The Physical Experience

** Harper **

The biggest deal-breaker Harper had to confirm was that Eli was single. Surely, she wasn't going to date him, but she still preferred to avoid the risk of coming off as seducing someone else's boyfriend.

With that question out of the way, she let out a tiny sigh of relief. Now, time to get to the real business. Her eyes landed on the laptop Eli placed on the coffee table. "So, about that new chapter I sent you …"

"Yes. Do you want to go over it now?" He reached over to open the lid. "I made some notes and suggestions—"

"Wait, let's back up just a little bit." Harper pressed her own hand on top of his, pinning the computer in place. "I was actually wondering … Well, is it possible that my biggest problem isn't in the writing itself? Could it have to do with … perspective? As in how I envisioned the story in my mind before I even started typing it down?"

Her heart was already starting to race at this opening section of her speech. Oh yes, she had practiced the whole drill many times last night and embarrassed herself plenty in front of the mirror. But no, it didn't help much. She still felt like a fool making a terrible cover story for a new profile on The Hookup App.

Eli only looked at her thoughtfully. "You don't like the way the story is going?" he asked.

"Oh, I do. It's just that …" Harper drew a deep breath. "It's just that I've been out of the dating scene for too long. Maybe that's making it harder to … get these more detailed chapters right. Don't they say you should write what you know?"

Eli shrugged. "To a certain degree. But a murder mystery writer doesn't need to kill someone to learn their craft. You don't have to feel disadvantaged just because you don't have enough experience with the subject in real life. There are many other ways to learn."

Darn. Why was he acting all business? Why couldn't he take this conversation into the direction she wanted? Fortunately, Harper was prepared. "But romance isn't trying to invoke something out of the ordinary like a murder mystery does," she countered. "A love story is supposed to invoke something that everyone can relate to, and it'll be harder for me to connect with the readers that way if I don't share the same feeling."

Subconsciously, she rubbed her thumbs together, fidgeting a little. She'd made her point pretty clear now … Would he get the hint?

Eli stared at her for a moment, his eyes flickering between her hands and her face. Then the corner of his lips curved up in a smile. "What are you beating around the bush for?" he asked. "You're not suggesting that I set you up for a date with someone, are you? That seems to be the best solution to solve your problem. And frankly, I might just be able to come up with a handful of candidates that'll make you a decent match."

"…"

How could he have misinterpreted it like that?!

"N-No!" Harper blurted immediately. "I'm not thinking about dating! Not anyone el— I mean, not when I don't really have the time or effort for it. I just want a scoop of … relevant experience, to help with the scenes that I can't write."

Eli cocked his head. "So you want a first-hand experience in romance … without finding someone to fall in love with?"

"… Well, not a first-hand experience in 'romance' per se …" Gosh, did he really have to push her to say the words? "At least, not the emotional side of it. It's the … physical side of it that I'm not familiar with."

There, she said the hardest part out aloud. Even though she still felt too awkward to use the word "sex" in casual conversations … Chelsea was right about her comfort zone staying firmly in the 1800s.

It looked like Eli finally got the memo this time. His gaze turned a bit dubious. "Are you saying that you've never been with a guy before?"

Ugh, that was a bit too insensitively blunt. Harper swallowed. "M-Maybe … and now you see why I struggle with those bedroom chapters."

A brief surprise flashed across Eli's eyes. Harper winced. She wondered if that revelation was too much — clearly, it wasn't the impression he got from reading her book. And what kind of girl in the modern days was still a virgin at twenty-two anyway?

Thankfully, he didn't judge. After musing for a moment, he said at last, "I still don't see this as a problem, but everyone has different preferences on how to immerse themselves in the fictional world, so whatever you choose is perfectly valid." He paused, glancing at his laptop. "Though perhaps in this case … There isn't much I can help you with in that regard."

… This idiot! He's even more insensitively dense than insensitively blunt!!

Harper swallowed again. Fine, she'd take this as her first trial on trying to be bold and straightforward. "But this is exactly where I can use your help." She smiled, forcing herself to look into his eyes. "I need a makeup lesson, and I think you're the best person I can trust this with. I want you to help me learn, to show me the experience I missed out on. I want you … to teach me all I need to know about love scenes in real life."