“Dude, sure you do," Kevin retorted. He cut off another slice of his own French Toast.

“As long as you don't think it'll weigh on your conscience. Nataliya, Maria, Diane, who knows HOW many chicks at those orgies you went to Junior Year? No emotional attachment, just sex.”

Then he stuffed his mouth.

“I cared about E-Beth!"

"She's a prior. She doesn't count," Kevin said around a mouthful of toast. Then he wagged his fork at me.

“And you're not helping your case that you DON'T fuck every hot chick that comes across your path."

Jen nodded thoughtfully. "So that answers that."

"What?" I still hadn't touched my food, despite my stomach growling.

"You really Like Brianna. You can't just fuck her without wanting to be in a relationship," Jen nodded.

“Huh?

Jen's voice dropped, and she explained as if I were in grade school.

“The proof that you really like her, on an emotional level, is that you're hesitating to fuck her. If she was just another pretty girl, you'd have already boinked her by now." Jen leaned back against her chair. "You should bring her by so we can meet her. Get the whole stamp of approval for the new girlfriend, you know?"

“She's not my new girlfriend!" I protested.

“Right, dude," Kevin drawled. "You're just ‘friends'."

I sighed, thinking about the way Brianna had kissed me.

“Right.” I answered without conviction. "We're not even going to think about really dating until after I've got Amber out of my system."

Kevin grinned.

“Riiight."

I was back home and staring at my cell phone, impatiently waiting for it to ring before I absolutely lost my mind and made the phone call myself.

This wasn't a date. It wasn't a date.

It's not a date...

Who was I kidding? I'd changed my outfit three times trying to Look nice and yet casual at the same time. I played with my hair for an hour trying to get it to look as if I hadn't done anything to it at all. And

I'd overdone the cologne and had to try and scrub some off myself.

But as long as I wasn't the one to call her. As long as I, the one with a steady girlfriend, didn't initiate, I could tell myself it wasn't a date.

But I had to see her. Brianna had gotten under my skin. I was still in love with Amber, but it was the familiar and comfortable Love that nevertheless felt like it was on the decline. Brianna was the new, the unknown, the exciting. My blood boiled just thinking about her.