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“We’ll do it again, won’t we, Jasper?” I say, hoping he’ll save me.
He throws his hands up like he’s exasperated. “Geez. You give Leo a kiss on the cheek, and I don’t get shit?” he says with a mischievous smile.
Ava laughs. “You’re my roommate. I think it’s against all the laws of nature for me to kiss you. Or you to kiss me back.”
Jesus, she’s flirting again. And I am so here for this.
Jasper puts his hands up. “Oh, that is so wrong. Roommates around the world kiss each other all the time.”
He looks at the two of us, serious as a heart attack. Then, a slow grin creeps across his face, as it does my own. I can’t help it.
Ava joins us and we all double over laughing.
She throws her hands up. “Okay. Fine. If you’re gonna be a pouty baby about it.”
She leans his way and gives him the same kiss she gave me.
Jasper smiles with exaggerated satisfaction. “That’s better. Thank you.”
We head in our different directions. I don’t know about Jasper, but if it wasn’t so goddamn corny, I’d touch the spot where she kissed me.
I touch it anyway. What a goddam pussy I am.
And if I’m honest, a pang of jealousy clawed at me when Ava kissed Jasper, even though it was in jest.
Which is beyond fucked up.
I have no claim over this woman. No right to feel like a possessive little bitch.
And now is she going to think we like her? I mean,like her-like her?
Which is ironic, because I know we’re all starting to have a thing for her. So maybe we’re not such a bunch of phony assholes, pretending to like her in order to keep her out of the clutches of strangers.
I turn to watch Ava and Jasper, her light laughter bouncing through the evening air. To her, this is a fun little adventure. We’re her buddies. And she’s part of our gang.
To us? Well, I’m not sure I can answer that yet.
I keep walking and the streetlights come on, bathing the sidewalks in their yellow glow.
I doubt Ava is reading anything into our invitation today. And yet, I have this weird little hope, nagging the back of my mind, that she sees what nice guys we are and that, somehow, we could be more than friends.
* * *
19
AVA
“Cami, I kissed them.”
TV blaring on her end of the line, I hear her hoist herself out of her seat, where she’s probably watching a true crime story with Steve, and pad down a hallway. A door clicks and she’s in silence, the sound of the TV now barely audible.
“Kissedwho?” she demands. “The Craigslist guy? Tell me everything! See, I knew my brilliant idea would work for you.”
I only have a couple minutes to talk since Jasper is out picking up Chinese food. I lower my voice anyway, even though he’s not here. He asked me if I wanted anything, but I opted not to join him for dinner. I… need some time to myself and besides, have to get back to filtering out my Craigslist dates. So far, with the number of dick pics I’ve gotten, it’s not been too hard. Those get immediately deleted, even though it doesn’t leave many to choose from. But hell, I only need one orgasm, right?
“No, Cam. I didn’t kiss the online guy. I never went out with him.”
“Huh? Then who are you talking about? Who did you kiss? You had a coffee date set up. What happened?”
