I made some pancakes and black coffee, picked up the newspaper, and sat down on a high stool at the kitchen’s island. I poured honey over my pancakes, while I flipped through the newspaper, trying to find a job that I could apply for, preferably something in civil engineering, in which I could work part time and still go to graduate school.

Nothing really grabbed my attention.

Cursing, I took my plate to the sink. I was rinsing it to put it into the dishwasher, when a knock on the door stopped me.

My heart paused for a second and my mind flew. Could it be Charlotte? But how had she found out where I lived?

Hope was in full bloom in my chest as I rushed to the door. I stopped for a second and looked down at myself. I was wearing cotton pajamas pants and nothing else. My hair was probably a mess. I probably should go to my room and at least comb my hair. Hmm, not that she hadn’t seen me like this before, and apparently she had liked it but—

The knock came again.

I stopped my mental diarrhea and opened the door.

“What the hell are you two doing here?”

Brody brushed past me and entered the apartment, looking around. “Hey, Mason, this place sucks.”

Matt pulled me into a hug. “Hey, big brother, how is life on the East Coast?” He stepped inside and joined Brody in analyzing the apartment.

Slowly, I closed the door. “What are you doing here?”

“Hey!” Brody made a hurt face. “You don’t want us here?”

“You told me to save money and come visit you,” Matt protested.

“No, man, it’s not that,” I said. “I just didn’t expect to see you here.”

Matt’s eyes widened. “You got a chick here? Hey, man, sorry, we didn’t mean to interrupt whatever you—”

I headed into the kitchen. “There’s no chick here.”

Brody followed me. “So, what’s the problem? We thought you would love to see us. The gang back together, terrorizing the city!”

Matt chuckled. “He has been saying that since we bought the plane tickets.”

I couldn’t help but smile. “Weirdo.”

Brody bowed. “Thank you.” He started rummaging through the cabinets as if he had always lived there. “So, we’re here to party. Where are we going tonight?”

I put my dirty plate inside the dishwasher. “I don’t know. There is a ton of clubs and bars downtown.”

Brody found a clean mug and filled it with steamy coffee. “Just take us to where the cute chicks are, man. The rest is the rest.”

Matt leaned against the doorjamb. “Another thing he has been saying since we bought the tickets.”

I looked from my young brother to my best friend. It wasn’t quite who I had been expecting, but maybe it was better. My friends were here now and I hadn’t realized how much I had missed them until they were here, talking shit and making a mess in my kitchen.

Though I wasn’t in the best mood to party, I owed it to them.

“All right, I think I know a nice bar where cute chicks hang out. But”—I glanced to the digital clock on the stove—“it’s not even noon yet and the place opens at six.”

Matt, the history freak, grinned like a little kid in an amusement park. “We could go sightseeing.”

“What?” Brody asked, the expression on his face terrified.

I laughed.

“Seriously, come on,” Matt insisted. “Got anything better to do? Bet there will be hundreds of cute chicks to look at while we walk around the National Mall. Tell him, Mason.”

Brody sported a sly grin. “I have no idea what the National Mall is, but if cute chicks are going to be there, so will we.”

“I would be up for that,” I said.

While my brother and my best friend were here, I would take advantage of their push and hook up with some girl. It was the only way to forget Charlotte.

I hoped.

Charlotte

“I’m glad you could come,” Donnie said, opening the door of the car for me and offering his hand.

“Me too,” I lied, smiling as convincingly as I was taught.

My mother had set me up again. This time, I was to spend an entire Saturday with Donnie in Washington. I had no time to argue as she informed me of it two minutes before Donnie showed up at our front door.

I took his hand and slid out of the car. I smoothed my summer dress, which actually looked more like a cocktail dress—beige with yellow and orange flowers prints, and it came down to my knees. I wore caramel pumps and held a matching wristlet. All I was missing was one of those gigantic hats and beelike sunglasses, and I would look like a snobby high society woman going to watch a polo game at a country club where the monthly membership cost more than the average rent price.

Like this, I felt as if I was forty instead of nineteen. I also felt suffocated and ashamed for hiding so much of me.

Donnie placed my hand on his arm, and we walked down Independence Avenue.

Despite the circumstances, it was a beautiful day. Sunny but not too hot, with a suave breeze hitting here and there.

I glanced at Donnie. He seemed nice, a little too invested in politics for my taste, but almost everyone in Washington was. He was handsome, in a way. Tall, average build, with good skin, good hair, beautiful pale blue eyes. I wondered how his body was under the expensive shirts and slacks.

Heat crept on my cheeks. I shouldn’t be thinking that, because I certainly didn’t want to know. Which was too bad. I wished I wanted to know. I really did, but it wasn’t there. No sparks, no butterflies in my stomach when he looked at me. Granted, not everyone was lucky to have that kind of relationship, but I sure wanted to be one of the lucky ones.

He smiled at me. “How many times have you been here before?”

“Too many to count,” I said. It was true. I was practically born and raised at the National Mall.

“I guess this is boring, then. I’m sorry. I should have asked first.” He paused. “Do you want to go somewhere else?”

“No, it’s fine. I like walking around here.”

He patted my hand tucked in his arm. “Good.”

We made a turn on 7th Street, and then entered Jefferson Drive, going toward the Washington Monument. We passed the carousel and I wished I were little enough to ride it. I sure would have fun.

Well, if Liana, MaryAnn, and Becca were here, I was sure they would find a way for the four of us to ride the carousel.

I looked ahead again and my heart squeezed, sending a painful jolt through my chest.

Mason, with his brother and his best friend, was coming from the other side, from the Smithsonian Museum. They talked and laughed, bumped elbows in ribs, and slapped shoulders. Boys will be boys. They walked toward the Professor Joseph Henry Statue, and we would cross paths in a few more seconds.

I looked back, trying to think of another place to go, maybe back to the Hirshhorn. I opened my mouth to tell Donnie to turn around, when Matt’s wide eyes met mine and he halted in his tracks, patting his brother’s chest and pointing at me.

The three of them stopped and I noticed the conversation became harsher.

Without hesitation, Mason walked toward me—and Donnie.

Frowning, I halted. “Donnie,” I started. Still smiling, he turned to me. “I’m thirsty. Could you please buy some water for me?”

“Sure.” He looked around, a little lost.

“There.” I pointed behind us. “A kiosk right beside the carousel.”

“Of course. Just water?”

I needed more time. “How about a hot chocolate instead? And please, see if they have a fresh blueberry muffin.”

“I’ll be right back.” He walked away, looking as if he was about to break into happy skips.

Afraid of being caught, I rushed to Mason. Since I wouldn’t be able to hide, it was better confront him fast and have this over with.

I beckoned him out of the path, where trees hid us from Donnie’s sight. With a knot between his brows, Mason raised his hand to Matt and Brody. The guys stopped, and then he followed me.