“Oh, for the love of Sunday dinners with my family, it’s Drew. Drew is the Modelteer who kissed me on Halloween. He’s the one who almost gave me an orgasm right there in a dark hallway. Or what I think an almost orgasm feels like.”

“Whoa, Drew? Bad boy, Drew?”

“Yes, him. I can’t believe it. I’m going to have to move. This isn’t going to work, me living here. Why is he doing this to me? I was happy with my boring, mundane life.”

“Thanks for calling me boring. Or am I mundane?” Jeff remarks, still wearing that silly grin of his.

“Oh hush. You know what I meant. Sexless, dateless, and the only worries I had were passing math and enduring my crazy family. I passed math, and my family will always be crazy, so I have to deal. But having a fling with a famous—correction, mega famous—hottie isn’t needed or wanted in my world. No, sir.” A few tears slip down my face and Jeff gently wipes them away.

“Are you finished? I think you’re overreacting. I’ve come to know Drew. Wait, it’s my time to speak,” he says, shushing me when I try to argue. “Liam says he’s a good guy. The fights in the tabloids were provoked, and the women? Each one of them only wanted to be photographed with him for their own gain. Yes, he’s slept with a few of them. He is a guy, after all. But Liam says that over the last few years, Drew’s changed and has become more distant with people. He also told Liam you’re like a breath of fresh air, and he’s happy you moved in.”

“When did Liam tell you this? How long have you known this and let me believe he was this love-’em-and-leave-’em type of guy?” I turn so I’m facing Jeff side by side and I watch the guilty look cover his face. “Fess up, buddy.”

“I’ve known for a short time. But wait—I saw the way he looked at you, and I guess I got a little possessive. I wanted to see if it was true before I told you. I think Liam is right. Forgive me for loving you so much.” He leans over and kisses my nose and I melt. How can I be angry after that?

“I forgive you, and I won’t hit you for losing track of me tonight. But, Jeff, in all honesty, I felt like I had the flu when Drew and I were dancing. I had all the symptoms, and now they’ve disappeared. That can only mean one thing: I’m attracted to him. I don’t want, or need this.”

I know I sound like I’m whining. I know a million women would love to have Drew in their sights, but it will make my life so complicated, and when it fizzles out on his end, when he’s tired of this “breath of fresh air,” how awkward will it be to be living in the same space? One of my resolutions is to move out, but that’s only if I get a good job, and the unemployment stats scare me.

“Take a chance, Dora. What have you got to lose? You have so much to gain. I bet that man will give you countless orgasms and you’ll think you’ve died and gone to the great beyond.”

“Easy for you to say. And what if I don’t like orgasms? That was a stupid question. Stop laughing at me. Forget about me for a minute, what about you and Liam? Is it a go?”

“You are so nosy, always in everyone’s business,” he says after getting his laughter under control.

“Oh, and you don’t pry, huh? So now it’s your turn to spill.”

“Okay.” He lies back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. I wait patiently for him to continue. “We’re talking, and we have a date for tomorrow night. Satisfied?” He rolls back and stares at me.

“Ohhhhhh, I’m so happy. You have no idea how happy I am for you. Are you excited? Of course you are. You and Liam are perfect for each other.” I reach over and pull him in for a hug, which he reciprocates. I swear he’s breaking a few of my ribs in the process.

“Now go back to the party and let me think. No shaking your head. I’m fine, and I want you to go back to Liam.” I push him away from me and he slowly rises.

“Are you sure?”

“I’m positive. Now get your sexy ass out there before someone steals Liam away from you.” He jumps off the bed and turns, blowing me a kiss. “I love you, Jeff.”

“Ditto, but I love you more.” He grins and slips through the door, shutting out the loud mayhem when he closes it. I get up and lock it. He has a key, so I’m not worried. Anyway, he might get lucky and not need to sleep here tonight.

My cell rings a few minutes later and I grab it off my dresser. It shows a picture of my mom and dad acting silly. “Happy New Year, Dora,” they yell as soon as I answer.

“Happy New Year to you, my wonderful parentals.”

“Have you made your resolution list yet?” Mom asks, and my dad says he loves me and I hear a click. “So, now that your dad is off the phone, I have to tell you that Henry has been bugging me to call you. He says you aren’t helping Drew, and I told him he’s wrong. Of course, Mr. Arrogant says he’s never wrong. So tell me I’m right. You are helping Drew, aren’t you, sweetie?”

What do I say? Henry will know I’m lying, and since he has an in with upstairs management, I don’t know if pissing him off will be any good for me. But I don’t want my mom to know the truth, so I do what I’m being trained to do: I compromise.

“Don’t worry, Mom. I’m working on it. I just wish Henry would stop being so vague about how I’m supposed to be helping Drew.” I roll my eyes and pray she doesn’t hear the little white lie in my voice.

“Okay, I’ll tell him. So, about this Sunday, are you and Jeff free for dinner? Please tell me you are. Taylor and Bridget are going skiing and won’t be back until late, so I really need reinforcements.”

“I’ll check with Jeff and let you know. Love you, Mom. My battery is in the red zone,” I say as another little white lie slips out.

“All right. Please try for Sunday. I don’t ask for much. Talk to you soon. I’m off to tell Henry he’s wrong. Love it. Night, sweetie, and Happy New Year again.”

My phone clicks before I can respond. Happy frickin’ New Year to me. All I have to look forward to in the next few days is a dysfunctional Sunday. Joy oh joy.

“For Christ’s sake, please stop that pounding.” What time is it? I must’ve dozed off. What is that pounding noise, and where is Jeff?

Oh, yeah … now I remember. He’s probably with Liam. The room is partially dark. The only light is a decorative flameless candle that I keep on at night so I don’t break my neck if I need to get up. The pounding is coming from the door to the loft. I slide off the bed, still in my beautiful dress and my eff- me pumps.

“This better be important,” I remark as I open the door.

It’s Drew. My heart starts beating crazily as he moves past me. I shut the door since the party noise is still deafening and my head isn’t really up to it.

“Dora, we need to talk.” I find Drew standing behind me, not close, but too close for comfort.

“Can’t it wait until tomorrow? I’m a little tired.” Please let him just go. I can’t deal with this right now. My emotions are all over the place, and the monsters in my stomach are awakening, as is my fever and wobbly legs. Great, I’m having another case of Drew flu.

“I’ve been waiting for months now, and I know it sounds corny, but it’s a new year and I want—God, Dora, I want to talk.” He sounds so forlorn and lost, and now he’s tugging at my heart with his words, which by the way just skipped a beat. His voice is enough to make me melt into a puddle of hot goo.

“Okay, but let me go splash some water on my face first.”

I don’t wait for an answer as I move past him to the bathroom. I need to pee, but I didn’t want to discuss bodily functions when most of my body is not functioning right as it is. I turn on the faucet so it will mask the noise, and then I wash my hands, splashing a little cool water on my face. I don’t want to mess up my makeup since I want to look halfway decent when we talk.

What is there to talk about? He kissed me on Halloween and tonight, big deal. I guess I need to go find out.