Page 11

"Ari!" Troy Lockhart, my best guy friend and T-shirt business partner, maneuvers through the crowded atrium and embraces me in a full-body hug. "We did it!" His graduation cap falls to the ground as he presses his body into mine. I'm caught off guard by the gesture, but I let it pass.

"I know!" I yell, jumping up and down in his arms.

Troy is exceptionally fine. Even though we're the best of friends, I'm not blind.

He could easily run away to Vegas, join the Chippendales revue and make serious bank.

He has the face and that sexy, athletic body.

He's Magic Mike XXL fine and his dark olive complexion, hypnotic green eyes and tousled sandy blonde hair don't hurt either.

It makes him look as innocent as a cherub but when he flashes that blindingly beautiful smile, he's as deadly as the devil. A heartstopper.

His open, lovable personality takes him over the top.

He's insanely popular with the girls on campus.

Girls of every type throw themselves at him and having no specific "type," Troy has dated all kinds of women.

He just dates who he likes. It's why the girls love him so much.

They all believe they have a chance with him.

I'd say he has a pretty dedicated fan base.

They sit around and talk about him. Some have even stalked him.

With most guys, this would go to their heads, but not Troy.

He's a different breed. Troy is a unicorn.

The hug lingers longer than I expect. His hands slide down my back, resting around my waist, just above my hips.

Standing so close to him with my arms around his neck, I feel the heat radiating off him.

His cool nautical scent is so refreshing, I have to pull away and put a little space between us.

When did he become so intense? Troy holds onto my waist, keeping me close, in spite of my attempt to escape.

On and off over the last four years, I've had a sneaky suspicion that maybe there was something there between us but nothing ever came of it.

Not until now. Suddenly our faces line up, eye to eye, nose to nose, lips to lips.

We're so close, less than a finger's width apart.

For a split second, I'm drawn in. Time seems to stand still as the question hangs over our heads.

Should we...do this?

"There's the scholar! The first in our family to graduate! Smile!" Mama holds up her phone to snap a picture, snapping me out from under his spell.

Troy's arms immediately drop from around my waist and he quickly steps away and picks up his graduation cap.

"What was that on stage?" Mia looks amused.

"What?" I crack a half-smile, acting oblivious.

"Hmm. Let me see. One. Instead of accepting your diploma, you take the mic from the announcer. Two. You speak in a thick Cuban accent." Mia holds up three fingers. "You tell the announcer, 'I want what's coming to me.'"

Penelope puts up four fingers. "You put the mic to the announcer's lips. He asks, 'What's coming to you?' all confused."

In unison, they yell in thick Cuban accents, "The world, chico, and everything in it!"

Troy cracks up. "Whoa! Taking Scarface a little too seriously?"

"But for real, chica! Did you see the audience's reaction? They were cracking up for a good five minutes after you got off stage. It was crazy. The announcer had to quiet them down and everything."

"Yeah, that was a good ice breaker. It was getting too stuffy in there," Mia admits.

"I don't know. It's just something a friend and I laughed about recently. Someone at work...I was just having a little fun. I need some fun in my life right now!"

"Well, we got you on that."

"Got the whole night planned. First, it's dinner, then drinks and dancing! Aye! Aye!" Mia celebrates.

"Celebrating your graduation and newfound freedom, chica! No more of that Bastard Sebastian!"

"No more Bastard Sebastian!"

Troy lets everyone else walk ahead, then pulls me back. With a telling smile, he asks, "So you and Sebastian...are no longer a thing?"

Sunlight shining directly into my line of sight is my wake-up call. I open my eyes to blinding white light and a mild headache. Where am I?

Looking around for clues, I know this is not my bedroom. How I ended up here is anyone's guess. A body shifts next to me. Oh God! Who is it?

I peek over my shoulder and behold sleeping beauty. It's Troy's fine ass.

I didn't! We didn't! Did we?

My heart flutters. I slowly get up and out of the bed, hoping not to stir him, but the springs in the bed creak anyway.

It's chilly, the AC must be on. Wearing just a bra and thong underwear is not gonna cut it.

Where are my clothes? I have goosebumps right now.

Did we cross that line? God, I hope not.

I've got to assume that since my bra is still intact, we didn't go there.

The fact that he has on a tank top and boxers screams no, as well but you never know, he could've gotten cold during the night.

I search the room for evidence. I check around the bed and the wastebasket for a condom wrapper. None.

At first thought, that's good news, but then again . . . .

I let myself go this far? As soon as I reach to open the door, I hear someone in the kitchen. Must be his roommate. I can't go out there like this! At least I have my purse. I clutch it to my chest like it's my last hope for survival. Please let my phone be here!

Leaning over the edge of the bed, I glance back at Troy. A marching band couldn't wake that boy up right now.

But he is dreamy. All sleeping and unassuming like that.

Silently cursing her name as I dial her number, I pray she picks up. "Mia! I woke up in Troy's bed, and I can't find my clothes! What happened last night?"

"Huh? Girl!" Mia yawns loudly into the phone. "We had too much fun last night! Don't you remember?"

"Yes, I remember going to dinner with Mama. I remember drinks and dancing but what the heck happened after that? Did you know I ended up at Troy's?"

"Penelope and I thought it was a good idea. You know, to get over Sebastian."

"The fuck! So, you hook me up with one of my best friends? Real nice, Mia!"

"Well, you sort of hooked your own self up, Ari! He was into you and you didn't play him to the left like you usually do. We figured you were into it."

"Like I usually do?"

"Yeah! Like you usually do! You know Troy's been in love with you since you two first met, freshman year. A blind man could see that but you were never game until last night! So yes, we let it happen and please tell me, did it? Happen?"

"First of all, I can hear you smiling through the phone! And no! I don't . . . think . . . it did? At least I hope not! I can't get Troy mixed up in my mess. I'm not ready for this!"

"Ready for what? A good fuck? You could use it right now! Get over that bastard Sebastian. That should be his new name—Bastard Sebastian, cause that's what he is! Please, Ari. Don't hold out for him. He's bad news, girl!"

I take a deep breath. "I'm not holding out for him. It's just that . . ."

"No! None of that whiney shit, Ari! After all he did? Really?"

"I don't know. Everything is still so fresh! What do you expect from me? To go on a hoe-hopping tour? Banging every cutie, every crush I ever had? I mean, I feel like I got a freakin' hole in my heart!"

"That's why you need to move on! I got an idea! Hold on a sec." Mia clicks off the line. She clicks back with Penelope on a three-way.

"Hey girl, hey! So how was Troy last night?"

"Didn't happen. At least she doesn't think it did but that's not why I called. Remember we said we were gonna get revenge on that Bastard Sebastian?"

"Yeah, so what?" I ask, pretending to be nonchalant about it.

"I thought we could rig something and leave it on his porch. Ari, didn't you mention something about his mother not liking the fact you bought milk from a gas station?"

"Yes, but what does that have to do with revenge?"

"Well, we could put together something like a milk bomb. Not a bomb per say, but you know, something that would just explode in his face when it opened. Like a jack in the box?"

"Ohh. I see where you're going. We could leave like a present. Get a large decorative box, and once it's opened, it would explode milk and cottage cheese all over the place! Ya know, like gas station milk! That despicable, disgusting spoiled milk that only Ari buys!" Penelope cackles hysterically.

We all join in, laughing at the stupidity of the blissfully ignorant, outdated thinking of his too young to look that old, hag of a mother.

"You two are good! Got to give it to you. That's why you're my girls!"

"Aww, chica! Love you too!"

"I know just the thing. Leave it to me!"

"Now I gotta find my clothes."

Glancing back at Troy, I have to admit, he's fine. Even in his sleep, he's downright delicious. Right guy. Wrong time. I pray we're still virgins to each other.