How To Fail at Flirting

by Denise Williams

Oof, been there babe

In my little office, I could control things.

I’d let those four walls become my whole world, and I didn’t know who I would be without them.

😔😔

Why is this so relatable🙃

AHHH

Wow I love them

BROOO

“You’re probably right, but it made you smile, so worth it either way.”

MY DUUUUDE

Hot

THIS THIS THIS THIS

That man does not deserve to exist

I wanted to be kissed like that again, like I was something special, something wanted, like I was . . . someone.

🥵🥵

I’m in love with this man

Though his arousal was imposing between us, he dragged my hand, not to his pants, but to his lips, planting tiny kisses down the side of my thumb at the sensitive skin on the underside of my wrist, stopping me from hiding my face.

Yeah I’m in love

!!!!

🥲🥲

Enveloped in his warmth, I had to remind myself what this was, because he felt like safety, like home, like more.

🥺🥺

Big mood

Bastard

Every time I woke up with him, I couldn’t help but wonder if I was waking up to myself a little more.

Maybe my next career move will be writing a book titled How to Fail at Flirting and Still Get Laid.

I knew he wanted me there, not to show me off, but to be by his side.

🥺🥲

The man looked me over again, and Jake’s body tensed next to me. “You’re light skinned, but your features sure look colored, or are we supposed to say African American now? I can never keep it straight what you people want to be called. I like pretty light-skinned girls, though.” He winked before turning back to Jake. “Didn’t think you had it in you, boy.” Jake’s eyes flashed, and one hand curled into a fist. I touched his forearm. Not worth it. Instead, I adopted a cool tone. “You’re welcome to just call me Doctor.”

FUCK YES

Lord, give me the confidence of an old, rich white man.

YAYYY

Green flag

You won’t know until you get out of your own way, give up on this idea of perfect, and give him a chance to love you, flaws and all.”

Well shit

“Sometimes things that seem dumb, stupid, even dangerous at the time—hell, things that most certainly are dumb, stupid, and dangerous—sometimes they work out. And sometimes those bad decisions? They end up being the most important decisions we ever made. Especially when you have a good head on your shoulders to begin with.”

You don’t get to control me anymore. You can’t hurt me now.”

I remembered Felicia and Aaron saying, We’d love to see the volume go back up. Wes’s words from my self-defense class filled my head. If you can’t do anything else, use your voice. Then there were Jake’s words. I love you.

I didn’t recognize Jake’s voice. It was menacing. “You should think very carefully about what you say, because if you open your mouth again, I will finish what she started and break your fucking jaw.”

🥵🥵

“He’s not worth it,” I said into his shirt as he stroked the back of my head, his fingers threading through my hair. “You are.”

I missed him, but I missed me with him, too. When we were together, I didn’t worry I wasn’t measuring up or feel like I was always guessing what he wanted. I knew what he wanted, and it was me.

He stared intently into my eyes, and I didn’t look away.

“And, for the record, I’m in love with you, too. Phobia-facing, pun-making, you-had-me-from-day-one, I’m-never-letting-you-go-again in love with you.”

Love him

For now, I can’t wait to fight about the toothpaste, check things off our list, fall asleep with you every night, and wake up with you every morning.”