I’m relieved when a smile appears on his beautiful lips. Hey, lips can be beautiful, right? Oh, great. I’ve missed something else.

Concentrate, Dora.

“Drew said he’ll take his chances,” Jeff explains. “I think it’s time for me to put little Dora to bed. Her brain needs a rest.”

Everyone laughs when I stick my tongue out at him. “Little Dora can put herself to bed, thank you. But I am tired. Good night. Come on, Jeff, I’ll tuck you in.”

Jeff flops on my bed after changing into some comfy sleeping clothes. “Well, that was fun.”

“Yeah. It was like spending the evening with ordinary guys, not Greek gods.” I pull on my pajama pants and look over at him.

“I told you they’re normal and they just want to fit in,” he replies, causing me to roll my eyes.

“They’re not normal. Normal is only a few hundred people might know your name, not the whole world.”

“Dora, that’s an overstatement. I bet there’s a tribe in Africa or some poor slob in Siberia who doesn’t know of them.”

“Okay, so maybe a hundred haven’t seen their pics, but you have to admit it’s a little daunting being around them sometimes.”

“Only Liam causes me to be daunted.”

“Yeah, if you like the gorgeous, tall, and solemn type that won’t come out of the closet.”

“Your mom told you Henry says you need to help him and Drew. So maybe your job is to help him come out. I get first shot when you do, okay?” Jeff is so good at pleading.

“Maybe you’re too ugly for him. You are on the homely side.” I giggle as Jeff sends a pillow flying through the air and it hits the top of my head as I bend over to miss it.

“I’m not ugly. I’ll have you know I could’ve been a model, but I didn’t want people attacking me, wanting a piece of this awesomeness.” He laughs as I roll my eyes again, and I move his legs so I can lie beside him.

“Okay, stud, but I don’t want to be mending your heart back together if he doesn’t respond like you want him to. I have to get him by himself before he goes home. It must be horrible living a lie every day. No wonder he doesn’t smile much.”

“Yeah, I’m a lucky one. My family didn’t even blink an eye when I came out to them.”

I turn my head to look at Jeff, who is staring at the ceiling. I scoot over and put my arm across his taut stomach and he places his arm around me. The last thing I remember thinking is that I hope Liam doesn’t break Jeff’s heart.

Playing cards tonight was hard for me. All I wanted to do was stare at her. She has no idea what she’s doing to me. I wish I was the one she’s tucking into bed. I know Jeff’s gay, but I still feel the green-eyed monster raising its dark, ugly head. I wish I knew what she thought about the kiss on Halloween. If I declare my feelings for her, would she laugh in my face? Would she even believe me? I’m so tied up in knots, which is something I’ve never encountered before. I have to bide my time until she trusts me and sees me for who I really am.

“I’m so glad it’s over. I never want to see another math book again for as long as I’m alive.” I grab Jeff’s arm and loop mine through his. It’s freezing. Winter has come early and I’m thankful I bundled up this morning. “I think I nailed it though. Thanks, Jeff. I couldn’t have done it without you.”

“Anytime, my friend. To pay me back, you can buy me lunch.”

“Okay, I guess that’s fair.”

The ringing of my cell has me pulling off one of my gloves and pulling the phone out of my coat pocket. “Hi, Mom. Yes, it’s finally over. I think I did well. Sorry I haven’t called. We’ve been hitting the books hard. Yeah, I asked them and Drew accepted. The other two are going home. Okay, he’s right here. I will. Love you too.” I quickly end the call and throw my phone back into my pocket, pulling on my glove before my fingers drop off from frostbite. “Mom sends her love, and she’s so happy Drew is going to be able to make it. Now she’s stressed about what to buy him.”

“She has a point. What do you buy a zillionaire?” Jeff responds, pulling my hand through his arm again.

We pick up the pace and finally arrive at his car without my frozen nose falling off. The blast of hot air from the vents is almost painful for a few seconds, and then it feels wonderful. I love Jeff’s little sports car. I don’t know what make or model it is though. Cars aren’t really my thing.

“So, where are we going for lunch?”

“Somewhere cheap. Remember, I haven’t worked for a few weeks, and Christmas shopping just about wiped me out.”

“Well, I guess I’ll pay, because I’m not going to eat cheap when I received my Christmas money from my parents today. I went from dirt poor to—let’s just say I have money now.”

“Then we’ll go all out for lunch.” I smile at Jeff’s cute smirk and settle back in the plush leather seats, letting the warm air wash over me.

“I’m stuffed. I shouldn’t have had that dessert, but it was oh-so-good.” I feel like a bloated pig. My three-course meal was amazingly scrumptious, and I finished it off like I hadn’t eaten for months. Now I’m searching through my messenger bag looking for something to calm my tummy.

“If you’re looking for antacids, I could use a few as well. I don’t think the lobster is sitting very well with me at the moment.”

“I thought I had them in here, but they must be in my medicine cabinet. Damn.”

“We’ll be home in a few minutes,” Jeff says as he swerves to miss an idiot who pulls out in front of us.

“I’m glad I’m in the car with you and not my mom. She would’ve chewed that driver out just then, even though he wouldn’t have heard her. I hate when she drives. It’s a wonder she hasn’t been arrested yet.”

“It doesn’t do any good yelling at them. It just makes your own blood pressure go up. Most terrible drivers couldn’t care less.”

We pull into the parking garage entrance and Jeff swipes his card across the machine’s sensor. Within seconds the security gate slides to the side, allowing us to enter. There aren’t any other cars on the basement parking floor, and I’m relieved. All I want to do is to go upstairs, take my tummy meds and lie down.

The lobby is warm and Brad is MIA, which allows for Jeff and me to enter the elevator unseen. Okay, so there are security cameras all over the hallways, but no human has seen us, unless someone is looking at the monitors.

“Jeff, do you know where the monitors are that those cameras feed into?”

“Never thought about it. Maybe they’re in that locked room behind the front desk?”

“I just realized how creepy it is being videotaped and not knowing who’s watching.” I shiver as the elevator doors close and we start to ascend.

“It’s not like there are cameras everywhere, Dora. Just in the stairwells, hallways, and lobby. Or maybe I’m mistaken and there’s one in your bathroom.”

I hit him on the shoulder and he laughs. I storm out of the elevator as soon as the doors open.

“You’re a butt, you know that? Now I’m going to be paranoid about going to the bathroom and showering now, thanks.” I unlock my door and try to shut it before he comes in.

“Dora, I’m only kidding. Look, I’ll show you there’s no camera in the bathroom, and then you can rest easy.” Jeff takes me by the hand and we go into the humongous bathroom to begin our search.

I’m still not convinced ten minutes later. Jeff laughs after I tell him so and he leaves the bathroom. I hear knock at my door and then hear Jeff talking to someone. I open the medicine cabinet and pull out my bottle of antacids and pop a few in my mouth, hoping it helps, but also hoping that whoever Jeff is talking to will be gone when I come out. No such luck. I walk out and there’s Liam, Drew and Colin lounging in my sitting room, making themselves at home.