about loafers with little tassels on the front?
WILL: Bites fist
Tuesday
WILL: Have you seen the petition yet?
ANNIE: OMG, you’ve seen it already?! I’ve been all worked up worrying about how to tell you. I was afraid you’d be upset.
WILL: Why would I be upset?
ANNIE: Because the town thinks we’re a couple and is voting against it.
WILL: Again. Why would I be upset? I’m clearly getting the better end of the stick in this scenario. You’re the one dating a debauched bodyguard.
ANNIE: Debauched!! What a good word.
WILL: Learned it from your pirate romance book. I like it.
ANNIE: It suits you. But don’t worry, I’ll set the whole town straight with the truth one by one.
WILL: Or…
ANNIE: Or???
WILL: We could not say anything. And just let them believe what they want to believe. You said you wanted everyone to stop seeing you as Sweet Angel Annie…this might be just the thing to do it.
ANNIE: You’d do that for me?
WILL: I’m quickly learning I’d do anything for you.
Wednesday
ANNIE: Hi.
WILL: Hi. Whacha doing?
ANNIE: Picture of boutonniere options
ANNIE: Which one do you like better for the groomsmen?
WILL: The one on the left.
WILL: While I’ve got you…
WILL: Picture of palm tree and blue sky overhead
WILL: At the risk of sounding a little too poetic and sappy, the color of California’s sky is the same blue as your eyes.
ANNIE: Oof. That was sappy.
WILL: Dammit. I thought so.
ANNIE: I’ll let it slide this one time.
WILL: Changing subject now. Have you ever been to L.A.?
ANNIE: Nope. I haven’t traveled much.
WILL: That’s a damn shame. You need to come to California, Annie. So many cool flower shops. You’d love it here.
ANNIE: I want to, but I’m scared of flying. And going to new places. And meeting new people.
WILL: My offer stands to hold your hand.
ANNIE: I do like your hands.
ANNIE: Oh wow. Pretend I didn’t say that. I’m super embarrassed now. GAH! Why is there no unsend button.