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Montreal （“Such a cute French accent； but like； totally
Americanized”）； longish hair （“But not freaky ponytail long”）； and
just the right amount of stubble （“He looks just like Antonio
Banderas when he doesn’t shave for three days”）。
The samurai chef…actors did their thing； slicing and dicing and
flipping cubes of meat all over the place while Lily laughed and
clapped her hands like a little girl at her first circus。 Although
it seemed impossible to believe that Lily actually liked a guy； it
appeared to be the only logical explanation for her obvious elation。
Even more impossible to believe was her claim that she hadn’t slept
with him yet （“Two and a half full weeks of hanging out constantly
at school and nothing！ Aren’t you proud of me？”）。 When I asked why I
hadn’t seen him around the apartment at all； she’d smiled proudly
and said； “He hasn’t been invited over to the apartment yet。 We’re
taking things slow。” We were standing directly outside the
restaurant as she regaled me with all the funny stories he’d told
her when Christian Collinsworth appeared in front of me。
“Andrea。 The lovely Andrea。 I have to say； I’m rather surprised to
discover that you’re a fan of Benihana 。 。 。 What would Miranda
think？” he asked teasingly； sliding his arm around my shoulder。
“I； uh； well 。 。 。” The stammering was immediately all…consuming。
There was no room for words when the thoughts were bouncing off each
side of my head； pinging between my ears。Eating at Benihana。
Christian knows it！ Miranda at Benihana！ Looks so adorable in
leather bomber jacket！ Must be able to smell the Benihana on me！
Don’t kiss him on the cheek！ Kiss him on the cheek！ “Well； it’s not
that； uh； that 。 。 。”
“We were actually just discussing where we would be going next；”
Lily stated crisply； extending her hand to Christian； who； it
finally occurred to me； was alone。 “We must’ve gotten so caught up
that we didn’t even realize we’d stopped in the middle of the
street！ Hah； hah！ How do like that； Andy？ My name’s Lily；” she said
to Christian； who shook her hand and then pushed a curl away from
his eye； just like he’d done so many times at the party。 Once again
I had an odd feeling that I could be entranced for hours； maybe
days； just watching him push that single； adorable curl away from
his perfect face。
I stared at her and at him and became vaguely aware that I had to
say something； but the two of them seemed to be holding up just fine
on their own。
“Lily；” Christian rolled the name around on his tongue。 “Lily。Great
name。 Almost as great asAndrea。 ” I had the presence of mind to at
least look at them； and I noticed that Lily was beaming。 She was
thinking to herself that this guy was not only older and hot； but he
was also charming。 I could see the wheels turning； weighing whether
I was interested in him； if I’d actually do anything because of
Alex； and； if so； if there was anything she could do to expedite it。
She adored Alex because； really； how could you not； but she refused
to understand how two people so young could spend so much time
together—or； at least； that’s what she claimed； although I knew that
it was only the monogamy part that really blew her away。 If there
was a speck of a chance of some drama between Christian and me； then
Lily would die fanning the fire。
“Lily； it’s a pleasure to meet you。 I’m Christian； a friend of
Andrea’s。 Do you always stop in front of Benihana to talk？” His
smile actually prompted a shooting…sinking feeling in my stomach。
Lily threw back her own brown curls with the back of her hand and
said； “Well of course not； Christian！ We just had dinner at Town and
were trying to figure out a good place to get a drink。 Any
suggestions？”
Town！ It was one of the hottest and most expensive restaurants in
the city。 Miranda went there。 Jessica and her fiancé went there。
Emily talked obsessively about wanting to go there。 But Lily？
“Well； that’s weird；” Christian said； obviously buying the whole
thing。 “I just came from a dinner with my agent there。 Strange that
I didn’t see you two 。 。 。”
“We were all the way in the back； kind of tucked behind the bar；” I
said quickly； regaining a modicum of posure。 Thankfully I’d paid
attention when Emily had made me look at the tiny picture of the
restaurant’s bar listed oncitysearch when she was trying to
decide if it was a good date place。
“Mmm。” He nodded； looking a little distracted and cuter than ever。
“So； you girls are on your way to get a drink？”
I felt an overwhelming need to shower the Benihana stink from my
clothes and hair； but Lily wasn’t giving me a chance。 I briefly
wondered if it was as obvious to Christian as it was to me that I
was being whored out； but he was hot and she was determined； so I
kept my mouth shut。
“Yep； we were just discussing where to go。 Any suggestions？ We’d
both just love for you to join us；” Lily declared； tugging on his
arm playfully。 “What’s around here that you like？”
“Well； midtown isn’t exactly known for its bar scene； but I’m
meeting my agent at Au Bar if you girls would like to e along。 He
just ran back to the office to pick up a few papers； but he should
be there in a little。 Andy； maybe you’d like to meet him—you never
know when you’re going to need an agent。 So； Au Bar； how about it？”
Lily was peering at me with an encouraging look； one that
screamed；He’s beautiful； Andy！ Beautiful！ I may not know who the
hell he is； but he wants you so pull yourself together and tell him
how much you love Au Bar！
“I love Au Bar；” I said somewhat convincingly； even though I’d never
been。 “I think it’s perfect。”
Lily smiled and Christian smiled and together we set off for Au Bar。
Christian Collinsworth and I were going to get a drink together。 Did
this qualify as a date？Of course not； don’t be ridiculous； I berated
myself。Alex； Alex； Alex； I silently chanted； both determined to
remember that I had a very loving boyfriend and disappointed with
myself for having to force myself to remember that I had a very
loving boyfriend。
Even though it was a random Thursday night； the velvet rope police
were out in full force； and； while they had no problem letting the
three of us in； no one was offering reduced admission of any sort：
twenty bucks just to get in the door。
But before I could hand over my cash； Christian deftly peeled three
twenties from a huge wad he pulled from his pocket and handed them
over without a word。
I tried to protest； but Christian put two fingers to my lips。
“Darling Andy； don’t worry your pretty little head about it。” And
before I could move my mouth out from underneath his touch； he
reached his other hand behind my head and took my face in both
hands。 Somewhere deep in the recesses of my pletely addled brain；
the firing synapses were warning me that he was going to kiss me。 I
knew it； sensed it； but couldn’t move。 He took my split…second
hesitation to move away as permission； leaned over； and touched his
lips to my neck。 Just quickly； a brush； really； with perhaps a
little tongue； right underneath my jaw and near my ear but still
firmly on the neck； and then he reached for my hand and pulled me
inside。
“Christian； wait！ I； uh； I need to tell you something；” I started；
not quite sure whether one uninvited； nonlip； minimal…tongue kiss
really demanded a whole long explanation of having a boyfriend and
not meaning to send the wrong signals。 Apparently Christian didn’t
think it was necessary； because he had walked me to a couch in a
dark corner and ordered me to sit。 Which I did。
“I’m getting us drinks； OK？ Don’t worry so much。 I don’t bite。” He
laughed； and I felt myself turn red。 “Or； if I do； I promise you’ll
enjoy it。” And he turned and walked toward the bar。
To keep from passing out or having to actually consider what had
just transpired； I scanned the dark； cavernous room for Lily。 We’d
been there less than three minutes； but she was already deep in
conversation with a tall black guy； hanging on his every word and
throwing her head back with delight。 I weaved through the throngs of
international drinkers。 How did they all know that this was the
place to e if you didn’t have an American passport？ I passed a
group of men in their thirties shouting in what I think was
Japanese； two women flapping their hands and talking passionately in
Arabic； and a young； unhappy…looking couple glaring at each other
and whispering angrily in something that sounded like Spanish but
could have been Portuguese。 Lily’s guy had his hand on the small of
her back already and was looking utterly charmed。 No time for
niceties； I decided。 Christian Collinsworth had just massaged my
neck with his mouth。 Ignoring the guy； I clamped my hand down on her
right arm and turned to drag her back to the couch。
“Andy！ Stop it；” she hissed； pulling her arm free but remembering to
smile for her guy。 “You’re being rude。 I’d like to introduce you to
my friend。 William； this is my best friend； Andrea； who doesn’t
usually act like this。 Andy； this is William。” She smiled
benevolently as we shook hands。
“So； may I ask why you’re stealing your friend from me； Ahn…dre…ah？”
William asked in a deep voice that almost echoed in the subterranean
space。 Perhaps in another place or at another time or with another
person I would’ve noticed his warm smile or the chivalrous way he’d
immediately stood and offered his seat when I approached； but the
only thing I could focus on was that British accent。 Didn’t matter
that this was a man； a large black man； who didn’t exactly resemble
Miranda Priestly in any way； shape； or form。 Just hearing that
accent； the way he pronounced my namejust like she did； was enough
to literally make my heart beat a little faster。
“William； I’m sorry； it’s nothing personal。 It’s just that I have a
little problem and I’d like to talk to Lily in private。 I’ll bring
her right back。” And with that； I grabbed her arm more firmly this
time and yanked。 Enough of this shit： I needed my friend。
Once we’d settled into the couch where Christian had placed me and I
checked to ensure he was still trying to get the bartender’s
attention （straight guy at the bar—he may be there all night）； I
took a deep breath。
“Christian kissed me。”
“So what’s the problem？ Was he a bad kisser？ Oh； that’s it； isn’t
it？ No quicker way to ruin a good fraction than—”
“Lily！ Good； bad； what’s the difference？”
Her eyebrows reached up her forehead and she opened her mouth to
talk； but I kept going。
“And not that it’s at all relevant； but he kissed my neck。 The
problem is nothow he did； it’s that it happened at all in the first
place。 What about Alex？ I don’t exactly go around kissing other
guys； you know。”
“Don’t I ever；” she mumbled under her breath before speaking up。
“Andy； you’re being ridiculous。 You love Alex and he loves you； but
it’s perfectly okay if you feel like kissing another guy once in a
while。 You’re twenty…three years old； for chrissake。 Cut yourself a
little slack！”
“But I didn’t kiss him 。 。 。 He kissed me！”
“First of all； let’s get something very clear。 Remember when Monica
went down on Bill and the whole country and all our parents and Ken
Starr rushed to call that sex？ That was not sex。 In much the same
way； some guy who probably means to kiss your cheek but gets your
neck instead does not qualify as ‘kissing someone。’ ”
“But—”
“Shut up and let me finish。 More important than what actually
happened is that you wanted it to happen。 Just admit it； Andy。 You
wanted to kiss Christian regardless of whether that’s ‘wrong’ or
‘bad’ or ‘against the rules。’ And if you don’t admit it； you’re
lying。”
“Lily； seriously； I don’t think it’s fair that—”
“I’ve known you for nine years； Andy。 You don’t think I can see it
written all over your face that you worship him？ You know you
shouldn’t—he doesn’t quite play by your rules； does he？ But that’s
probably exactly why you like him。 Just go with it； enjoy it。 If
Alex is right for you； he’ll always be right for you。 And now；
you’ll have to excuse me； because I have found someone who’s right
for me 。 。 。 for r