I try to lighten the mood. “Boy…didn’t see that one coming, huh?”

Kate frowns. And Amelia pokes me in the chest. “Even though you are not my responsibility, if I ever hear such profane filth out of your mouth again, I will hog tie you, hold your nose, and pour dish detergent down your throat like your mother should have a long time ago! Am I clear, mister?”

Her wrath turns to Warren. “And you—for God’s sakes, act like you have some sense! If you think you’re too old for me to take the belt to, you are sorely mistaken, young man. I raised you better than this.”

He looks down. “Yes, ma’am.”

“I expect you boys to stay on opposite sides of the room the rest of the evening. Any more trouble from either of you and I’ll have you thrown out on your asses.” In a huff she walks out of the room, with Warren trailing behind her like a stray puppy.

Leaving Kate and me alone.

Chapter 3

THE SILENCE IS HEAVY. Awkward. Kate paces angrily, her movements sharp. She finally comes to a stop in front of me. “I don’t even know what to say to you.”

I squirm—just a little. “He started it.”

Her eyes narrow. “Are you serious?”

I think about it for a minute. “Kind of.”

Kate shakes her head. And her chocolate eyes turn wounded. “Do my feelings mean so little to you, Drew?”

I groan. “Come on, Kate. Don’t do that.”

“Do what?”

“Make this into some big thing about me not respecting you, or caring about you enough. It’s really not that complicated. I hate him. I hate that he’s here. I hate that you f**king talk to him.”

She folds her arms over her chest, “We’ve been over this—Billy was my friend long before you and I got involved. We grew up together. Like you and Matthew and Steven. You know what that’s like.”

I do. There’s nothing on earth more valuable than an old friend. Someone who understands you, knows why you are who you are, why you do what you do. No explanations needed.

“Matthew and Steven haven’t seen me naked.” And if they have, they certainly haven’t enjoyed it.

“Half the city has seen you naked, Drew.”

“Nameless women who mean--”

“Women who we run into every time we step outside the door!”

My voice rises. “I can’t help that!”

Hers rises more. “I never asked you to!”

“Then why the f**k are you bringing it up?”

I can feel the discussion spiraling, gaining momentum like a tornado about to touch down. I push a hand through my hair and force my voice to level out. Not exactly calm, but reasonable.

“What if I told you it was him or me—that you couldn’t have us both in your life? What would you say?”

Kate stutters, “Are you…are you giving me an ultimatum?”

“No. Just a hypothetical. If I told you that, who would you pick?”

Her eyes stare past me, thinking it over. The fact that she even needs to think about it bothers me more than I can put into words.

Then she looks back at my face. “I’d pick you. Billy’s my past and I care about him very much. But you’re my future.”

I let out a relieved breath. Too soon, it turns out, because then she adds, “But I’d resent you for it, Drew. It would hurt me…hurt us.”

I know I should tell her that she doesn’t have to choose. That just knowing she’d pick me is enough. I should—but I don’t.

And a second later she’s making a bee line for the door. “I have to go help Delores.”

I follow behind her. “Hey, we’re not finished here.”

Her hand’s on the doorknob. “Yes, I realize that, but I can’t deal with this at the moment, okay? Just…stay away from Billy and we’ll talk later.”

And in a whirl of shiny hair, she’s gone.

I walk back into the main ballroom and lean up against the wall, watching the middle-aged, half-gagged, designer-clad guests trying to get their groove on.

My sister Alexandra walks up and leans back against the wall beside me. “Interesting show. Much better than anything WWF’s come out with recently.”

I scowl. “Not now, Lex.”

She shrugs. “Okay. Just happened to see you floating up shit’s creek and thought I’d throw you a paddle. But if you’re not interested…”

She lets the offer hang.

Until I turn my attention to her. “What?”

She sighs. “You’re new to this whole thing, so I’m going to give you some advice. Relationships only work when both parties put the other person’s feelings before their own. Without that? Things tend to implode rather quickly. Let’s take Matthew and Delores, for instance. It’s obvious she doesn’t like you very much, but she doesn’t let that come between them. How do you think he would feel if she told Matthew she didn’t want him talking to you anymore?”

I’m already shaking my head. “It’s not the same thing.”

“Not to you. But to Kate, it’s exactly the same thing.”

I clench my fists, frustrated. “So what are you saying? I have to invite the guy over to my place for a freaking slumber party? Do each other’s nails?”

She rolls her eyes. “No, you don’t have to be friends with him. You just have to suck it up and accept the fact that Kate is.”