Holly laughs and shakes her head. “Don’t let Terra hear you say that. She’s got the best-friend job on lock. And, no, I’m too busy for dating. Just booty calls and haven’t had one of those in a while either.”

“Sounds like I’m safe.” I attempt a lighthearted tone, even as unhappiness bleeds into my chest. No boyfriend, but also no interest in one.

How can I convince her that I’m worth the time?

We spend the rest of the ride in silence, listening to the classic rock station I favor. I hand out a direction when needed, and Holly hums along to the songs she knows.

“It’s going to be the last one up here on the left.”

The townhouse I’m so familiar with but I never thought I’d return to sits lit up just a few feet back from the sidewalk.

We have to go down another block before we can find a free space to park, but I’m glad to have the short walk together. I want to take her hand, pull her toward me so that I can wrap my arm around her waist. But that’s not how friends walk. Instead, we each keep our respective hands in our pockets. When we reach the front stoop, strains of soft jazz leak through the door. No top forty radio station for these girls.

“You ready?” My grip hesitates on the front handle as I glance back at Holly.

Part of me wants her to say no and suggest we go get dinner instead. The other part of me wants her to step forward, grab my hand, and confidently drag me into the party, as if I were hers to command.

Choosing neither of those options, Holly instead gives me a smile and a thumbs-up.

So, with a flourish, I pull the door open and grandly gesture for her to enter. As she passes, I catch a subtle honeysuckle scent drifting off her, and suddenly, I find those yellow flowers very arousing.

“You coming?”

If only, is about to slip off my tongue, but I stop myself from uttering the dirty wish and instead speak like a person who doesn’t only think about sex, “Lead the way.”

HOLLY

Ben keeps staring at me, and I have no idea if he’s normally so tempting or if he’s trying to have fuck me eyes.

And, now, he has me cursing! Even if it is only in my mind.

To try to clear the rising heat in my lady parts, I examine the house we’re in.

These girls have money; that’s for sure. The neighborhood’s clean sidewalks are lined with well-groomed trees, and this townhouse is spacious for someone living within city limits. Even with the rising tide of partygoers, we have no trouble moving around.

“Do you want something to drink?” Even though the room isn’t too loud, Ben leaned in close to softly ask the question near my ear. There’s a scent of mint, like he just brushed his teeth.