For a brief moment, I actually thought about going home with him, letting Lance take my virginity. I wanted to get rid of it. I wanted what everyone else in the world had—passion, love, sex. But my sister’s voice echoed throughout my head, telling me to save it for that one special person. No matter how much I wanted to get laid, I knew Lance wasn’t that special. He was nothing more than a passing ship. Now Roman… he was the one I wanted and nobody else would do. Roman was the one I wanted to give myself to. Not Lance.
I slowed the kiss and broke it off completely. “Lance, I’m sorry, but I can’t.”
“Yes, you can,” he whispered, trying to move back in.
I put my hand against his chest, holding him back. “No, I can’t. I don’t want to.”
His brows knitted together as the realization hit.
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to tease you or lead you on. I’ve been drinking, and things just got out of hand.”
“What’s the problem? I’ve been chasing after you like a dog in heat for months now. One second you’re all about it, and the next, you’re pushing me away. I know you want me, but you’re letting something hold you back. What is it?” His voice was a mixture of anger and passion. I could tell he was annoyed, but he didn’t seem mad at me either.
I took a deep breath and ran my hand through my hair. “I’m sorry. I’m just confused about everything right now. Plus, with my job, I can’t date anyway. I agreed to that rule to keep myself focused on school.”
He rolled his eyes. “For fuck’s sake, Sasha. He’s your boss. He can’t tell you who you can and can’t date.”
“He can. I signed a contract, and that was one of the things I agreed to. He wants my attention on my job and Sophia, not some guy. I understood it then, and I still agree with it. I’m sorry, Lance.”
He shook his head. “No, this is insane. I want someone I can actually be with and you…” He took a step back, looking me up and down. “It’s easy to see that you’re just a child who has to run and ask daddy for permission for every little thing.” He looked at his watch. “Better get on home now, little girl. It looks like you’ve broken curfew. Again.” He turned and walked away, leaving me standing in the middle of all the swaying bodies.
I was angry, hurt, and embarrassed as I made my way toward the bar. I had a seat and pulled my phone from my back pocket. The bartender stopped in front of me, asking if I wanted another drink. It sounded like a good idea, so I agreed.
While I waited for that drink to be made, I debated calling Roman, asking him to come pick me up. Usually, I’d get a taxi or an Uber, but if I called him, it would give us the time alone I’d been trying for.
I wiped at my eyes, angry that I was crying. I didn’t want to break off my friendship with Lance, and I hoped we hadn’t ruined it, but I knew it might be over now.
My bottom lip trembled as I wiped at my eyes again.
Maybe I’d call after one more glass of liquid courage. When the bartender set my drink in front of me, I sucked it down at record speed. Then I picked up my phone and called his number.
“Hello? R-Roman? I…can you come get me?”
TWENTY-FOUR
ROMAN
“Can you come get me?” A soft sob greeted me.
“Who is this?” I asked, pulling the phone away from my ear and looking at the screen. I only glanced before picking up, but I thought it was Sasha on the other line. The woman on the phone didn’t sound anything like Sasha.
“It’s me, Sasha.”
“Sasha?” I questioned. “Where are you?”
“I—I’m at the bar. I had too much,”hiccup, “to drink. I don’t feel good. I-I had a bad night. We… I… please. Can you come get me?”
She was slurring her words and crying. It was obvious she’d had too much to drink, but there was more than that. Hearing the condition she was in made my anger skyrocket.
“Send me your location. I’m on my way.” I hung up the phone and called Monica to come and sit with Sophia while I went on a wild goose chase for Sasha. It took Monica only fifteen minutes to get to me, and I watched my phone for Sasha to send over her location, but she never did.
I called, and her phone went straight to voicemail, pissing me off even more as worry rushed through me.
I couldn’t sit around and wait, so I went hunting. I went to every bar and club near campus, then started fanning out, going farther and farther based on what people at the last place suggested. The longer I had to look, the more irritated I got. Finally, though, I found her.
She was sitting at the end of the bar, head down and sound asleep. She had a bottle of water and her cell phone right in front of her. I came to a stop beside her, and the male bartender rushed over.
“What’s your name?”
