I get in late, thankfully Jennifer isn’t back. I’m not in the mood to talk about Rashad. I lay in bed with my bloated belly, wondering why I ate everything. Then again it was all so special; I couldn’t imagine leaving any of it on my plate.

My phone wakes me way too early. Why do I let it go off sleep mode at nine AM on Sundays? It’s just texts from Juliette, Isabelle and Kelly. They’re heading down for breakfast. I’m still full from last night, but I’d be happy to get a cup of coffee and hang with my friends before meeting Meredith in the chem lab to get my latest project finished.

Wrangling my hair up into a simple ponytail I skip the makeup and throw on jeans paired with one of my favorite casual tops. I’m the first one at our meeting spot. While I wait, I catch up on Instagram.

 “Big date last night?” Kelly asks as she joins me. I smile and shrug as a reply. “Good? Bad? or is the jury still out?”

“He’s handsome; if he goes here, he’s obviously smart. He took me someplace fancy, obviously new money wealthy.”

“Flashy, likes to show off what he can buy?”

“Is there any other type of new money?”

“Sure beats stingy old money WASPs.”

“How do you know about old money WASPs?”

“I’m one generation removed from Southy. There’s no one who tries to act more old money WASP then a rich Southy.”

“Then you haven’t visited Manhattan.”

“Yeah, I guess new money likes to pretend they’re old money, but they get too caught up in showing off all their money.”

“That they do.”

“And this guy?”

“Can anyone be more new money flashy than the House of Saud? How long have they had oil money?”

“Whooo,” she whistles. “You don’t mess around when you go for the money. How old is this guy?”

“Twenty-four, he’s in law school.”

“According to Jennifer, he’s been blowing your phone up every night.”

The whole point of Rashad is to provide a diversion from Conner…or is it to create a smoke screen for my conversations with Conner?

“You’ve been talking about me behind my back.”

“And that surprises you? Have we ever kept secrets?”

“True, if one of us knows something, then it’s never a secret.”

“If you’re here with me and not with him…did he leave at three AM or did you?”

“Date, not a sleepover.”

“Well, what’s the fun in that?”

“Where you and I have always differed, is that you’re more like a guy. You see what you like and you want to sleep with it right away. You usually don’t care if it’s for a few hours, one night, or a week. As long as it’s wild and there’re no long-term strings attached, you’re happy.”

“Wow, you sure got my number.”

 “Whereas I like the process. Not only the chase, I like the intrigue, the flirt, the game. With some guys, you need to string them along. If you jump in the sack too early, you’re another notch on their bedpost. Not that I mind the hook-up, that can be steamy. But if the guy’s interesting, then the innuendoes, the chase…”

“You like fly fishing, not barrel fishing.”

“Good analogy.”

“Last night’s handsome, rich, twenty-four-year-old, Saudi, law student was …?”

“He’s interesting and fun to flirt with, and he knows it. If I slept with him, I’d be this weekend’s girl. I either want to be more or I want to be nothing. He needs more insecurity to appreciate me.”

 “So the long con.”

 “Yeah, the long con. Frankly, sex is great, but for me, the best part is the dance before sex. Or if you’re real lucky and the game is good, you can keep the edge going after you’ve had sex.”

“That’s why you never sleep with guys like Max or Ethen. They’re looking for the classic girlfriend. You’d be bored within a week, you like the game, intrigue, being on the edge.”

 “So true.”

We both watch Isabelle and Juliette walk up the road.

“Whereas Juliette hates the chase. What she likes is being the classic girlfriend.”

 “And Isabelle?”

“And Isabelle has to stop dating Paul. Those two are total relationship drama.”

“Don’t forget Isabelle and Ben.”

“Yes, the same but different. Ben is the unattainable guy while Paul is the perfect guy that never works out.”

“Don’t you think all the drama is why they keep breaking up and getting back together? I think they both thrive on the drama.”

“They’re both into the illusion of each other not the reality. They’re going to keep doing it until one of them decides to move on.”

Kelly stands up and waves at Juliette and Isabelle. “Snow, Bell,” she calls out. “Come on, I need my coffee.”

***

By mid-morning Rashad starts blowing up my phone. I don’t respond until I’m heading over to the chem lab.

“Hey Rashad,” I casually answer my phone.

“Olivia,” he responds with relief in his voice. “Do you have plans for today?”

“As a matter of fact, I do. I’m almost at the door to the chem lab. I’ve got a big project due. Don’t you have papers to write and tests to study for?”

“Yes, of course, though I thought that maybe we could take a coffee break together.”

“Rashad, how sweet of you to offer. Text me when you’re ready to take a break, we can meet up. Hey,” I purr in my soft bedroom voice. “Last night was special. Thank you, it really was an amazing place to take me.” I pause. “Oops, I’ve got to go,” then I hang up.

Thirty seconds later I get a text, Rashad: R U OK?

Olivia: Yes, in the Chem lab now. Text me for coffee.