Listening to my father drone on and on about my summer internship is pissing me off, but I remain upbeat and pretend to give a shit.

Vanessa headed into the bathroom a while ago, and I wonder if she may have gotten lost.

My sister Joy leans over Vanessa’s seat and whispers, “You’re serious about this one, huh?”

I smile. “Yeah, I kinda am.”

Her eyes light up and she smiles. Standing, I place the napkin on the plate.

“I’m going to go and check on Vanessa,” I say to the table.

“But, Trace, I’m trying to talk to you about what you will be doing this summer,” Mr. Roberts booms.

“I know. I’m just gonna make sure she didn’t get lost.” I edge further out of my chair as Mr. Roberts sits there and watches me leave.

Working for him will be such fun.

I head out of the ballroom. Down the hallway I see Tony, Hailey, and Vanessa. Vanessa’s on her cell phone, but I can see that her eyes are glossy with fresh tears. I wonder why Tony and Hailey are even here.

The expression on Tony and Hailey’s faces is disturbing. As they turn to face me, they look like they’ve just won a prize.

“What’s going on?” I ask, stepping closer to Vanessa.

She walks away from me, and I follow her down the hallway.

“Leave me alone,” she says abruptly. “You’ve done enough damage with your stupid bet and all.”

No. Shit. The music in the clubs stops. All I hear is the beating of my racing heart. A bead of sweat works its way across my forehead and down my temple. Have you ever experienced your world crashing down around you? Because that is how I feel: my heart plummets to my feet, and my throat grows dry.

I turn to Tony, who beams at me.

“You asshole,” I say, running after Vanessa who is almost out of the hallway, racing towards the front entrance.

Tony and Hailey follow. I can’t believe what’s happening. Vanessa pounds through the front doors and jolts down the front steps towards a cab that’s just pulled up to the valet station.

“Vanessa, wait! Let me explain!” I yell as I run after her.

She just keeps moving, pulls open the cab door, and zooms off without looking back. I swivel back on Tony and Hailey as they walk up behind me, smiling broadly.

“How could you? What are you even doing here?” I hiss at Tony.

“Hailey wanted to come and talk to Vanessa. You can thank her for that one.” He smiles, pointing a finger in Hailey’s direction.

My anger sparks deep within my chest and radiates through my entire body. I look at Hailey, who seems tinted red, I’m seeing through such rage. The air comes out of my lungs in short, fast breaths. “You bitch,” I say, rushing up on her.

“Oh, please. She needed to know. How could you, Trace?” She flings her ugly brown hair across her back.

Tony tries not to laugh, which only ignites my anger more.

“Are you fucking kidding me? How did you even know?” I ask.

“Tony told me the other night at the club.”

My eyes land on Tony’s guilty expression. I rush toward my car to get away from the scum they are. Tony and Hailey follow behind me.

“Really, you two? It’s best you leave me alone,” I say, threatening them.

“Dude, don’t be mad. It was bound to end anyways. I’m letting you out of the bet early. No harm done,” he says as we reach my car.

I spin around and grab Tony by his bright yellow shirt. I pin him up against the door of the Cobra. “No harm done? Are you fucking kidding me?”

I want to punch him, but I need to get to Vanessa. Besides, he isn’t worth it. I hop in and tell them I’ll deal with them later. Yanking my phone from my pants, I dial Vanessa’s number. It rings and rings as I speed down the road towards her house. Her voicemail picks up, and I click the phone off.

Driving down her street, I breathe a sigh of relief at the sight of Maxine’s car in the driveway. Maxine swings the door open after I knock.

“She doesn’t want to talk to you,” she says, blocking the doorway.

“Please, you have to let me explain,” I say, begging her to let me pass.

“Trace, oh Trace.” She shakes her head as she crosses her arms over her chest. “You screwed up. Now leave her alone and give her time.”

“You have to let me see her, please.”

“Go home, Trace.” She tries to shut the door as I wedge my foot in the opening. I need to talk to Vanessa. Finally, the door slams in my face.

I sulk back to the car and climb inside. Texting her to please let me explain, I start the engine and drive.

The phone remains silent; I check it every second or so.

I head up the driveway to my house and shut off the engine. Both of my fists slam down onto my steering wheel. What do I do? I need to get her back. She was amazing with my family, chatting up my sisters, making them laugh with her classic charm. Vanessa needs to be a constant in my life, and I won’t stop until I have her. Maybe before all of this I wasn’t ready, but after meeting her, now I know I am. I’m kind of done with the kinky sex with strangers, partying all hours of the night, and never caring about anyone’s feelings but mine—all this has changed.

The couch calls my name, and I flop onto it, still in a state of disbelief. Darren enters the living room and smiles.

“You okay? You look like someone just killed your dog,” he says, grabbing a seat on the chair.

“Feels like it.”

“What happened?”

“Fucking Tony told Hailey about the bet, and she told Vanessa. Now Vanessa won’t even talk to me.”

“And how is that a bad thing?” he asks, kicking his feet over the side of the chair. He is in gym shorts and looks like he has just woken up.

“Dude, shut up. I really like this girl,” I say, running my fingers down my jaw.

“Are you serious?” His honey-colored eyes grow wide as he stares to me.

“Yeah, I am. I really like this girl.”

“Shit. I’m sorry. I kinda always thought Tony had a thing for her.”

“Why do you say that?” I ask.

“Just something he said after you left the party after the poker game. He said something like ‘now she’ll see what it feels like.’”

“See what what feels like?”

Darren rubs his nose. “Fuck if I know.”

“Well I don’t want to see that jerk anywhere near me right now,” I say, pushing myself off the couch and heading down the hallway to my room.

Launching myself on the bed, I blast my music through the earbuds and try to formulate a plan of action to get her back.

I need to see her. I need to make her understand.

“Hey, Trace,” comes Tony’s voice from the other side of the door.

“Go away.”

“Let me in. I’m sorry.”

I jolt out of bed, my anger back in full force. Flinging the door open, I give him my best death stare.

He puts his hands up to his chest. “Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t think Hailey would tell her.”

“Oh yeah? Why not?”

“Uh, ‘cause I kinda thought her and I had hit it off,” he says, rubbing his hand along the back of his neck.

“You’re such an idiot.” I lean away from the door and return to the bed. Tony walks in and leans against the desk.

“I didn’t realize you really liked her. I mean, not like this. Yeah, when I made the bet I was upset with her for turning me down. I thought you would date her and then break her heart. Stupid thing of me to do, but I wasn’t thinking.”

“Well, I’m sure I broke her heart or her pride or… I don’t know. I’m sure I broke something.”

His eyes show regret and remorse.

“I really am sorry. It just all got out of hand.”

“I will say I never planned on actually liking her as much as I do.”

“If it’s any consolation, I know she likes you, and you are Trace fucking Weston. You can get any girl you want.” He laughs.

I don’t share in his enthusiasm, just shrug my shoulders.

“Yeah man, I guess.”

“Look, I’ll handle Hailey.” He pushes away from the desk and crosses his arms over his chest.

“Oh yeah? How?”

“I won’t give her the D.” He smiles.

“You think she wants your dick?”

“Well, she can’t have yours, and now she can’t have mine—I’m sure it will piss her off.”

“Whatever. I don’t even care,” I say, waving a hand in the air. “I don’t care if she falls off the face of the earth.”

Tony smiles, apologizing again as he leaves the room. I grab the phone again and try to call Vanessa.