Meg and Miles go out of their way to convince me I'm not a third wheel. I claim a need to do homework away from my overwhelming attraction to Pete. Neither of them buys it, but they still leave me alone for most of the day.

I hang out in the guest room, getting ahead on my coursework. The wedding is in two weeks. I need to stay ahead of things if I want to keep the three day trip to Hawaii from derailing my studies.

I don't mind massive homework. Actually, I enjoy it. Not just because school makes sense, but because it's exciting. I already love law school. I love studying precedent. I love rearranging and twisting rules to fit my argument. And God how I love making arguments.

Sometime after sunset, Miles knocks on the door and steps into the guest room.

"As much as I'm impressed with you for getting a rise out of Pete, you should head home if you want to make your morning classes." He nods to the hallway. "We picked up dinner. You like sashimi?"

"I've never had it."

He smiles and calls downstairs. "Jess has never had sashimi."

Meg's shriek of delight pierces my ears. Damn, the girl is loud. She should be the singer.

Ugh. Singing. I try, hard, to push the memory away, but my brain refuses to cooperate. Instead, it replays Pete singing again and again and again.

My stomach tenses.

You're right. It's better if we don't hang out for a while.

Maybe some food will convince my stomach to shut up.

I power down my computer and follow Miles to the kitchen. He's a tall guy, but he only has an inch or two on Meg. She looks like a model—long legs, slim frame, dramatic features. If I didn't know better, I'd assume he was another celebrity who only cared about appearances and she was another wannabe actress who was using her sexuality to curry fame.

There's nothing fake about them. They're clearly in love.

He slides his arm around her waist and pushes her against the counter. His mouth goes to her neck. A moment later, she's groaning.

Okay, they're clearly in lust too.

"Miles, don't you think Pete teased her enough?" She can barely get the words out.

"Mhmm." He squeezes her then takes a step backwards. Miles turns to me with an apologetic look. "Always figured he was a tease."

I'm not entertaining this line of conversation. The two of them talk. A lot. I go with the first subject I remember. "So how about the new Star Wars movie?"

Meg screws her face in distaste. She shakes her head.

Miles chuckles. "She's still upset about Han and Leia getting divorced."

"They're the perfect couple." She sets the table and unboxes the takeout. "You should appreciate it. You're a scoundrel."

He smiles. "You're my princess, babe."

"Am I your princess or your babe?" she teases.

"Princess, you're a total babe." He presses his lips to hers.

It would be tacky to ask them to can the affection. I'm at their house. I'm enjoying their hospitality.

Still, I'm considering it.

Meg catches me watching and clears her throat. She takes a seat, motions for Miles to do the same.

He does.

Meg takes me through the different dining options—red-purple ahi tuna, soft coral salmon, firm ono, glassy fish eggs, octopus. I take one of everything. I'm about to drench a piece of salmon in soy sauce when she grabs my hand.

"Try it plain first. That way you can taste the flavor of the fish," she says.

"You're religious about this," Miles teases.

She shoots him an accusatory glance. "Every single server at Nobu knows your regular order."

"Only because you want to go every Saturday night."

"Nuh-uh."

He smiles and nods. His eyes fill with affection.

It's funny. I've never had a peek into what love really looks like. My parents never even liked each other. My high school friends were casual with their relationships—having fun, screwing around. Even our friendships were casual, surface level. I liked it better that way. I didn't have to worry about revealing too much.

I didn't know how deep love could go, how much another person could free you or tie you up in knots.

Again, my stomach clenches. I sample the salmon sashimi. It's a little soft but it's good. Fresh. I try dipping it in soy sauce, but I like it better plain. There's nothing hiding the flavor.

Then I think of Pete, and my stomach is in knots again.

I'll deal with my feelings later. Once I've held down dinner for an hour. I fill my plate with salmon sashimi, turn to Meg and Miles, and bring up science fiction films until I stumble on something that makes one of them gush.

Turns out it's Jurassic Park. Pete's favorite book. Exactly the topic that will help me not think about him.

* * *

After a long, painful goodbye—Meg and Miles will be apart until Thursday evening—Meg gives me a ride back to Pete's place.

Mercifully, we converse only about local radio stations.

The drive goes quickly. She pulls into the driveway of the Hollywood place with a wistful sigh.

"There's a lot of memories here. It's a shame the label is finally kicking Sinful Serenade out," she says.

They are? I try not to let my surprise register. "Oh?"

She nods. "After Thanksgiving. Miles said it has something to do with that asshole manager. Aiden." She turns to me. "Are you and Pete looking for another place?"

"Uh…" Thanksgiving is well past our expiration date. No reason why he needed to tell me. I keep up my poker face. "I can't decide if I want to get an apartment close to school or if I want to find a place on the beach."

"Do the beach. Downtown is dead on the weekends and it's nearly as expensive as Santa Monica." Her gaze goes to the house. "You're from Long Island, right?"

I nod. "That means I have to love the beach and Billy Joel."

She laughs. "The guy who does Piano Man?"

"Exactly."

"Then definitely do the beach."

I allow myself a moment to fantasize about living on the beach with Pete, at some luxurious place like the one Miles has. The house doesn't matter to me. Just his arms, the sun, the sand, the crashing waves, his voice in my ear as he whispers baby, I love you.

I clear my throat. "I should get going. Early class."

She groans. "My first class is at eight." Her dramatic features soften as her expression fills with concern. "I'm terrible with relationship problems. The worst. But. Um. Pete's really hot."

I laugh. "So is Miles."

"Yes, but if you try to sleep with Miles, I'll have to kill you."

"Would you really?"

"In a hot second." She laughs with evil glee. "But I don't think you would. The way you look at the quiet bassist… You're smitten."

"I can't help it."

"Same thing happened to me." Her voice gets serious. "Pete… he really keeps things to himself. He and Miles, they're pretty close. I've gotten to know him. And he's… he's a really great guy. A great brother to Tom. A great friend to everybody. Whatever is happening, I'm sure he wouldn't hurt you on purpose."

"I know."

"Okay. Fuck guys. They're the worst." She turns to me. "And clothes—just as bad. Your dress is cute. You might not need help, but Kara and I are shopping next Sunday. For dresses for the wedding. We have our shit together, getting our dresses five days before we fly to Hawaii."

"We're grad students. We don't need to have our shit together."

"I like the way you think." She laughs. "You should come. On Sunday."

"Sure." Anything that will get me out of the house and away from Pete.

She claps her hands together. "Awesome. I'm sure, uh… Well, I don't think we'll need to worry about coordinating or anything. Since Drew is the maid of honor."

"He is?"

She laughs. "Yeah. He's cute about it." The joy falls off her expression. "I'm happy for Tom and Willow. Really. But… Not your problem. Nevermind."

"No. It's okay. I don't have any friends out here." I curse the desperation in my voice, but maybe it's okay to sound desperate if I'm being earnest. I want to stop bullshitting everyone all the time. "You're more than welcome to talk to me."

For a minute, Meg is silent. When she speaks, her voice is barely more than a whisper. "It can be hard, seeing all these close siblings who care about each other."

"My sister cheated with my ex-boyfriend."

"So you know the feeling."

"Yeah." I play with the strings of my backpack. "What about you?"

Her voice drops. "My sister overdosed last year. She's… gone."

"Oh. I—"

"You didn't know. You can't top an overdose. I always have the saddest sibling story."

I laugh. She has a really dark sense of humor. "I'm sorry—"

"Don't be. Laughing helps."

"You must miss her a lot."

"Yeah… and I worry. Miles alone by himself all week."

"He's in recovery, right?"

She nods. "I don't think I'd ever breathe again if something happened to him." She offers a weak smile. "I know it's hard… dealing with the Sinful Serenade guys. Their heads are so dense sometimes. If you want to talk, give me a call. Even if you want to spend an hour complaining about how he doesn't wash the dishes. Anything. All I do, all week, is study and watch TV. I'd love a distraction."

"Thanks." I offer her a smile as I step out of the car. "Same for you. If you're worried about Miles. Or anything. I know what it's like, loving someone who had those problems."

My hand goes to my mouth. I almost told her about my dad. I never tell anyone, but the words left my tongue before I had a chance to stop them.

But it feels good, being honest. I want to stay honest.

She waves goodbye. "Good luck." She winks. "Let him earn his forgiveness with his mouth."

My laugh surprises me even more this time. Meg seems genuine, but there's no way to know if she's befriending me because she thinks we'll get along or if it's because I'm supposedly Pete's girlfriend.

I push it out of mind as I unlock the door.

The energy changes the second I step inside. There are two magnets pulling me apart. One tells me to stay and talk to him. One warns me to run far, far away.

Pete is watching a movie on the couch in boxers and a T-shirt. He's wearing thick black glasses. Somehow, he looks even sexier in the dark frames. They highlight his eyes.

I say the first thing that makes it to my tongue. "You look sexy in your glasses."

He meets my gaze. There's all this intensity in his eyes, like there's something on the tip of his tongue. Then he blinks and it's gone.

He turns back to the TV. "I'm sending our housekeeper the grocery list tonight. You need anything specific?"

"No." I sling my bag over my shoulder and take a step towards the stairs. "Enjoy your movie. I'll see you later."

I hide out in my room, but I don't feel any better.

Only colder.

Only more pulled apart.