Beth rol ed her eyes and looked at me. “Wil you put some tape on her mouth?”

“I don’t think tape would help,” I grinned.

We walked back to Andrews and Kim waved goodbye, continuing to her room. I col apsed on my bed as Beth gathered her things to head to the showers. As I traced the imperfections of the ceiling with my eyes, my mind drifted to Jared. Not only had I gone from never seeing him to running into him regularly; it was as if I was seeing him at wil .

“Ryan asked you out for this weekend?” Beth burst in, towel-drying her hair.

“No. He asked us out for this weekend. I guess some of his friends are going for drinks; he asked us to come along.”

“What did you say?” she asked, suddenly interested.

“I said it sounded like fun.”

“You want to go?” she squealed.

“I guess you do,” I chuckled, rol ing my eyes.

“Yes! I do! You wanna go? Please say yes!” she dropped to her knees beside me on my bed.

“I want to go,” I said flatly.

Beth tackled me. “Thank you! Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!” she cried.

“You’re welcome! Now get off!” I laughed.

The next day was warmer, a good day to take a walk off-campus. Providence transformed from a beautiful crystal ine city of white into the soiled, wet mess the cars and mud quickly created. The pristine snow had become a grey-brown sludge lining the roadways and sidewalks. I happily slipped on my black and white fleur de lis galoshes and stomped through the slush in hopes of proving my sheer-wil theory concerning Jared.

After an hour of walking, the sun no longer kept me warm. I slipped into the first coffee shop I came upon and ordered the largest size they offered, thawing by the window.

It occurred to me how ridiculous I had become; walking around in near-arctic temperatures to see if Jared would materialize. I was the future savvy CEO of Providence’s premiere shipping company for the love of al things holy! What kind of crack pot had I turned into? Over a boy? An incredibly attractive, intel igent, courteous, wel -dressed, fantastical y-smel ing boy. But he was just a boy. Man. Boy. They were al boys.

When the blood circulated again in my fingertips, I made my way back to the school. It was closer to sunset than I would have liked so far from campus, so I quickened my pace.

Two blocks from the school, I pressed the button at the light and kept my distance from the corner, fearful of the inevitable splashing of the cars passing by. The light changed and I trotted across, noting that the warmth from my coffee was waning.

Before I made it to the half-way point of the cross walk, a car horn blared beside me. I jumped, and my eyes darted to the light. It was stil green. I turned to glare at the offending vehicle, but my eyes widened when a black Escalade came into view. Jared waved, quivering from a barrage of laughter.

I wasn’t sure if I was annoyed or euphoric, but the mixture of emotions propel ed me to the passenger side of his car. I whipped open his door and climbed in.

“You scared me to death!” I said, slamming the door behind me.

“I’m sorry!” Jared exclaimed, trying to keep the corners of his mouth from turning up.

The light turned green and he looked at me. “You want a ride?”

I stared at him blank-faced. “Seriously? I’m in your car.”

He shrugged and pul ed forward.

“You look frozen,” he said, touching the end of my nose. That one tap sent adrenaline running throughout my body and I felt nothing but warmth. He reached for the knobs under his radio and twisted the heat to its highest setting.

“I went for a walk,” I said, unable to subdue the ridiculous grin on my face.

“I see that,” he frowned, disapproving.

“Where are you on your way to?”

“To pick up a client.” He shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

“Are you always this vague?”

He raised an eyebrow. “You’re ful of piss and vinegar today.”

“May I remind you that you honked at me in the middle of a busy street? I could have been kil ed.”

“Doubtful. The light was on our side.” I dwel ed on how he said ‘our’ for a moment.

“Let’s not discount the possible rabid motorists flying through the wet intersection. My hesitation caused by your honking could have led to some serious sidewalk chalk drawings.”

Jared laughed. “Are you sure you shouldn’t apply for law school? You have quite an imagination.”

“So I’ve been told,” I grinned.

“What are you doing this weekend?”

“I’m having drinks with some friends. I would invite you, but I assume you’l be there,” I watched for a guilty or stunned expression at my comment, but I was quickly disappointed.

“You’re not old enough to drink,” he grimaced, ignoring my accusation.

I leaned closer to him. “We don’t tel the bartender that,” I whispered.

Jared’s expression twisted into frustration. “Am I going to have to make an appointment with you for dinner?”

“I’m pretty sure that’s cal ed a date.”

He smiled his amazing smile and I tried not to gasp. It was hard being candid with him when he was so stunning. I felt like I had car-jacked a film star.

“Would you like my number?” I asked without thinking. A wave of embarrassment washed over me as soon as the words left my mouth.

He didn’t answer right away; instead he let out a long sigh. I felt the heat rise on my face, starting at my neck and surpassing my eyes until it scorched the roots of my hair.

“I don’t have to give you my number, I just meant….”

“Are you al right?” Jared said. He watched me as if he thought I would break down into tears at any moment.

I could only nod as he slowed to a stop behind Andrews. I didn’t dare look at him. I fumbled with the handle and then felt his hand on my arm.

“Nina?” He reached around to gently hold my jaw and turned me to face him. “Don’t be upset. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“I’m sorry. I…I think I misunderstood,” I bit my lip, drawing his attention to them.

He leaned in closer; his eyes stil focused on my mouth. When he was just a few inches from me, he shook his head and pul ed back.

The blood rushed in from every inch of my body and my feet tingled as the adrenaline rushed through them and then disappeared. I had been wrong. What I had taken to be flirtation or attraction must have been more of a fondness for me. He looked at me as a little sister, and I had made my misconception al too clear.

I opened the door, hopping out into a shal ow puddle. The motor of the Escalade stil hummed behind me as I pressed the door closed and walked to Andrews, too humiliated to look back.

Chapter Three

Suspicion(s)

I didn’t leave campus again until Beth, Kim and I met Ryan and his friends for drinks in a pub downtown. When we arrived, I saw that it was less of a pub and more of a dingy hole in the wal , but it would serve our purpose.

Tucker nodded to the bartender. “Hey, Tozzi.”

Tozzi eyed our group as he dried the inside of a glass and nodded.

We began with a shot and toasted to our mascot, “TO THE BIG BROWN BEAR!!”

I lost count of how many drinks I’d had, it was easy to do that with an open tab at the bar and Tucker ordering round after round. My cheeks were beginning to complain from the constant giggling and smiling, so I made fish faces to stretch them out. Ryan squeezed and pul ed at my face as he laughed, having far more to drink than I had.

Ryan spoke as quietly as a drunk person was capable, brushing my bangs from my eyes and laughing as if he should be hiccupping tiny bubbles with every word. “Did I tel you how beautiful you look tonight?” he asked.

“A few times,” I replied.

He grabbed each side of my face and pressed his forehead against mine. “I’m glad you came, Nina. I never have this much fun.”

Beth had just volunteered to cal a cab when the door opened and I saw them. Jared walked in with a platinum-blonde beauty. She was al of five feet four inches and clearly younger than I. Her lips were plush, snowy banks glittering under her icy blue eyes. She moved with the confidence and precision of a runway model, disregarding our table as she strode by. Her hair was board-straight, barely grazing her shoulders, and her thick bangs hung just above her eyes. A tiny diamond piercing sparkled in the crease of her left nostril. I’d never seen anything like her in real life before.

She looked like punk rock Barbie with her heavy eye makeup, skin-tight clothing and knee-high boots.

Jared ignored us, too, as he fol owed her to the bar, and I felt something catch in my throat when he sat next to his companion.

Kim grabbed my shoulder. “Does he know you’re here?”

“I don’t think so,” I choked out.

“What’s going on?” Ryan asked, seeing our reaction to the fair-haired couple at the bar.

“That is the guy that’s been pursuing Nina,” Kim said, eyeing Jared with disgust.

Ryan looked at me and nodded in Jared’s direction. “You’re dating that guy?”

“No.” I stood up from the table. The door was just a few steps away, but I couldn’t take my eyes off of them.

Tozzi took one look at the blonde Jared was with and shook his head. Jared whispered something in his ear, slid something across the counter and the bartender walked away without further argument. The girl—and she was a girl—looked up at Jared with an annoyed expression. I was instantly angry. He had chosen to be with her and she was bored with him.

Beth stumbled back to the table. “Cab’s on its way.”

“Let’s wait outside,” Kim said, pul ing me with her.

Just before I looked away, Jared raised his eyes to meet mine. I was glad that he had seen me, then he wouldn’t be so surprised at the fury I would unleash on him the next time we happened upon each other. My anger gave me the distraction I needed to turn away. I shook my head in heated disbelief that he’d shown up with such a fake looking sl— My arm pul ed in the wrong direction. “Nina, don’t go,” Jared said.

“What are you doing here with her?” Beth sneered.

I looked down at my arm and then glared up at Jared. He removed his gentle hold on me so as not to offend me further. “Just…wait a minute. It’s not what you think.”

“I don’t think anything,” I snapped.

Jared sighed. “Yes, you do. If you would just give me a moment to explain….”

In the next moment Ryan was standing beside me, eyeing Jared. “She’s leaving. You need to step back,” Ryan said in a low, hostile voice.

Jared turned his head away from us, laughing off the threat. He turned to look directly at Ryan, and I recoiled as his eyes turned from warm pools to steely blue.

After a few tense moments, Jared looked down at me. His eyes softened again. “Nina, I don’t want you to leave upset. Just hear me out.”

“I don’t think I wil ,” I said, turning away from him. His hand shot out to catch my arm once more. Ryan grabbed Jared’s arm and I could see that in seconds the situation was going to escalate.

A petite hand shot out and gripped Ryan’s wrist, bending it back just enough to incapacitate him. Ryan cried out in pain.

A feminine but firm voice came from behind Jared. “I’m just going to tel you this once. Don’t put your hands on my brother.”

“Okay! Okay!” Ryan begged.

“Al right, Claire, that’s enough,” Jared murmured, watching me. He sighed at the horror that emanated from my eyes as I watched her draw her hand back from Ryan’s.

“This is my little sister, Claire,” Jared explained with chagrin.

My eyes shot a confused look at Claire, searching for some sort of offense taken by her, but there was none. He was tel ing the truth.

“Your sister?” I asked. From my peripheral vision, I could see Ryan rubbing his wrist.

Claire watched Ryan, seeming both irritated and concerned, almost as if she had regretted hurting him. Jared noticed the way she looked at Ryan as wel , and they traded a strange glance.

“I didn’t want you to think…,” Jared trailed off, looking at me, “I’m sorry. About the other day, it’s difficult….”

Claire rol ed her eyes and made her way to the bar. Jared whispered in her ear as she passed.

“Behave yourself.”

“Whatever,” she snapped.

Claire made herself comfortable on the bar stool and ordered a water, keeping to herself. After a few moments, her eyes flashed to Ryan and then back down to her drink.

Jared turned to me again, obviously wanting to pick up where we left off. His eyes wandered beside me to where Ryan was stil standing.

“It’s okay, Ryan,” I whispered, touching his arm. I noticed Jared stare at my hand as if it would burst into flames.

“Okay?” Ryan repeated, stil rubbing his wrist. I didn’t miss the edge of uneasiness in his voice.

“Yeah,” I smiled.

Ryan walked with Kim and Beth to the wal beside the door to join the rest of the group we came with. They al made a poor attempt to pretend they were watching for the cab.

“What are you doing here, Jared?” I snapped my head back to meet his eyes. He muttered something under his breath, briefly surveying the room ful of people that were staring at us. I cocked my head and leaned so that I was somewhat in his line of sight. “Jared?”

“I didn’t want you to think I was with Claire. She insisted on coming in,” he said, looking back to me.

“I’m not sure why you’re here at al ,” I crossed my arms and glared at him.

Jared noted the stubborn set of my chin and sighed. “I’m here because of what happened the other day. The look on your face when you walked away…I couldn’t just let you think that I didn’t….that I wasn’t….,” he was struggling with the truth, and it was aggravating me.