KATE"What?" How can he say these things so simply? Don't make me wet, Ryan. I hear him laugh at my surprised tone. "Are you drinking?" "Not yet." "Don't push the limits." "Ryan..." "I know you'll say it's none of my business, but there are a lot of guys out there who would love for you to get drunk and make their job easier. I don't want anyone touching what's mine. That's all." "You know I hate it when you talk like that. I'm not yours because I'm not a damn thing." "That's not what you say to me when you're moaning." "Fuck you!" "I wish you were here to do that for me." His words had a direct connection to the nerves between my legs; this was dangerous. "Bye, Ryan." "Don't hang up." "Why?" "I'm not sleepy, and I have nothing to do." "I'm not your pastime." "You're the best form of entertainment I've found." "Goodbye!" I hang up. Damn him, at least he didn't let me forget he was a jerk. The phone vibrates a few more times; I put it in my purse and try to forget. "Ka
KATE"Better from your headache?" Lisa comes out of the room after sleeping for a good while."Better." She sits next to me on the couch."And John? Did I ruin his night?""Of course not. We're just friends.""Why?""Just because.""I honestly don't understand you. He's ridiculously good-looking, hot, and cute. I thought he was exactly what you wanted. Is it because of your virginity issue?""Lisa, no!" God! She still thinks I'm a virgin. I couldn't even tell her how good it was. When will I be able to talk to her about everything again?"I really don't understand you. Oh, what was that noise earlier today?""My car finally arrived!""That's awesome! I thought it was supposed to arrive yesterday.""Yes, but I think there was a problem.""But back to the virginity issue. Don't you think it's time, Kate?""Stop it, Lisa." She laughs."I'm serious, Collins! You're getting old!""Are you kidding me? Take that back, Dickens! Now!" I jump on her and start tickling her."No, Kate! Stop!" We
KATE"Get out," I say without looking at him."Kate...""Go." I take a deep breath. I wanted to bury my face in a hole. Nathan passes by Lisa, slamming the door and leaving us alone. Her expression is one of complete disbelief."Do you have something to tell me?" she asks, approaching me."I could lie and say he came to talk about work, and this happened accidentally. But no. I... We... We're...""In a relationship?""It's just sex.""Wait... you and him already... Kate!""I know! It's wrong!""Kate...""Shit! He's my boss! Yes! I know!" I feel shame consuming me."Have you been sleeping with him since you started working for him?""No. It's complicated.""I'm hurt that you didn't tell me, but it's okay, Kate. I'm your friend. If you don't want to tell me, it's okay. But now you seem... I don't know... lost."I think I really need to talk to someone about this."I met Ryan that night you left me at the club. He's the guy I liked." I sit on the couch."So you met him before you started
NATHAN "Why didn't you answer me? You could have at least responded to the damn messages.""I was busy," she says calmly as she sits down, making me even more irritated."And your friend?""It's all right.""What did you tell her?""The truth. What else?""Did you tell her about us?""Everything.""Why?""She's my friend, Ryan. Don't worry. She won't tell anyone, and I didn't have a good enough excuse to explain the fact that I was almost having sex with my boss in our kitchen." It would have been really hard to explain. But why did we need to explain anything to anyone?"What did she say?""Nothing. Just tried to warn me about the possible jerk that I already know you are.""I hope she doesn't get involved in this. We don't owe anyone an explanation. Remember that.""Okay.""No, it's not okay. I want you in my office now." I go to the door, opening it. I can't decipher her expression as she stands up and walks past me. I loved her perfume. I close the door behind me, watching her si
KATEI leave the elevator in Ryan's parking lot. I walk towards my car, still thinking about dinner. What should I wear? Or better yet, should I even go? I unlock my car doors. I liked Mrs. Ryan, she was extremely friendly, I wouldn't want to disappoint her.""Collins!" I turn, meeting his gaze. "What?" He has his jacket over his shoulder and that gloomy expression, then takes a step towards me, approaching me. "I came to see if what you said earlier is true?" "What?" I blink, not understanding. "That you get wet just from being near me," he whispers, and he's too close now. He puts his hands on my hips, and I take a deep breath. "Not here. Still, someone might be here." I look around, pushing him away. "Everyone has already left." "Then why are there still more than two cars?" "Must be the security." "So not everyone has left." I turn to open the door, but he stops me, putting his hand over mine. Pulling me, he opens the back door. "No." "Get in." "Ryan." "Collins." He s
KATE"Where are the girls?" Mr. Ryan asks. It was strange to think of Nathan's father that way. "Girls?" I thought Nathan only had one sister."They should be coming down soon. Do you think he'll mind that she's here?" Mrs. Ryan asks before Nathan appears in the dining room. "Sit down, dear." His family seemed like they came out of a movie. His parents were extremely friendly. I wonder how Nathan can be their son. His brother apparently isn't much different from their parents.Nathan stares at the empty chair next to me for a few moments but walks to the opposite side of the table and sits down. I considered it a good choice. Soon after, Stephan appears and sits next to me. I notice the exchange of looks between them, Nathan's somewhat serious while Stephan smiles."So, Kate... can I call you Kate?" Stephan asks in a tone of voice that only we can hear at the table, and I nod. "What's the secret to putting up with Mr. Nice Guy?""You probably know better than I do.""You're right. But
NATHANHow could my mother do this? She should have told me and I would have never let Kate come. If she even imagined that Mia is my ex, she would eat me alive. I sit at the table after her. I've been avoiding Mia's gaze, but it's hard. Why is she here? Doesn't she realize how inconvenient it is? Especially her, who has always been so sensible. I've always admired her, especially when she accepted our breakup. She didn't complain, even though I knew she still liked me, but I couldn't be with her anymore. It wasn't working, I needed freedom, even though I still had feelings for her. Our relationship had become boring. It had fallen into a routine, even though I once felt adoration for her, everything had become unbearable.As if that weren't enough, Stephan continued to try to annoy me, shamelessly flirting with Kate. The conversation continued as we finished dessert. I wondered what Kate was thinking as she listened to my mother talk about my childhood and adolescence. She shouldn't
KATE"Everything all right? I saw you come in," Lisa scrutinizes me as she stands by the door, dressed in a nightgown."Yes.""Now, can you tell me the truth? Because it's written in capital letters on your forehead: I'm not okay.""It wasn't a business dinner. It was at Ryan's house, with his family.""God! Okay, how did this casual sex relationship escalate to meeting the family?""His mother invited me. She was at Ryan's in the morning. She doesn't know about us.""And you accepted?""I know, now I see that I shouldn't have gone. But he told me to accept.""Okay. And what exactly happened that was so bad?""His ex-girlfriend was there.""How could that jerk do this to you?""He told me he didn't know she would be there. I think it's true. It seems like his mother likes her a lot, and she gave me the impression that she hopes they'll get back together.""Oh, Kate! She said that to you?""Yes.""You must have felt terrible. It's so cruel.""I've decided to end this. I realized that I