"Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh!"

The bed upstairs squeaks like it's going out of style.

"Miles! I'm almost... Oh... Oh... Oh..."

"Meg..."

"Uh..."

Tom laughs. His messy brown hair falls over his eyes. "I never thought anyone would trump Pete."

"I do not sound like that," Pete says.

"Oh... Oh... Oh..."

Miles is a singer. It makes sense he's loud. The groans are not all that different from the ones he makes on Sinful Serenade tracks.

I can handle that.

But, dammit, I do not need to hear my best friend in the throes of orgasm.

Especially not with Drew on the other side of the couch.

"Oh... Oh... Oh..."

"Mhmmm..."

I press my eyes closed and open them. Nope. Not a dream. I'm still in Miles's house, listening to him have sex. He and Meg are all the way upstairs. How is it possible the sound is carrying like this?

Tom shoves his way onto the couch. The drummer is not shy about demanding his way. He pushes Drew over, so Drew's pressed up against me. His knee, his outer thigh, his shoulders—they're all pressed up against me.

There's this flutter just below my belly. I ignore it.

The groans run together into this strange mix of oh yes, mhmm, oh, oh, OHHHHHHH.

Tom laughs. "This is such sweet revenge."

Pete shakes his head. "Cindy and I are poetry." "The bassist turns toward the noise with an amused smile. "That's pornographic."

"There's nothing poetic about I'm coming in your mouth." Tom nudges Drew to scoot over. He motions to me. "Give me some room. Sit on his lap or something."

Drew shoots him a death glare as he points to the empty love seat. "There's a couch right there."

MHMM!!!!!! UH!!!!!!!!!!

OH, OH OHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

The squeaking and groaning builds to a crescendo and it crashes into a somehow equally loud mix of sighs. I guess they came. Hopefully, Miles has a slow refractory period.

I put on my best happy face. The one everyone expects from me. "I will if you sit on Pete's lap."

"No way." Tom sticks his tongue out like he's disgusted.

Pete plops down on the love seat and pats his groin. "Are you afraid you'll like it?"

Tom jumps off the couch. "Forget it." He reaches for Pete's phone and throws it to him. "Why don't you call Cindy so we can all have a round two, huh?"

"It's two a.m. in New York," Pete says.

"And that's stopped you before?" Tom asks.

There's more space on the couch—the left seat is totally empty—but Drew is still pressed against me.

That flutter shifts lower and lower. It's in full effect. It's ready to throw a tantrum to demand all of my attention.

I push myself off the couch with my best smile. "Excuse me."

Tom nods a goodbye of some kind. Drew turns ever so slightly toward me. I move to the kitchen so my back is to him, but I can still feel his eyes on me.

I pour a glass of water and drink it slowly. Pete and Tom are sparring about something. They're laughing and teasing, still oblivious to my discomfort.

The sliding door to the backyard is unlocked. I pull it open and step outside. It's mercifully quiet here. Cold, but mercifully quiet. Goosebumps spread on my legs.

I sit on the concrete, slide out of my shoes, and dip my feet in the water. The pool is cold but it warms up quickly.

The stars are shining brilliantly. No light pollution all the way in Malibu. Nothing around us except sky and ocean.

The sliding door opens. Footsteps move closer. I keep my eyes on the sky, but I don't need my eyes to know who it is.

My heart is racing. It must be Drew.

"You look comfortable." He sits on the concrete next to me.

I nod. My gaze turns toward him. His deep brown eyes are on me. Those are such gorgeous eyes and the rest of him is even better. Messy black hair. Strong jaw. Broad shoulders. His chest piece tattoo peeking out from his v-neck t-shirt.

I bring my gaze back to his eyes. My heart does nothing to slow down. It's still going rapid fire. Damn thing has no concern for my wishes.

"The water is nice," I say. "Once you get used to it."

"Is that right?" Drew kicks off his Converse sneakers and pulls off his socks in a smooth, seamless motion. His voice gets a little lower. "You don't have to stay and listen to that."

"It's fine," I say.

He raises as eyebrow. "You don't look fine."

"Well I am." I pull my arms over my ample chest. It barely fits into this dress. It barely fits into any dress. But that doesn't usually bother me.

Drew plants his hands on the edge of the concrete and leans toward me. "How much will you give me to skinny dip?"

"You're the one with money."

Drew laughs. "Okay. No bribery necessary." He glances toward the house where Tom and Pete are still going at it. "But you have to promise not to look."

My jaw drops ever so slightly. Drew naked. Drew naked. Drew naked. I cannot think about Drew naked.

"You don't have the balls," I say.

"The way you're talking, it sounds like you're going to look."

"No."

"I wouldn't blame you." He taps my shoulder with his. "After all that time in Asia, I'm pale enough to glow in the moonlight."

"You are not."

In the house, Tom screams something in our general direction. He and Pete wave goodbye.

"Don't be late to practice Monday!" he yells. "And don't forget to use protection."

Drew sends Tom another death glare. It only amuses the guy. By now, I'm well aware I'm a running joke. Drew spends so much time with Kara. What the hell is he waiting for? A girl with tits like that... there must be something wrong with him. The guys are not nearly as discreet as they think they are.

The front door opens and shuts. A car in the driveway turns on and pulls away. Tom and Pete are on their way home.

"Tom's an idiot," Drew says.

I kick my feet. There's so much drag in the pool. It's like moving in slow motion. "He's only kidding."

"He should learn to mind his own business." Drew shakes his head. "I can't wait to get my own place."

"Oh?"

His mood lightens. "You want to come apartment shopping with me?"

"That's a girlfriend task."

"You're a girl and you're my friend."

"This kind of thing is the reason why Tom teases you."

"I'll live." He nudges me playfully. "Come on. It will be no fun if I do it alone."

My heart is racing. Racing like a freight train. But I manage a calm expression. "Sure. My internship is done by six most nights, and I don't have class Friday."

"Perfect." He leans back and looks at the moon. "I'm going to do it."

"Move?"

"Skinny dip."

My face flushes red. Thank God he's not looking at me. "You won't."

"I will if you will."

Not happening. I don't swim and I certainly don't swim naked.

I try to respond but my mouth is not cooperating. Drew naked. Must not picture Drew naked. Must not picture Drew coming out of the pool naked and dripping wet.

I press my knees together. Not helping.

"It's freezing," I say.

"You'll warm up fast."

He stands and grabs the bottom of his t-shirt like he's going to pull it off. He makes eye contact and cocks an eyebrow. A grin spreads across his face.

He pulls the t-shirt up, exposing inches of taut abs. That flutter spreads to my belly and thighs. My body is responding to an attractive body. It's instinct. It's totally out of my control.

"Next time." Drew drops his t-shirt. His offers me his hand. "Let's go inside."

He pulls me to my feet. I stumble—the concrete is wet—and he throws his arms around my waist. He squeezes me for a split second and releases me.

"Thank you." I step to the side and grab my shoes.

There's a sound in the house. More footsteps. Miles and Meg step outside. Fully clothed, thank God.

"Having fun?" Miles asks.

"Not as much fun as you two," Drew says.

Meg blushes. Miles smirks.

"Thanks for inviting me." I shove my foot into my shoe. "But I should get home."

"I'll go with you," Meg says. "If you don't mind."

"Of course not," I say.

"You're supposed to stay the night." Miles slides his arm around her. "I'll drive you home in the morning."

"No," she says. "You'll distract me."

"I'm not staying if I have to hear that again," Drew says.

"I've been with you all week." Meg kisses Miles. "It's time to see my friend now."

"Stay," Miles says. "We'll watch Star Wars."

Drew objects. "Fuck no. I'm never watching Star Wars again." He turns to me. "They watched it a dozen times in four fucking weeks."

"We've tortured them enough," Meg says. "Kara and I are going home and no boys are allowed."

They kiss goodbye. It starts as a peck and slides into some serious necking.

Drew shoots me a can you believe this look. I shrug. They're in love. It's sweet.

Meg pulls from the kiss with a heavy sigh. She's panting like she's about to take Miles upstairs for round two.

Sweet only goes so far.

"That's my cue." I find my keys in my purse and motion come here to Meg. "See you guys later."

"Yeah, later." Miles blows Meg a kiss.

She mimes catching it with a giggle.

Drew stares at me. There's something in his eyes, but I can't place it. I wave goodbye and lead Meg to the car.

* * *

Meg and I spend the night at her place, eating cereal and watching movies instead of sleeping. She's bursting at the seams with stories about her time on tour. It's nice to see her so happy, even if I was stuck here, taking winter quarter classes, unable to join in the fun.

It's just after ten when I leave. It should give me a few hours in the common area before my roommate, Nadeen, wants the couch.

Only she's sitting on the couch with a concerned look on her face when I arrive at home.

"Listen, Kara." She folds her arms over her chest. "We have to talk."