She pulled my neck down and kissed me.

I slid my hands down her waist and kissed her back. It was a nice kiss. Her mouth was soft and wasn’t too slobbery, even after her too many drinks. Okay, I could get into this. I pressed her body to mine and deepened the kiss. My hand reached for her hair, but I fingered the air instead. Startled, I pulled back and realized I had been looking for Charlotte’s long hair, not the bob this girl had.

“What’s wrong?” Jade asked.

I shook his head, clearing his mind. “Nothing.”

I bent into her again, trailing kisses down her neck, and the girl moaned. I inhaled, and the smell of cigars and some flowery perfume greeted me. Very different from the sweet cherry scent I was expecting.

I released her.

She put her hands on her hips—they were a little larger than Charlotte’s too—and stared at me. “Something is wrong.”

Christ, I couldn’t even be a free man anymore. “It’s just …”

Jade nodded. “I get it. There’s another girl, right? You haven’t forgotten her. Believe me, I get it.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be. I’m not mad. I think this was good for you anyway.”

I frowned. “Why is that?”

She smiled at me, all too knowing. “Because now you know you really like her.”

Charlotte

When Liana suggested going to the Gelman Library at George Washington University, since we both had research projects to work on for our summer classes, my first answer was no.

Then, I thought about it. Washington had many colleges, the chances of Mason studying at GWU were low, and he had told me his classes didn’t start until August. Even if he was to study here, the chances of meeting him at the library were low.

Besides, deep down, even though I knew I shouldn’t, I was dying to see him again. It was another boring Monday and nine days since I had bumped into him at the National Mall, but who was counting?

“What is it?” Liana asked after we settled at one of the tables in the library with many books. “You won’t stop looking around.”

I shifted my gaze to the books before me. “Nothing.”

“You’re lying.” Liana looked around, trying to spot whatever had me on edge. Many guys crowded the desk around us. “Oh, I get it. It’s about that Mason guy.”

My cheeks warmed and I put a finger over my lips. “Shush. I don’t want to talk about this.” I opened a book and pretended to have interest in the pages I turned.

We had talked about Mason a lot already, and even though Liana thought it was so romantic to find him here, I thought it was destiny being cruel.

Liana chuckled. “You’re so in love.”

“What? I barely know him. In fact, I don’t know him at all.”

Which made me sad. I had slept with him for a week, had the most amazing connection I could dream of, and yet, I didn’t know anything about him. And it was all my fault. I had been the one to impose the nothing-personal rule on our affair.

So stupid.

Over the table, my phone vibrated. I picked it up before others noticed it. I glanced at the screen and rolled my eyes.

“Who is it?” Liana asked in a hushed tone.

I pressed the end button. “Donnie.”

Liana’s eyes widened. “Oh, poor guy. Doesn’t know he has competition.”

“There’s no competition,” I snapped.

“Then why are you avoiding Donnie?”

Good question. “Because … I don’t like him.”

“Don’t like him or—?”

A girl from the table beside ours shushed us, and I glared at my friend. We lowered our heads and continued our research in silence. When my phone vibrated once more and I turned the call off without answering, Liana tsked.

My phone vibrated again. I reached for it, determined to turn it off, but saw it was a message from Liana. I looked at her across the table.

Smiling, she gestured to my phone.

Shaking my head, I read the message.

Liana: So, about that Donnie boy.

Me: What about him?

Liana: Don’t like him or you like someone else?

Me: Both.

Liana: Oh, so you confess!

Me: What good is confessing when I know I can’t do anything?

Liana: It’s a step, sista!

Me: Toward a wall where I’ll bump face-first.

Liana: You should be a comedian.

Me: What?

Liana: Anyway, what’s wrong with Donnie boy?

Me: Can we talk about this later? Much better than typing.

Liana: All right. But you’re not off the hook yet. I WILL know it all!

I didn’t know what else Liana wanted to hear from me. She knew everything already. I had told her about our dates, about our semi-kiss, about how I didn’t feel anything.

I tucked my phone inside my purse and tried focusing on my project.

The words before my eyes were blurred. Ugh, I really didn’t care about them at the moment. My life had been uncomplicated so far. Not real, but simple. I just had to do what my mother wanted me to. Now, with temptation so close, it was becoming harder to continue doing what I didn’t want to.

“All right, I’m tired of this.” Liana closed the book with a loud thud almost two hours after our arrival. Two hours I hadn’t really done anything other than look around and hope, and then un-hope, Mason would show up. “Let’s go skate somewhere before heading home.”

When did I deny going roller-skating? More than a hobby, it helped clear my head and relax my tense muscles—just what I needed.

We left the library, heading to the parking garage a half-block ahead.

I fought against the will to turn my head and look everywhere for him. But it wasn’t needed.

“Hey.” Mason’s voice came from the street.

Mason

Charlotte turned as I stepped on the sidewalk. She looked more like herself in a jean skirt and a simple blouse—and beautiful too.

“Hey,” she muttered.

“I saw you from the other side of the street.” I halted before her and ran a hand through my hair.

“Hi, Mason,” Liana said, stepping beside Charlotte.

“Hey, Liana. Nice to see you again.” I shook her hand briefly.

Liana kept talking. “We’re looking for a park where we can roller-skate. Do you know any?”

I pretended I didn’t see as Charlotte placed her hand on Liana’s back, and probably poked her.

However, I had been trying to come up with a plan to approach her, to find her, to find her phone number, and I wouldn’t let this golden opportunity get away from me.

“I don’t know much about the city yet,” I said. “But there is a nice park thirty minutes south of here. On foot. Ten if driving.”

Liana smiled. “How about you come with us and show the way?”

I locked my eyes with Charlotte’s. She didn’t look happy. “I’m not sure …”

“No worries.” Liana stepped in our line of sight and stirred me toward a parking garage. “We’ll be good company.”

Charlotte remained in her spot on the sidewalk. “Liana, perhaps Mason has someplace to be. You don’t want to be—”

“That’s okay,” I said, determined. She wouldn’t escape me. Not now. “I was just getting acquainted with the area before my classes start.”

“Great.” Liana grabbed my arm with one hand and Charlotte’s elbow with another, and pulled us into the garage. “Let’s have some fun.”

On the second floor, Charlotte fished car keys from her purse, and unlocked a silver Porsche Cayenne that easily cost $100,000.

I knew she didn’t like talking about money but I couldn’t help it. I whistled, eyeing her amazing machine. “So this is your car. Nice.”

Shaking her head, Charlotte slid behind the steering wheel and Liana sat in the backseat, leaving the front passenger seat open for me.

With a smile, I joined them inside the car.

In silence, Charlotte drove out of the parking garage.