"You seemed to be doing pretty well with Connor the other night. I didn't even believe you when you said you two hadn't hooked up."
"That was just fooling around. It was all him."
"Well that's how it works. I'm usually the one being forward. And then if the girl responds, I know she's interested."
He hasn't been forward with me at all. "So, what if the guy isn't being forward? Is there something I could do in order to let a guy know that I'm interested in hooking up?"
"Yeah, just be flirtatious and slutty."
I have been! "I've tried that. It doesn't seem to work."
"So maybe he's gay."
"No he's definitely not gay. I've heard him having sex."
"In your office?"
"No. No, that's not what I meant. I've heard about him having sex. From other people. He has sex with women and people talk, you know? Normal office stuff."
"No, not really."
"Okay, well he's not gay. He's straight. Just take my word for it."
"I'm sorry, Keira, but maybe he's just not that into you."
I bit my lip. "Oh." Of course. Of course you're not into me.
Rory was staring at me.
"Well maybe I just don't know how to be forward enough. Maybe you could show me exactly what a girl would do if she was interested in you. I mean, have you ever slept with a girl who you didn't find super attractive?"
"No."
"Well, just show me what to do." This wasn't working. He's not attracted to me.
Rory sighed. "Okay. So obviously if I'm sitting at the bar or something, she'd come and sit right next to me."
I can do that. I'm doing it right now! "Good to know." I scribbled that down in my notebook.
"You're taking notes?"
"I don't want to forget anything. Keep going."
"Lots of flirtatious touching. So when you laugh, touch his shoulder. Or put your hand on his thigh."
"Hand on thigh, got it." I bit my lip. "Wait, like right above the knee?"
Rory put his hand on the middle of my thigh. "Higher is better."
Yes it is. I gulped.
"And if you really want him to know you mean business, slowly move your hand up his thigh. He'll get the picture, unless he's an idiot." He moved his hand off my leg.
I scribbled that down. I've got you just where I want you now, Rory.
"Also, laugh at all his jokes. You don't want to wound his confidence if you're trying to take advantage of it."
"Done."
"And wear something that makes you seem easy."
"Like what?"
"Doesn't really matter as long as it's tight and barely covers anything."
"So like, legs and boobs?"
"Yeah." He ran his hand through his hair. "And it's gotta accentuate your ass."
Great, he likes big butts. Maybe that's the problem. "Anything else?"
"You should definitely invite him to the party tomorrow night."
"Who?"
"The guy you're crushing on."
Shit, I can't do that, you're already coming! "He's usually pretty busy. He probably can't make it."
"Even just asking him will let him know that you're interested. Besides, doing something together outside of work might make him put his guard down."
"Okay, he'll be there." What the hell is wrong with me?!
"Great."
"Oh, one more thing. A little while ago I told him that I wasn't attracted to him. Because we were talking and I got nervous. So I think that maybe that has something to do with him not thinking I'm interested."
"Yeah, that'll do it. But really, guys like the chase. If he was into you, he'd probably be even more forward than before."
Fuck.
"But that doesn't mean that you can't try being more flirtatious yourself. Okay, I gotta go take a shower. I hope that helped."
"Yeah, it definitely did. Thank you."
Chapter 13
I had to listen to Rory's bed springs squeak and a strange woman moaning with pleasure again all night. When I finally woke from my fitful sleep, I went straight to the mall. I needed to find the perfect outfit for tonight's party. But my efforts were proving fruitless.
"Thank God you're here, Emily. I need your help." I opened up the dressing room door for her. She was using her lunch break to help me find something to wear.
She came in and sat down on the bench. I turned around and she started laughing.
"You're not helping!" I yelled.
"I'm not laughing at you, I'm laughing at the dress."
I turned toward the mirror. "Okay, fine, it's horrible. I need something sexier." I was short and it seemed like it was impossible to find a dress short enough for Rory's standards. Maybe the girls that he usually hooked up with all shopped online.
"How about this one?" Emily pulled out one of the dozens of dresses I had on the rack and handed it to me. It was black with some sheer material on the front. It actually looked pretty short.
I slipped out of the dress I was wearing and started to put on the one she handed me.
"Why are you trying on such sleazy dresses anyway?"
"Can you just zip me up?" I held my hair up out of the way. I turned around after she had zipped up my dress. "How do I look?"
"Hot."
"Really?" I looked in the mirror. Finally! The dress hugged my ass and the hem ended just a few inches below it. The neckline plunged insanely low, but there was some mesh that helped make it a little less inappropriate. It was tight at my waist and somehow made my ass and breasts look even bigger. I pulled out my list from my purse. Barely covers my breasts and legs, and definitely accentuates my ass. Check, check, and check.
"What is that?" Emily grabbed the paper out of my hands and started reading it.
"It's nothing." I tried to snatch it back from her but she sidestepped me.
"Seriously, Keira, what the hell is this?"
I sighed. "It's a list of tips that Rory gave me on how to let a guy know that you're interested in a one night stand."
Emily started laughing. "This is his advice? He sounds like such a tool."
"He's not." This time when I reached out I was able to grab the paper back. I shoved it into my bag. "He thinks I like some guy at work. He wasn't giving me advice on how to get with himself. At least, he doesn't realize it."
"From work? You work from home."
"Ugh! I know. I get flustered around him and say stupid stuff. That's why I needed his advice."
Emily smiled at me. "So, does this dress fit all the criteria?"
"Yes, it does." I knew it was slutty, but I felt so sexy in it. Maybe this dress would give me the confidence I needed around Rory.
Emily turned the tag over and whistled. "Eighty bucks for a dress?"
"It's fifty percent off."
"Still."
"It's the only one that works. I'm going to get it." I quickly took it off and put my clothes back on. If I didn't check out soon, I'd change my mind. I hated spending money. If I didn't, I wouldn't have needed a new roommate in the first place.