“Josh knows how much I want to go to the dance and he knows you.” I motion between us. “He knows about us and that means he’s good with it.”
“Is he your forever?”
I shrug. “I’m not sure.” A smile comes to my lips. “He’s lasted longer than Todd.”
“God, I hope so.”
“No,” I say too loud, my cheeks warming by the second. “Dating, not sex.”
“He doesn’t last longer than thirty seconds?”
“Stop, that’s not what I’m talking about.”
At nearly ten p.m., Marshal pulls his truck into a parking spot on the street and leans my way. “Do you want me to tell Todd you’ve found someone better than Speedy Gonzales?”
“I’d rather not talk to Todd at all.”
Marshal reaches for my hand. “Deal.”
Saturday night, I step from Rita’s bedroom, smoothing my dress. It’s red and short and fits in all the right places. The shoes I’m wearing aren’t mine. I found them in Rita’s closet, and after a quick text to my friend, she said I could wear them. They’re tall and slender. I figure since Marshal is taller than Josh, why not wear tall heels?
“Oh hell to the no.”
I look up at my best friend.
He’s freshly shaved. The sparse beard he was sporting when he arrived is gone, showing off his chiseled jawline. His light brown hair is combed back, and as my gaze lowers, I see his suit fits him like a glove. I haven’t seen Marshal dressed up since our high school graduation, and I have to admit, he’s changed. I mean that in a good way.
“Hey, your tie is red.”
He shakes his head. “Nope. This” —he motions up and down at me— “is not going out of this apartment.”
Looking down at myself and back up, I laugh as I step closer to him and grab his hand. “I love your big brother side...now shut up and be a best friend.”
“First, you know Byron wouldn’t let you out that door wearing that, and as for best friends, best friends don’t let best friends go out into the world looking hotter than a six-alarm fire.”
“Do fires have that many alarms?”
“Fuck, Sami.”
“You look hot too, Marshal. We’ll wow them together.”
“If any other guy so much as gets close to you...”
I can’t suppress my smile. “I think I know why Josh was good with you as my date.” My phone rings from a distance, on the charger in the kitchen. As I go to answer it, Marshal reaches for my hand. I stop and look up at him.
“You look good, Sami.”
“Thanks, so do you.”
The screen says Josh.
I hit the green icon. “Hi.”
“I’m sorry I’m not there.”
“Don’t worry about it. How is the weekend going?”
“Good, I think.”
“What about the other candidate?”
“First, damn, Sam. That picture. You’re gorgeous.”
My eyes sparkle as I look at Marshal. “Don’t tell me I look too good to go out. I’ve already heard that.”
“You have?” He laughs. “Is Marshal there?”
“Yeah.” I grin. “I’m looking at him right now.”
“Hand him the phone.”
“Um, okay.” I hand the phone toward Marshal. “He wants to talk to you.”
Marshal shrugs and takes the phone. I can only hear one side of the conversation, but by the way my best friend is smiling, I know it’s going well. Finally, he hands it back.
“What did he say?” I ask as I cover the microphone.
“He said to lock the door and keep you inside.”
My lips purse. “Seriously?”
“He said to take care of you.”
“I can take care of myself.”
Marshal laughed. “He said you’d say that.”
“What did you tell him?”
“I said for always and forever.”
I let out a breath and spoke to the phone. “Hey, for the record, I don’t need men conspiring against me.”
“No one is conspiring,” Josh said. “We’re watching over a person we love.”
Love?
I felt my insides melt like a candle left too long in the sun. “Come back soon.” It was all I could say.
As I hung up, I looked at Marshal. “He might be.”
“Your forever?”
I nodded.
“I’m not sure I one hundred percent approve, but he seems like a good guy.”
I reach for my purse and slide my phone inside. “Let’s go.”
3
Sami
Seven years ago
I wake as I almost fall from the twin-size mattress. This thing would be too small for me alone, but it’s definitely too small for two. The musty scent of this house, shared by four college students, combines with body odor—a mixture of perspiration and too much alcohol.
I’m not a virgin, but I’m also not accustomed to waking next to a guy, especially this guy, my best friend.
When Marshal asked me to come to Michigan State for a weekend visit, I wasn’t prepared for his new living conditions—four guys lacking cleaning skills or the desire to clean—or a sleepover in the same bed. I’m not sure it was all planned on his part either.
The off-campus house was rocking last night.
Marshal and his roommates may not care about cleaning, but when it comes to throwing a party, they are professionals. From the Christmas lights strung all around the backyard, to the keg, bonfire, and loud music, I’m kind of surprised no police showed up.
My stomach twists with that morning-after sensation of having too much alcohol and not enough food. I move my tongue around to try to conjure a bit of saliva.
Eww.
How can nothing taste so awful?
Then again, I’m not interested in food either. Even the thought of eating covers my skin in a new layer of perspiration.
Holding on to the edge of the small bed, I force open my eyes. The small closet-like room around us comes into focus as a rock band plays a drum solo behind my temples. Maybe if I close my eyes, I could go back to sleep. My stomach and this small bed aren’t my only issues. My bladder is screaming for relief, and I seem to recall some loud voices and an order from Marshal to wake him before I leave the room.
Holding on for dear life, I nudge him as I fight for a sliver of the bed. “Marsh.”
I’d considered sleeping on the floor, but decided for the sake of my health and welfare the bed was cleaner. Looking down at the carpeting, I wonder if it’s only covered with dirt and stains or if there are bugs too. Again, I hang onto the edge.
“Marsh,” I try again, this time adding an elbow to his back.
“What?” he says, rolling toward me.
“Whoa,” I say too loudly as I throw back the sheet and spring from the bed. My bare feet squish on the carpet and my nose scrunches. “Marshal.”
With only the sunlight sneaking through the mangled blinds, I see the outline of what just stabbed me and propelled me from the bed. Holy shit, my friend is equipped. I mean, he’s boasted of his prowess since we were freshmen in high school, but I’ve never seen or thought about...