It Has To Be You

by Dani McLean

Especially when guys sent u up? messages and told her they wanted to screw her breasts. Had they even seen her breasts? It would be like rubbing themselves off on a skateboard.

It made her feel like a fly caught in a web, being eyed by a sexy-ass spider who was convincing her that she wanted to be eaten.

“You never stop flirting, do you?” “I can if it bothers you.” Well, that was… It would be rude to stop him, honestly. And Indy was flattered. “I didn’t say that.” His knee pressed into hers as he leaned closer. “I like my consent in no uncertain terms.” The breath left her lungs. There was sweat where her thighs met her seat. “I don’t want you to stop.”

Ethan: Kid in my class just said that the weather is different in the southern hemisphere because there’s more ocean there, and I can’t decide if he’s trolling me or not. Indy: Huh. I just googled it and he’s right. I never knew that. You have a genius on your hands. Two hours later Ethan: That genius just glued himself to the desk.

Potential was meant for the young, for fledglings granted permission to stumble. To fall. By thirty-one, she should be wiser, bolder, a fully formed being. Formed of what, Indy didn’t know. And she wasn’t sure she ever would.

Her mind was ten tabs constantly open, with three videos on pause and the nagging feeling that she’d forgotten something important.

Her mom had never believed in Fate but always believed in love, made sure to tell her she loved her at least once a day. She’d always mention, “I never want to worry that I haven’t said it.” Indy, however, had never said it to anyone other than her family or Sasha, a fact that choked her up at least every other month and doubly at Christmas. Though she had said it to several books, her PS5, and, on one drunken night, her bed.

There wasn’t a lot of room between the shelves, leaving little space for him to escape, even though he could probably pick Indy up with one arm. Possibly even throw her over his shoulder… hold her up against the bookcase, her thighs wrapped around his waist… Hold up. Wrong line of thinking. Save that for later.