I don’t come to The Gravy Train for breakfast often. It’s really out of the way from my apartment.

But . . . I didn’t spend last night at my apartment. In fact, I haven’t spent three out of the last five nights at my apartment, and I’ve gotten used to taking advantage of Thomas’s amazing shower.

Seriously, two pulsating shower heads will do things to your body that you only dream about. Especially when you’re not showering alone.

The shower’s not all I’ve taken advantage of, but I promised the girls that this morning we’d get together, so I pried myself out of bed while Tommy gets an early start on his agenda for the day.

Izzy comes in, looking fresher than I’ve seen her in a long time. “Hey, Mia, babe, you’re looking . . . freshly fucked.”

“What? I just got out of the shower!” I joke, even though it’s true. “You look a lot brighter and more bushy-tailed than I’ve seen you in a while yourself. What’s up?”

“Just a moment,” Izzy says as Charlotte comes in the door. “I figure I just wanna say it once.”

“Ooh, someone else on the man train?” Charlotte teases, grinning. “I mean, I figured you’d be trying out for the nunnery after you finished your degree, but maybe you went all Von Trapp on us?”

Izzy rolls her eyes, shaking her head. “I’m not that bad, but I do have good news.”

“What’s up?” Char asks as she slides in next to me.

Izzy pauses, then smiles big, the excitement she’s been holding back bubbling out. “I got the scholarship!”

We all squeal, a harmony of shrill happiness, and clap loudly for her.

“Way to go, Izzy!” I cheer her.

“It’s only five thousand dollars, but hey, it’s five thousand dollars,” she says. “It’s some wiggle room for tuition and cost of living.”

“So does that mean you’re going to stop pulling insane shifts here?” I ask, and Izzy shakes her head. “Babe, come on!”

“No, I can’t,” Izzy says. “Listen, it’s wiggle room, but not that much. My laptop’s going to shit, and before you say it, Mia, I won’t take yours so you have an excuse to buy a new one.”

“Too much hentai anime on that thing anyway,” Charlotte teases. “I have a strict three-tentacle per hard drive limit.”

“Hey, I haven’t gone there . . . yet.” I laugh, and they both laugh with me.

“Hey, by the way, how’s domestic life? I still can’t believe you’re spending time with us instead of with Hunky McDollarSigns,” Izzy says. I give her a sharp look, checking for any sign of jealousy. We all know Izzy has the most money trouble of the three of us, but she’s proud and wants to stand on her own two feet. Even so, having a friend who suddenly hooks up with the likes of Thomas Goldstone must make her a little salty. But in her eyes, I only see happiness for me, not a hint of envy, cattiness, or shallow ugliness. And that’s why she’s one of my best friends. She’s good, down to her core good.

“It’s not the size of his bank account that has Mia worked up, I bet,” Char teases. “Tell me, honey, seriously . . . how long before you kick us to the curb in favor of ladies who lunch and splurge on a cucumber in their water?”

“Oh, please, it’s not like that at all. Hell, Thomas isn’t even like that. Besides, what would I ever do without you guys?” I ask, and Charlotte laughs.

“You’d be busy, that’s for sure,” she says. “On your knees, bent over the desk, in bed, in the shower. I mean, I’m sure we can’t compare to Thomas Goldstone.”

“Well, that’s true. All of that is so true,” I say with a smug shimmy of my shoulders. “But he can’t compare to you guys either,” I counter. “I mean, seriously, who’s going to listen to me complain when I come in all bloated and crampy with PMS?”

“I don’t listen to you now,” Charlotte jokes. “Do you, Izzy?”

“Nope, never,” Izzy teases. “I mean, if we were friends, maybe I would then, but you’re just this psycho who comes into my work so much I’m kinda forced to hang out with you.”

“Yup,” Charlotte says before busting out singing, “F-R-I-E-N-D-S, that’s how you fu—”

“Shh!” Izzy says, slapping a hand over Charlotte’s mouth. “First of all, I hate that damn song. Second, I do work here still. I don’t need you cursing at the top of your lungs and cracking glass with those shrill notes.” She rubs at her ear like Charlotte’s howling at ear-splitting levels. She’s not far from the truth.

Charlotte sticks out her tongue, wiggling it. “Fine, but you know I sing just fine. When I was a little girl, the pastor in church kept saying I was the best at making a joyful noise during the hymns.”

“Emphasis on the noise,” I tease. “Charlotte, you’re not as bad as me, which isn’t saying much, but I say this with the brutal honesty only a friend can give you . . . scratch your plans to try out for American Idol. You don’t want to end up on the loser reel.”

She feigns shock, hand to her chest for a moment before conceding. “I know, I know, but I’m still pretty fabulous, if overlooked.” She straightens and sips her drink. “All jokes aside, seriously, how’re things with Thomas?”

“Really awesome,” I admit shyly. It’s not that I’m unsure about what we’re doing, but sharing just how much I feel about Thomas with them before sharing it with him seems out of order.

Because I am feeling things, a scary four-letter thing. And I’ve never felt this before, not like this. Not a fizzy, bright bubbliness on top of deep, earthy richness, not a fire so hot I don’t know if I can withstand it but all I want to do is try.

But I do feel all that and more with Thomas. And that both thrills and terrifies me. What if I’m not enough? What if he can’t get out of his head? What if this is all just physical and new and I’m making it into more than I should because I’ve fallen for him?

But I know in my heart that this isn’t one-sided or casual. I can see it in his eyes every time he looks at me. He’s just as new at this as I am, maybe even more so. But that’s okay, we can take our time and get there together.

I realize that while my mind has been whirling, Charlotte and Izzy have been waiting expectantly for a fuller answer. “Japan was everything I thought it’d be, and then some,” I say cryptically, spreading my hands wide like I can’t possibly encompass all that I saw, felt, and did into a few words.

“Because of the company,” Charlotte adds wisely, and Izzy nods.

I sip at my coffee, agreeing. “Yeah, because of Tommy. He’s . . . not what I thought when I first met him. He’s so much more. It’s complicated. He’s got this persona as a hardass, but when he’s with me, he’s gentle and nice. Japan was . . . enlightening.”

Charlotte leans to Izzy, stage-whispering in her ear so I can hear, “Sounds like she’s literally tamed the beast. Has him wrapped around her pretty little finger.”

I smile cheekily and wave my pinky finger at her.

Then Izzy whispers back, “Or maybe he has her wrapped around his thick cock. Did you see her hair when she came in this morning? Definite morning BJ.”

Instinctively, I reach for the back of my hair, smoothing it down as my jaw drops open. When they both burst into raucous laughter, I chastise them. “Guys! That’s not funny!” But I finally laugh with them, asking through punctuated breaths, “Is my hair really okay? I have to go to work!”

But that just makes them laugh harder.