His fingers caress my cheek. Soft and slow.

I twist my head, allowing him access to my neck when I feel his hot breath on my skin.

"Can I touch you, Mandy?" he asks me.

I nod.

I release a breath. My mind is completely separated from my body as heat travels to my core.

"Tell me," he orders, his voice growing deeper with lust.

I want him.

His fingers glide lower, down the middle of my breasts and further down until they stop at my stomach.

They begin to trace light circles and I arch my back. My body is aching for something. Anything.

"I want to show you so many things," he says and I moan softly.

His lips are hovering just above mine. If I were to lift my head mere inches they would touch.

Release. My body begs me, release.

"Please," I moan.

"I want to touch you in ways you can't even imagine, Mandy," he says, and I lose all control.

I open my eyes, my breath completely stolen away.

And my heart stops when I make contact with those crystal blue eyes.

I jolt awake.

I take deep breaths, in and out, in and out.

What. The. Fuck.

It's the book. I tell myself, it's the sex in the book.

I did not just do that.

No, no I didn't. I'm hallucinating.

Can you hallucinate in a dream?

I lift my hand to my forehead and feel sweat. Lots of sweat.

Great.

My bed is probably drenched in it.

The sun is nearly set outside of my window and my book is tossed open on my floor, probably from me moving around in my sleep.

I can't believe I just dreamt of that.

Of him.

Oh my fucking god.

I get up and as I'm taking off my sweatshirt, my door opens and I shriek, hugging it to my bra covered chest.

"Shit! Sorry Mandy!" Landon exclaims, slapping his hand to cover his eyes. "Chloe told me I could just come in."

Of course she did.

"No! No, your fine!" I say, and he closes the door.

"I'll knock from now on," his voice echos through the door. I chuckle, "I hope so."

Once I'm in a tank top, I sit back on my bed. "Come in."

He steps through, closing it behind him.

He's dressed in a white button up shirt, a dress buttons undone and loose pants. A cross dangles from his neck onto his skin where his shirt is open, alongside some rings I can see on his fingers.

"Hi," he says. I smile at him.

"So, now that your dressed," he says, running his hand through his messy dark blonde hair, "Chloe told me that your friend Abby was here?"

I'm shocked she even told him that.

"Yeah, she's visiting for a few weeks. Why?"

He seems nervous to ask, but I've come to learn that it's just his personality. "I was wondering if you'd allow me to take you girls to a show. It's Broadway?"

My smile deepens, "that's sweet of you, but why would you want to hang out with a bunch of girls?"

Realization hits me... is he?

"No I'm not gay. Far from it if that's what your thinking," he blurts and I laugh.

"I got my family tickets a few months back but they can't travel because of work and the show is tomorrow night... so I figured I'd ask you."

"Plus all my guy friends are busy and Chloe told me you guys are pretty much free up until Saturday night," He says.

I've never been to a Broadway show. I'd always loved the billboards at Time Square, but with school and expenses I never had the time.

"What musical?" I ask.

"Anastasia. It was my moms idea," he rolls his eyes.

Cute.

"Okay. I'm not sure if Abby can make it though, she may have plans with her fundraiser but that sounds like fun."

It's small, but I notice him slightly frown.

"Okay, we'll-"

Ding.

I close my eyes.

Please. No. Please-

Ding.

"Emergency?" Landon asks, pulling out my desk chair and turning it around. He sits and places his forearms on the back post.

"An emergency assassination," I mumble and grab my phone to read the message.

Can I take you out to dinner?

Dude.

"Sounds interesting," Landon chuckles, "new friend?"

I shake my eyes in a no fucking way shake. "No. Just some annoying guy who hasn't left my ass alone since I met him two fucking days ago."

He smiles, "Who?"

"Carter Osteen," I say, but the answer comes out with a more question like tone.

Landon's eye brows raise.

"What?"

"Carter Osteen?" He asks and I nod my head slowly.

"That guys funny as shit. We were in the same soccer league back in high school."

My mouth drops.

"You know him?!" I ask, my voice raising with shock.

Landon nods, "of course I do. Pretty much everyone does."

How am I the only person who hasn't known of this guys existence since two days ago?

"He's fucking annoying," I confess with an eye roll.

"Yeah I know," he chuckles, "That's Carter. But he's a nice guy."

My face turns annoyed. His hands go in defense.

"Hey, I'm just saying he's nice."

"Whatever," I mumble as I cross my arms.

"Does he talk to you often?" Landon asks, but his tone of voice changes, almost as if he knows something I don't.

"No. I gave him my number earlier today because I ran into him and he was super annoying about it and now he won't stop texting me."

His green eyes shine a bit with my response, "Carter doesn't normally do that."

"What do you mean?"

"He doesn't normally reach out to people unless he actually wants to talk to them or is interested," he says and I notice how one of his rings has a golden rose on it. It must symbolize something.

"You seem awfully interested too," he continues.

No he did not.

"Excuse me?"

His green eyes twinkle with amusement.

"I'm not interested in him," I wave my hand in the air, "at all."

Do I think he's hot? Of course. Would I actually go out with him. Not unless he was the last guy on Earth and I had to to out with him.

Maybe not even then.

"Okay," Landon sighs as he stands up, "text me if Abby can make it," he pauses, "so I know what to do with the extra ticket. I've gotta head out."

I'm sad to see him go. He's the only guy I feel comfortable being around.

"Okay, talk to you later."

He waves at me and shuts my door behind him.

I lean back on my pillows, the sweat now gone, and evaluate my conversation with him.

He knows Carter?

They used to play soccer together? In high school?

I don't even know where Landon lived before college. All I know is a bit about his family life, most of his interests, and the fact he goes to Columbia. But that's it.

I've met a few of his friends, but by the way Landon described Carter, it seemed like they were close.

It seemed like they still are.

Whatever. I'm studying to be a therapist not a CIA agent.

Not like I care anyway.

I open my phone and click his name.

M: No thanks.

There's a pause. I almost think we won't respond but then I see those three dots and regret sending anything at all.

C: I'll pay. Even for dessert ;)

Ugh.

M: Not happening. I don't eat desserts anyway.

Lie.

The three dots appear again.

C: You sure? Everyone likes dessert. And coffee.

This fucking-

M: The coffee wasn't my fault. And you willingly paid.

C: Because I'm courteous. You seemed like you wanted that Americano so badly, I couldn't help but come to the rescue.

Gee. My knight in polished silver armor.

M: Oh Romeo I'm so flattered. Thank you so much.

C: I prefer in person gratitude.

M: Fuck you.

C: Really? :D

M: No.

C: :(

Another pause.

C: So... no dinner?

Can he not taking a fucking hint?

I shut off my phone and toss it somewhere on my floor.

The time I waste just texting him is beyond me.

I choose to take a shower. Not only to wash off the sweat but to hopefully repair my patience if I have any left.

———————

A few hours later, Abby came back completely exhausted. I told her about dinner tomorrow night and she said she may have to help out with her fundraiser, but could make it if she sweet-talked her service hours leader.

She went to go shower and change after her long day and I was finished with my homework for the day when I heard a knock on my door.

Wow, someone knocked?

"Come in!"

Chloe walks in wearing a satin Victoria's Secret pj set. Her hair is done up in a bun and she has fluffy, white socks on as she comes and waddles to my bed.

"Hey," she says, and I look up from my phone and see her face. Her cheeks are red and puffy.

She's been crying.

"Hey, what's wrong?" I ask.

She curls up next to me and I wrap my arms around her shoulders.

"I..." she stutters, "I just got a call from Lilly. My Mom is diagnosed with a severe sickness."

I freeze and my mouth gapes open in shock. I don't have any words.

Lilly is her sister who lives in Denver with her husband and two kids. I've only heard of her a few times, Chloe says they're really close.

"I'm so sorry, Chlo," I whisper. She lays her cheek on my lap and I play with a few strands of her loose, auburn hair.

She sniffles, "I just didn't see it coming you know?" I nod, even though she can't see me.

"Apparently she still has a few more treatments so we don't know if it's severe or not but she has something," she says, rubbing her nose.

I rub my hand on her arm back and forth. I couldn't imagine being in a situation like she is.

My mother gives me a hard time yes, but of course I'd be devastated if something like this were to happen to her. She's my Mom and I still love her.

A few more minutes pass of comforting silence between us before Abby comes in wearing a towel and wet hair.

She looks up at us but stops abruptly when she sees Chloe curled up on my calf.

"Oh my god," she says as she slowly puts her toiletry bag on the counter, "is everything okay?"

I shake my head and Chloe only hides her face in her hands.

Abby, still wearing her towel, walks over and bends down to see Chloe.

"What's wrong?" Abby asks, the tone of her voice turning gentle.

Chloe sits up, "My mom is sick with something and I don't know what the hell it is," she sniffles again, "my Dad thinks it's breast cancer."

Me and Abby release an audible breath at the same time.

Shit.

"Oh my god," Abby whispers, her hand going to her mouth in surprise.

"Yeah, I know," Chloe says.

"I'll make you some tea," I say as I get up and walk over to my Keurig. I grab a coffee mug that says "You'll never be rich if you don't have Fuck You money," and grab a peppermint tea pod.

I got in the dollar section of a random target.

Abby gets dressed in the corner of the room and sits next to Chloe on the bed. I give Chloe her tea and she takes it, blowing on the hot tea before taking a sip.

"Tomorrows Friday," Abby says, "why don't we go out and cheer you up?"

"We have dinner with Landon tomorrow night? And a Broadway show," I say in hopes of cheering her up. I know she enjoys Landon's presence just as I do. Maybe he can put her at ease?

She nods her head but doesn't respond. "I think I'm gonna head to bed."

Abby's face turns solemn as Chloe gets up slowly, her socks rustling on against the rug.

"I'll wash this for you and give it back," She says to me but I smile gently at her, "don't worry about it."

I tell her goodnight and we have a long group hug before she heads over to her dorm.

"I feel so bad," Abby sighs when Chloe leaves. I nod in agreement, "Chloe always so... happy. I hate it when she's down."

We get ready for bed and watch Grown-Ups before I fall asleep.