“Okay.” Aldridge chuckled. “You know the funny thing about relationships is you and your partner can curate a life that works for you both.”
“A lot of men say that but?—”
Aldridge stepped closer and was now towering over me. “I’m not these other men. So can we stop with the generalizations? If you want to know how I feel about a specific topic, just ask me.”
“I wasn’t referring to us. We’re not even a couple. We’re just …” I scanned the vicinity to confirm no one was in earshot. “Fucking.”
“Wow, you’re really good at making things awkward.”
“I wasn’t trying to. But let’s be real, we don’t have titles.”
“Right, because we’re just fuck buddies.”
“Yeah FUBU.”
“I don’t typically go to bookstores with my fuck buddies.”
“Who knows, maybe you have a dark academia fetish.”
Aldridge grabbed a random book from the shelf, cracked it open and started to finger fuck it. “I mean I do love the way the pages slide against my skin.”
God I’d never wanted to be a piece of literature more in my entire life. There was a summer where I went through a whole cottagecore era and walked around with a well-loved copy of Jane Eyre. “You’ve gotten to second base with that book, so you’re going to have to buy it.”
Aldridge slammed the book shut. “The legal section is over there.” He was taller than the bookshelves and could survey the entire store with little effort.
“Do you think I’m funny?”
“You makemelaugh.”
“But when you describe me to other people do you say ‘You have to meet Danessa, she’s hilarious. You’re going to love her’?”
“No, I usually lead with how smart you are.”
“I can be funny though?”
“I mean you’re not a laugh riot, but you have your moments. I think we kind of balance one another out. I’m funny and you’re funny to a lesser degree.”
“So you think you’re the comedic genius that holds everything together?”
“I mean my timing is impeccable, I allow space for the inevitable laugh. People tend to leave conversations with me with a smile on their face.”
Pointing to my chest I declared, “I leave people smiling.”
“Yes, you leave people smiling because you’re warm and thoughtful. You’re an amazing listener. You have the ability to read people and say the right thing to make them feel better.”
“So I’m not funny?”
“Any fuck buddy dynamic …” I laughed at his use of the term in relation to us. “has to have a ying and a yang. I’m funny, you’re smart. I’m athletic, you can act and sing the entireDreamgirlsmusical.”
My entire body lit up as I enthusiastically delivered my favorite line. “Turn your wigs around. It’s sophisticated looking.”
“See, balance, symmetry. Who said you’re not funny?”
“Jemini.”
“Ouch.”
“Yeah, we kind of got into a fight at Anika’s dress fitting.”
