A Twist of Date
a certain guy would want to be exclusive with me.
    No, this was much easier.
    Brad ran his lips over my bare shoulder, then slipped his finger under the blue spaghetti strap down, sliding it down. Privacy between roommates didn’t happen often, but thankfully we hadn’t seen any signs of Patti when we’d come in. I crossed my fingers that she’d gone out for the evening, because things were about to progress to the next level.
    Time to tell Brad how I felt about him.
    “Brad.” My lips skimmed along his strong jawbone, and I whispered in his ear. “We’re going to be so happy.”
    He pulled back, and gave me a look that told me he was happy now. “Oh, babe. I can’t keep my hands off you.”
    Cupping his face, I looked into his eyes, and nodded. “Believe me, I’m ready to take the next step, to make a commitment to each other.”
    His hands had reached around my back for the zipper, but he suddenly froze. “What’d you just say?”
    I forced a flirty smile since things had gone from hot to halt. “Just that this feels right. You and me. Like it could last.”
    “Uh . . .” He adjusted the way he was sitting, and sucked in a deep breath. “It sounds like you’re asking for a ring or something.”
    I giggled nervously. “Not a ring, but now would be a good time to say how you’re feeling about me. About us.”
    “Mel, you’re hot.” He eyed me up and down, then cleared his throat. “I thought we were having a good time.”
    I bit my lip. “Right. So, why would we want that end?”
    “Oh, man. I can’t believe we’re not on the same page.” He stood, adjusted his jeans, then bumped his fist against his broad chest. “I’m not a ball and chain guy. I thought I made that clear.”
    Uh, no. Or, I wouldn’t have wasted time envisioning our eventual wedding invitations this morning.
    I popped to my feet, and thrust my hands to my hips. “When did you supposedly make that clear?”
    He pulled the keys to his yellow Roadster out of his pocket, fingering them uncomfortably. “I’m sorry if I gave the wrong impression. You’re great, Mel. Really.”
    My jaw dropped as I watched him turn, then slip out the door. Straightening the straps on my dress, I hurried out of the bedroom and crossed the living room to where Brad was already turning the front door knob.
    I put my hand over his. “Shouldn’t we talk about this?”
    “No can do.” He shook his head, then stepped out onto the front walkway. When the door was only inches from closing, it stopped, then swung halfway open again and he popped his head back in. “I’ll, uh, see you at the gym.”
    The door shut in my face. My jaw tightened. Brad was so not yumzy.
    My hopes sank as I swiveled around, and slumped back against the door. I squeezed my eyes closed, racking my brain on how I could have been so off base with him.
    “That display was too pathetic for words,” a monotone female voice said.
    I jumped, then covered my heart with my hand. “Patti. I thought you weren’t home.”
    “Believe me, I wish I hadn’t been.” Patti stood in the kitchen, holding a mug. Judging by the her facial expression, she’d witnessed Brad’s hasty exit.
    I cursed the fact that she was a homebody.
    “Brad and I had this amazing evening, then he literally raced out of here all because I asked where things were going with us.” Shaking my head, I bear-hugged myself, unable to believe I’d been let down. Again. “I thought he might be The One.”
    Patti’s short dark hair stuck out in all directions, her Salvador Dalí t-shirt was half tucked into black boxer shorts, and she raised a brow. “I hate to break this to you, Mel. But you think every guy’s The One.”
    My throat tightened. “No, I don’t.”
    Patti obviously wasn’t in a sympathetic mood at this late hour of the night—not that she would’ve been more compassionate at any other time of day. Expecting sympathy from Patti was like expecting a dog to meow.
    She raised her hand and

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