Page 4

4

SIERRA

“ W ait, so you’ve known this guy and have had a crush on him since you were a kid?” Monica asks. “And he walked in and saw you naked?”

I laugh as my face flares with heat again. “Yeah. He sure did. He saw me in all my glory.”

Monica—Moni to her closest friends—doubles over, howling in laughter. She’s been my best friend since high school, and watching her slap her knees makes me think maybe I need to be in the market for a new one, since she’s clearly enjoying my mortification a little too much.

“Are you done?” I ask dryly.

“Give me just a minute,” she replies. “I’m trying to catch my breath.”

We walk through the quad after class and her laughter draws attention I’d rather not have on me right now. I’m feeling self-conscious enough as it is. I lead her over to our usual bench beneath the tree at the edge of the quad and sit down. As she continues to cackle under her breath, I pull my blueberry scone out of my bag and take a bite, then wash it down with a swallow of my latte. As I wipe my mouth with a paper napkin, Monica finally quits giggling.

“Sorry,” she says, then takes a drink of her own latte.

“You don’t sound sorry at all.”

“Probably because I’m not.”

“You’re such a horrid bitch,” I say and laugh.

“And that’s why you love me.”

“Yeah, maybe so.”

“Seriously, you said you haven’t seen him in a few years. How’s he holding up?”

I laugh. “My God, he’s only thirty. It’s not like he’s a senior citizen.”

“Okay, so he’s thirty. But how’s he holding up?”

I think back to being in his apartment. In blue jeans that framed his backside exquisitely and a black t-shirt that hugged every plane of his chiseled body, he was like a Greek god. Just standing next to him got me wetter than I think I’ve ever been before. So wet, I had to change my panties before coming to school. The thought makes me smile.

“He’s holding up okay, I guess,” I say.

Monica smiles fiendishly. “Judging by the way your face just lit up, I’m going to assume he’s holding up a lot better than just okay.”

I take another bite of my scone and chase it with a swallow of coffee to cover the smile on my face. It doesn’t work. Moni is always able to see right through me. She’s been able to see through me from day one of our friendship. It’s simultaneously one of the best and most annoying things about her.

“Come on. Spill it,” Moni says. “Tell me everything. And give me a detailed description of this man who struck your fancy so long ago. I need details, girl.”

I laugh but do as she asks and give her a detailed description of Slater. I tell her about meeting him when I was six—at least, as much as I remember. Mostly, I tell her about my pre-teen and teen years when I developed a massive crush on him. He was always nice but never really gave me the time of day, probably mostly because of my age but also probably because of my brother. He’s incredibly loyal to Derek. It’s actually something I appreciate about him.

“Okay, so he’s fine, he’s rich?—”

“I never said he was rich.”

“You said he owns a few buildings,” she replies dryly. “Some dude who’s broke as a joke ain’t going to have condos on the beach.”

I laugh softly. “I couldn’t care less about whether he’s rich or not.”

“I know, and it’s adorable. I love that about you,” she says. “So, as I was saying, he’s hot, rich, you two have history, he enjoys seeing you naked—not that I can blame him, you’re hot as hell, baby—and it sounds like he was flirting with you.”

“I wouldn’t say he was flirting with me.”

“Trust me because I’m a pro here. From what you just told me, he was definitely flirting with you,” she states.

“Well, I’m not sure about that.”

“I think the bigger question here is, did you flirt with him?”

“What? No?” I reply with a giggle.

A wide grin stretches across Moni’s face. “Oh, you totally did.”

I cover my face with a hand, unable to meet her eyes because I know I did. I didn’t mean to. It just kind of happened naturally. Something about the man brought it out in me.

“So, you like him?” Moni asks.

“I barely even know him.”

“Not as well as he knows you,” she says with a pointed look at my body, setting off another round of giggling from me.

“I so hate you,” I reply. “But even if I did like him, it would be wrong. I mean, I knew the guy when I was playing with Barbie dolls.”

“Yeah, but you’re not playing with Barbie dolls anymore. You’re a grown woman. You’re old enough to vote, join the military. You’re even old enough to order your own drink at a bar. Barely, but you’re old enough to do that.”

“And?”

“And that means you’re old enough to make decisions about who you see and, more importantly, who you’re going to have amazing sex with.”

The laugh that erupts from my mouth is more like a shriek, drawing more eyes to us. Putting my hand over my mouth, I try to stop cackling like an idiot and making a spectacle of myself any more than I already have.

“Listen,” I say in a quieter tone. “I just … I mean, he knew me when I was a little girl. Like a legit little girl. Isn’t that kind of weird? Or maybe creepy?”

“It’s only weird and creepy if you make it weird and creepy,” she replies. “You’re both grown adults now, capable of making your own decisions. If you want to see him now, as a grown woman, there’s nothing wrong with it.”

“You think?”

“I know.”

I nibble on my scone, letting her words sink in. I can’t decide if there really is a certain wisdom in them or if it’s simply what I want to hear. I suppose it could be a bit of both. On the one hand, knowing our history, it just feels kind of wrong. On the other, Moni is right. I’m not a little girl anymore. I’m a grown woman and capable of making my own decisions. And, of course, so is he. Which means I may be putting the cart before the horse here since this is all based on my own silly, girlhood crush.

“You know, this all might be in my head,” I say. “I don’t know if he was actually flirting or if he likes me. I could just be seeing things I want to see.”

Moni purses her lips. “You’re right.”

I nod. “I know.”

“So, we’re going to have to find out if it’s in your head or not.”

“And how are we going to do that?”

“You said he invited you to the bar he’s guest bartending at, right?”

“Oh no. We’re not going there.”

“Oh, we so are.”

“He’s going to be working,” I object.

“And yet, he invited you to come down, anyway.”

“No. Uh uh,” I say. “Moni, I’ve got a paper to write and?—”

“Pick out something cute to wear, or I’ll pick it out for you.”

“Moni—”

“We’re going. And that’s all there is to it,” she says. “It is my sacred mission to fulfill your childhood fantasy and get you laid.”

I laugh, and when I open my mouth to argue further, Moni cuts me off with a wicked grin. Saying no to her is a skill I have not been able to master. Though, I have a feeling some small part of me isn’t trying to say no all that hard, anyway.

“Okay. We’ll go,” I say.

“Good girl,” she says. “We’re going to have some fun tonight.”

“If you say so.”

“Oh, I do. Trust me, fun is going to be had.”

Laughing, we get up and walk across the quad, heading for our next class. My mind and heart are fluttering with the possibilities that tonight may bring. Honestly, I don’t know if I’m more terrified or excited.