"Nooooo," I protest, but even to my wine-soaked brain it sounds weak."It can't be.He's...he's Cole.Grumpy, gorgeous, infuriating Cole who makes me feel safe and scared all at once."
"You need to tell him," Amanda announces, swaying slightly as she points her wine glass at me like a weapon."Like, right now.No, wait—first more wine, then tell him."
"Have you gone mental?"My words are starting to run together."I can't just walk up to Cole-fucking-Walker and say 'Hey, guess what?Every time you touch me in training, I want to climb you like a tree.'"
Bella snorts so hard she almost falls off her chair."Why not?That's exactly what you should say!Men need..."she pauses, visibly trying to focus, "...direct communication."
"Oh god."I slide further down into the couch, my coordination getting worse by the minute."You're all terrible influences.This is why I never had an impulse control before meeting you lot."
"Speaking of impulse control," Emma says, trying to look stern but failing miserably, "remember that time Bella drunk-texted her ex?"
"And it worked!"Bella throws her hands up triumphantly, wine sloshing dangerously."He came over and now they're married!"
"That's different," I protest, though the wine-soaked part of my brain is already wondering if Cole's still awake."Cole is...he's..."I can't find the right words, probably because they're swimming in pinot noir.
"He's what?"Amanda challenges, her boss voice completely undermined by her crooked grin."Hot?Smart?Successful?Clearly into you?"
"He is not—wait, what?"I sit up too fast, the room spinning slightly."Into me?"
All three of them groan in perfect drunk harmony.
"Girl."Bella leans forward, almost falling off her seat."The man looks at you like you're water in the desert.And he's clearly thirsty."
"So thirsty," Amanda agrees, nodding enthusiastically."Like, Sahara Desert thirsty."
"Death Valley thirsty," Emma adds, giggling.
"You're all drunk," I accuse, pointing at each of them in turn and missing slightly.
"And you're in denial," they chorus back.
"I am not in..."I trail off, remembering how Cole's eyes darkened when he had me against the wall this morning.How his breath caught when I bit my lip.How his hands trembled slightly when he adjusted my stance."Oh fuck."
"There it is!"Amanda crows triumphantly."Now, what are you going to do about it?"
"I'm going to..."I reach for my wine glass, missing it twice before succeeding, "...drink more wine and hope these feelings go away."
"Wrong answer!"Bella sing-songs, her head bobbing like one of those dashboard dogs."You're going to march up to his penthouse and—"
"And what?"I snort, almost choking on my wine."Jump his bones?"
"Yes!”Amanda and Bella shout in unison, making Emma jump and spill her water.
"Oh god."Emma struggles to stand up from the couch, her pregnant belly making it a three-attempt process."I need to go home before you convince her to do something crazy.Talking about desirable men makes me hot, and I need to cuddle with my sexy husband.He's fabulous at putting out my fire."
"Oh god, not again."Amanda covers her ears dramatically, almost poking herself in the eye."You two are like horny rabbits."
Emma's laugh is pure evil as she grabs her coat."You're just jealous because I'm having the best sex of everyone here while you ladies have to do with wet dreams and vibrators."She winks at me, the designated Uber driver already on his way."Though that might change if someone gets her act together."
I try to stand to walk them out and stumble, catching myself on the armrest."Shit, when did the floor get so wobbly?"
The goodbye hugs are more like drunk penguin waddles, with Emma trying to keep us all upright.When it's Amanda's turn, she grabs my shoulders, missing on the first try, and whispers with her wine-heavy tongue, "You s-should visit Cole, right now, and jump his bones.Don't do what I'm doing with Mr.Brainy-Fucking-Hot Brian."
I giggle, the room spinning pleasantly."You should follow your own advice."Amanda's answering moan is half frustration, half desire.
Sober Emma offers both of us her arms like some sort of pregnancy-powered designated walker.After they leave, I stumble back to my favorite seat, almost missing it entirely, and empty the last of the wine into my glass.Oh god, this pinot is fine.Or am I fine?We're both fine.
My fuzzy brain drifts back to Mr.Walker.The way he looks at me during training, like he's fighting some internal battle.The way his hands feel when he corrects my stance, strong but so gentle.The chemical attraction between us that makes the air crack with electricity.
