“I wouldn’t do it. I’m not a prude, but I like my privacy,” I say in a no-nonsense voice, with thoughts of how I will strangle him running through my mind.

“I wouldn’t want you naked in front of a group, Dora.” Drew nudges my arm, which makes me look up at him. I can tell he’s serious. “There’d be broken jaws and black eyes, and several guys would end up hospitalized.”

“Well, we won’t have to worry about that, now will we?” Why would he be so upset with me naked in front of a group? “Where’s that waitress? I’m starving,” I say, changing the subject as the vision of Drew sitting naked in class revisits my mind.

Christmas shopping should only be done online.

There, I said it. Whoever doesn’t like that statement can, well, deal with it. Julie and I are stuck in department store hell checkout lines with a thousand other grumpy people while cheery Christmas music continuously plays from hidden speakers.

Yes, I’m peeved. I haven’t seen Colin for days, and tomorrow is the dreaded ‘graphic sex of Sunday’ dinner. It was supposed to happen last Sunday, but the flu bug hit my family, so I was given a reprieve. No, I’m not happy they had the flu, but I’m hoping and praying that Grandma Alice will have forgotten about the sex book she apparently raved about to all of her friends at bingo.

“Fuck, Dora,” Julie gripes. “This line is fucking taking forever. My feet hurt and I’m thirsty.”

I know she doesn’t say the F word at work, so why can’t she restrain herself out in public? The F word and Christmas music just don’t mesh.

“Calm down, Jules. At least we’re not at the back of the line. In fact, I can’t even see the back of the line.”

“Yeah, that really helps. Oh, look … they’ve opened another register. Hey, what the fuck? That lady was behind us and now she’s being waited on.”

I cover Jules’ mouth, as any minute now she’ll start a riot, and I don’t want to be on the Channel Six news at eleven. Jules nips at one of my fingers and I gently tap her on the head. The people behind us are getting upset. Part of me wants to dump the stuff we have, but I persevere and we finally escape without inciting a riot.

Shivering, we enter the warm confines of the loft’s lobby. Brad is sitting at his post, his hands wrapped around a huge mug of something that is steaming.

“Ooooooh, that looks yummy,” Julie stutters with quivering lips.

“Would you like a cup? It’s a special hot chocolate blend. I have a pot of it in the back.” His grin is so adorable.

“We’ll love you forever, won’t we, Dora?” Julie replies.

Brad jumps off his stool and enters a door behind him. Seconds later, he’s back with two mugs.

“You’re such a lifesaver. Not only did we fight the cold today, we also did our dreaded holiday shopping. You’re awesome.” Julie takes a sip and her eyes close. “Mmmmmm, this is the best.”

I take a drink of mine and have to agree—it’s a chocolate orgasmic experience in my mouth. The ding of the elevator has all of us turning at the same time. My knees go weak as I see Colin standing there with Liam. Colin grins and Liam is, well, it looks kinda like smiling.

“Tis the season,” Colin says.

“Yep. Long lines and evil people, but Brad has fucking saved the day.” Oh, so full of Christmas cheer is Julie.

Liam and Colin look at my face and start laughing.

“You guys, stop that. It’s not funny. You try keeping Ms. Potty Mouth under control. I’ll gladly give you the job.” I glare at them as they continue to laugh. Brad has his hand over his mouth. I’m sure he’s laughing too.

“My mouth is not a toilet. They’re only words, after all.” Julie pretends she’s in a huff, but she loves the attention. “Where are you two hot bods off to?” she continues, and I groan as the two “hot bods” stop laughing, smile, and stand up a little straighter.

With that, I take off toward the stairs, ignoring the foursome. What has me so mad? Julie is just being Julie, after all, and … I don’t know. I haven’t been this confused in my life.

I reach the fourth floor, realizing through rambling thoughts that I’m not out of breath. Pulling open the exit door, I run into a hard object—a really hard object. Raising my eyes, I meet Drew’s smiling ones.

“Whoa, Dora, where’s the fire?” His dimple deepens as his gorgeous grin widens.

“No fire. I felt like climbing the stairs.”

“Lucky stairs,” he replies, staring at my lips as if he wants to devour them.

What the hell? Where did that come from?

Bad boy. Remember, notches on bedposts and all that? I’m so not going to be the millionth and one girl on his list.

“Ha ha, very funny,” I say.

“Ah, Dora, you wound me. Me, who adores you.”

Oh, brother. Time to run—I mean, walk—away right now.

“Love to stand here and chat, Drew, but I think your cohorts are downstairs waiting for you, and I have presents to wrap,” I say, lifting my packages to show him proof.

“I don’t get it. I feel you’re always trying to get rid of me, and it hurts my heart.”

Gently pushing him away with my packages, I start off down the hall. “I’m so sure, Drew,” I reply without even turning to look at him, instead banging on my door. I’m relieved when Jeff immediately opens it.

“Hey, Dora, what did this door ever do to you? Oh, hey, Drew,” he says, looking down the hall as I push past him. “Rude much?” Jeff shuts the door and I can feel him staring at me.

I fling the packages on my bed before storming over to the refrigerator. “Why do you always side with them?” Anger fills my voice.

“Hey, I was just being neighborly. You really need to get laid, and I think I found you someone. You’ve been hard to live with lately, so I set you up on a blind date tonight. Whether you like it or not.”

“You did? Without asking me first?”

“You tell me all the time to find someone for you, and I’ve done it. Don’t make me regret this.”

“You did? Oh, Jeff, I’m so sorry. I so love you!” He grins as I fling my arms around him and hug him tightly.

“Now go get ready. The little black number will do. In fact, if you let go of me, I’ll even get your clothes ready for you.”

I decide to take a bath, taking care to shave my legs, and then after a long soak, jump into the shower to rinse off. A date finally, one that Jeff approves of. What can go wrong? I mean, everything will be good. I feel it.

Jeff is missing from the room when I exit the bathroom, but my dress and shoes are laid out for me. I hear muffled voices coming from the door leading to the dining room of the loft. Creeping to the door, I turn the lock, as I don’t want any unwanted company finding me in a towel. I quickly dress, apply minimal makeup, slip into my three-inch heels, and wait for Jeff to knock on the door to be let back in. Minutes pass and the voices continue. Sighing, I grab my clutch, move to the door, and open it to see my three roomies and Jeff lounging on the three couches.

“Beautiful,” Jeff says with a shit-eating grin.

“Agreed,” Colin and Drew reply almost in unison. Liam just nods his head.

“Your date is coming up the elevator. Brad just buzzed.” Jeff grins and walks me to the door so I can’t see Colin’s reaction.

Jeff opens the door and the elevator dings at the same time. It opens and I see Ronald Caudwell, a math class buddy of ours, standing there with a bunch of flowers in his hand. He looks nervous, his smile a little wobbly when he sees Jeff and me. Jeff taps me on the shoulder and he magically has my coat in his hand. He helps me into it as Ron walks slowly toward us. I watch his eyes widen as he glances at my dress. He swallows hard. It takes a second for me to realize he’s never seen me in anything but sweats, jeans, T-shirts, and shorts.