Page 9

Here it comes. Sasha is going to ask me how I've been researching these scenes, and she's going to try to pry it out of me. It's going to be so embarrassing. Not only can I not get a boyfriend on my own, but now I'm sleeping with five guys for money. Well, room and board, but same difference.

"You've probably started watching porn," suggests Angela. "I've been telling you to watch for ages. Didn't I tell you? Great inspiration."

"And reading other high heat books," says Sasha, giving Angela a sideways look.

"Oh sure, books too. Anything, really, to get the blood flowing to all the right places," agrees Angela, doing a little shimmy. "First the blood flows, and then the fingers fly."

"You're talking about fingers flying on the keyboard, right?" asks Maddie, barely holding back a laugh. "Not on anything else?"

"Like I said," says Angela with a smirk of her own. "First one, and then the other."

By the time we've finished with everyone's chapters for the week, happy hour is about to end so we order a second round of drinks to take advantage of the cheaper prices.

I normally only have the one even though they're cheaper, but I'm not paying rent anymore and my new chapter went well, so I decide to splurge a little.

Besides, a second glass of wine will be the perfect excuse for the glow I feel radiating from me.

This critique session was the first time my critique partners have recognized me as a good writer instead of the little author they take pity on to make themselves feel better, even as they gatekeep all their trade secrets.

To be their complete equal is a dream. Even just listening to their critiques of each other's work is helpful.

I'll go home tonight with a mental list of positions to maybe try with my new boyfriends.

Attempting them in real life before making my characters do something similar would probably be best.

Maybe by the end of my second drink I'll have the nerve to ask my critique group if they think the same way.

Or maybe because I had such limited sexual interactions with my high school boyfriend and am only now experimenting with sex, my mind is more tuned in to the possibilities—at least more than before.

This is definitely something to consider. Will the guys change just my writing, or will they change me too?

"So what made you decide to make such a sudden change to your writing?" asks Sasha the moment Maddie and Angela step away from our table.

"I've been contemplating it for a while," I say, playing with the stem of my wineglass.

This is, of course, not true. It wasn't until I saw the flyer that the idea started playing over and over in my head.

"And I just sort of decided that you were making good points when you were talking about the market, and what did I have to lose?

So why not give it a try and see if I'm any good at writing spice. "

"And turns out that you're a natural." Sasha eyes me over the rim of her cosmo.

"Thanks." While it is still technically a compliment from Sasha, she doesn't really sound impressed with my writing. Especially given that she marked it up so much. "But like everyone pointed out today, I still have aspects of writing spicy to work out."

"Mmm," murmurs Sasha. "You never did say earlier, what are you using for research?"

"Oh," I hesitate. "Just like what you all said. Well, not the porn part, but reading other books with higher spice. Noting how those authors set things up, not only in the bedroom, but between the couples, so I can learn from their techniques."

That part is true at least. I did read two or three high-heat books, or at least I tried.

I was so convinced someone was going to catch me out and tell me I shouldn't be reading such filth in the exact voice my parents would use that I stopped, but I do mean to start again.

Maybe it will also give me a better grasp on what the guys expect from me.

"We should buddy read then." Sasha sets down her glass and looks me in the face as if daring me to refuse her offer. "We can do our research together and that will make it easier on both of us."

"Yeah, sure that sounds good." Now I really will have to read these books, and get brave about discussing the intimate details of book sex with Sasha so she doesn't realize that I've been doing hands-on research with my new roommates.

Maybe before I discuss the scenes with her, I can come up with a way to suggest the moves to my boyfriends—just so I don't come across as a complete novice to Sasha.

"Perfect." Sasha checks her phone. "We need to get moving if we're going to make our train."

"Actually, I have a little bit because I need to take a different train." I won't have anyone to ride home with now that I've moved, which makes me a little nervous safety-wise, but Sasha and I got off at different stops anyway so I suppose it doesn't affect too much.

Maddie and Angela slide back into their seats in time to say goodbye to Sasha.

"Are you going somewhere else after this?" Sasha gathers her things, eyeing me curiously.

"Oh, a date perhaps?" asks Angela.

"You're still so new to town, you have so many options for good dates. Tell us all about him," says Maddie, leaning toward me in hopes of some good gossip.

"No, nothing like that. I just moved is all.

Since my lease was up and I didn't love that place enough to renew.

" Sort of true. My old apartment wasn't the most amazing thing ever, but I would have renewed if the rent wasn't going up outrageously because living alone was fantastic.

Although my new roommates haven't been loud, and we haven't had any issues yet.

I did just move in, though, so there is still plenty of time for that to happen.

"Well, that's exciting still," says Angela.

"Not as exciting a date, but fun," agrees Maddie.

"Wait, is this the address where you were going the other day?" asks Sasha, pulling up the text message on her phone. "I thought you were afraid they were going to kill you, yet you've already moved in?"

"Yikes, that's a quick turnaround on impressions," laughs Angela.

"How many roommates are there then?" asks Maddie.

"Five." I laugh a little to make it seem funny and not intimidating. "But they keep to themselves mostly so it should be fine."

Again, technically true. They have kept mostly to themselves, except for the sexy times.

"Well, they say don't shit where you eat," says Maddie, "but maybe they have friends they could introduce you to and then you really could have a date."

"Yeah, sleeping with roommates always gets messy," agrees Angela.

"Lots of new changes then," says Sasha, bringing the attention back to her. "Anyway, message me this week with your next research read and we can go through it together with an author's eye."

She leaves me to listen to Angela and Maddie bemoan their own lack of decent date prospects until it's time for me to catch my own train.