“I don’t judge you on how you eat your food.” I stab another piece, repeating the process. Taking all my frustration out on it.

“So what went so wrong that you’re now stabbing things? Something freak you out?” She wiggles her perfect brows. “Does he have three nipples or something?” I furrow my eyebrows at her strange questions. “Don’t knock someone having three nipples; it's really not a big deal.”

“Jay could have a nipple on his forehead and he’d still look good.”

“Isn't that the truth? Not like he couldn't pay to have it taken off.”

My next piece of sushi stops halfway to my mouth. Her words strike me as strange. “That sounds expensive.” Avery flushes for a moment. Obviously she forgot that Jay lives in the same crappy building that I do. He obviously can’t afford to have that type of surgery. Not that he needs it because he doesn’t have a third nipple. At this point, I’m not even sure why I’m still thinking about this.

“It’s newsworthy is all I’m suggesting. Sure he’d get it done for free.” I guess that was true; I’ve never seen anyone with a nipple on their forehead. Unless you count that monstrosity of a pimple I got in the 8th grade. It had been so bad that Avery made those headbands that go over your forehead make a comeback for three whole months at school so I could hide it.

“I slept at his place last night.” Avery’s chopsticks fall from her hands as she stares at me with an open mouth. “Not like that.” I wave my chopsticks in the air. “We had dinner and then we passed out.”

“Passed out where?”

“Are you sure you don’t want to be a reporter one day?”

“Never said I didn't want to be one.” She gives me a look that says she’s not going to stop pushing until I spill all of the details and of course I will. Avery isn't only my sister but my best friend too.

“In his bed watching TV and eating pizza. I swear it was nothing more.” I drop my own chopsticks, not feeling so hungry anymore.

“There’s more.” She looks at me like she can see straight into my brain.

“Pretty sure I was all over him in my sleep. Then when I woke up he was gone. I was sure I’d overstayed my welcome.”

Avery bursts out into laughter so hard everyone in the restaurant turns and looks our way. “I’ve seen the way he looks at you. You haven't worn shit out.”

“Okay, what if he thinks I’m a prude.”

“You kind of are.” I stick my tongue out at her even though I know it’s childish. “Hey, I didn't say there was anything wrong with that.” I look down at my food. I feel way out of my element when it comes to Jay. I’ve never dated, and I have no idea what the heck I’m doing.

“I am a prude.”

“You’re just waiting for the right one.” Am I? I suck down the rest of my water.

“I think I’m scared of being hurt.”

“That too,” Avery agrees.

“I want that excitement and thrill I get when he’s near.”

“Well, it’s not as if you don’t know where to find him.”

“He could be out.”

“He’s at home.”

“How do you know? Plus, when did you even switch over to being on team Jay?”

She holds up two fingers. “One, I listened to him talk.” She puts one down. “And two, I have no doubt the man is at home waiting for you to show up. He’s not the kind of man who gets his feelings hurt when he’s told no. He’s the kind that works harder to get what he wants.”

“Why me—”

“I will come across this table if you finish that damn sentence. When are you going to get it through that head of yours that you're not that fourteen-year-old girl anymore? There isn’t one guy that we went to high school with that wouldn’t fuck you.”

“Well, I was trying to eat.” I push the plate across the table to her.

“What about you, Dove? What is it you do when you want something? I’ve never in my life known someone your age who can fight through life the way you always have. Even if it turns out he is a dickhead and I have to Lorena Bobbitt his ass, we all know a broken heart can’t take you down.”

My eyes start to sting. “But how many times can something break before it can’t be put back together?”

She reaches across the table and grabs my hand. “If that day ever did come—which I don’t think it will—it’s me, Dove, your sister, that will always be here to help you put it back together.”

“How did I get so lucky to have a sister like you?”

“I promise you, Dove, that feeling goes both ways. You slapped those rose-colored glasses right off my face. Now that we got all the mushy shit out of the way, are you going to keep pretending that you came to dinner with me because you really wanted to? Or are you going to admit that you’re here because you’re avoiding the sexy man next door?”

“Don’t call him sexy.” Avery only laughs more. “I love having dinner with you.”

“I know. I got the bill. Get your ass out of here.”

“I love you.” I stand before bending down and kissing her cheek.

“I love you too.” She holds out two fortune cookies. “One for you and one for Jay. I want you to open them together tonight. Trust me, it will be fun.” I snag them from her before heading out. I’m happy we picked a place close to mine. The Chinese food is the best around here.

My heart starts to race the closer I get to my building. Before I can knock on the door to Jay’s, it flies open.

“I’m terrible at the dating thing, and it scares the crap out of me,” I blurt out. A half smile forms on his lips, making a small dimple I never noticed before appear.

“We don’t have to rush anything, Dove. We can go at your pace. We can watch movies, go to dinner, have a few drinks. Hell, we can even play UNO but I really hope you’re not a sore loser because I’m pretty kickass.”

“That all sounds wonderful, Jay.” My face starts to warm, and I make myself push on. “Right now all I really want to do is kiss you. Will you kiss me?” I barely get the words out and his mouth is on mine, making all the worries from earlier melt away.

Thirteen

Jay

I thought I’d messed up, but she was scared. That’s all. Scared animals tend to hide so no one can see their wounds because their predators will take them out. Humans aren’t much different, right? Some sense weakness and attack. How is she going to know I’m not one of the wolves? God, she’s so precious. I could eat her, but all she needs from me now is a kiss.

I draw her smaller body flush against mine and mold my lips against hers. She kisses me back, opening her mouth, snaking her tongue against mine. Her tentative, cautious flicks drive me wild. I plunge my own tongue deeper into her mouth and pull her tighter against me. My erection is thick and full. The blood is pounding in my ears in rhythm with a beat that is driving me to want to lay her down on the wood floor, peel off her panties, and spear her with my hard cock. A loud cough and a door banging shut interrupts my plans.