"A few hours. Grant was there earlier and I stayed later to keep playing.""Did you..." Aspen waves her hand in the air. "You know... in the bedroom?""Did we have sex, Aspen? No." I roll my eyes at her continued refusal to say sex in public."Make out?" She leans forward in her chair waiting for my answer."Nope." It's an honest reply. Last night's kiss was definitely not a make out."Hmmm." She examines me, looking for a crack in my story I'm sure. "Did you fall asleep next to him while playing?""Um... no. I went home and slept in my own bed." I quirk an eyebrow at her knowing full well it drives her nuts because she can't do it.I circle the group with my eyes waiting for the next girl to shout out a question — Amanda's known for her random outbursts — but they're quiet. Someone should write this down. It's a first for us.Aspen turns her conspicuous look from me long enough to take a bite of her French toast and settles back on the couch all nonchalant, but I know

Soft music greets me as I step off Ryland's elevator later in the day. Classical if I had to guess, but I've never been into the finer arts and couldn't tell you who. Someone long dead probably.Halfway down his short hallway, the smell of cooking meat and sauce mixes in with the notes from a piano solo from speakers positioned throughout the condo."Beethoven?" I give it my best guess.He stands with his back turned in his kitchen. "No, Bach," he answers and I shrug. I know a limited number of dead composers.I toss my purse on the side table I've claimed as mine over the last few days and grab my mail. Ryland's started picking it up for me since it saves me a trip to the lobby. Don't give me any crap. It's no big deal. Just Ryland's way to make life easier on me. It's not like I've grown to enjoy the almost couple-ish routine we've found ourselves in the past few days. Not at all.This week's been calm. I haven't walked in on any more rowing, but on Tuesday I caught Ryland

I am a genius. Pure genius.When I offered up Ryland's extensive soccer skills to Clare for the youth center, I wanted to help find him a hobby, a little motivation to get out of the house. Not once did I take in to account what this agreement could offer me. I didn't set out for payback, but pay back it did. In the form of a shirtless and sweaty Ryland. It's the best form of compensation possible.Twenty minutes into his hour-long session with the kids, he unzipped his fleece jacket and threw it on the ground beside the same folding chair I used last week. Being able to stare at him in the tight fitting shirt was enough to make me happy, but then ten minutes later he called a time out. On the side of the gym, he whipped his white t-shirt over his head exposing his chest and a set of wonderful ab muscles. Shiny grey basketball shorts and a pair of sneakers are the only clothing obstructing my view of his fine body. It makes me sit up straight and suck in my own small gut. I need to

"Is that so?" he questions with sarcasm. "She needs to exercise caution. I've heard her landlord's a real asshole.""Eh, turns out she thinks he's not as bad as people make him out to be." I roll with it excited Ryland's playing along with my banter."Probably because she's so cute and cuddly..." I squint at him, but he continues on down his dangerous path. "Like a... kitten."I smack my lips together to accept his challenge, the sound bouncing off the kitchen appliances, but it only causes his grin to widen. "Actually Simone's the cute and cuddly one. I'm more known for my claws."He snorts in answer and then speaks under his breath. "Yeah like a kitten's claws, maybe." If I could be one of those sharks with laser eyes, he'd be in trouble. As it is, my death glare only makes him smile, his white teeth on full display. "You don't frighten me, Marissa."I place a hand on my hip and pop it out the best I can while sitting on a stool. "Maybe you don't know me well enough.""Do

Drake, an obnoxious account executive from the fourth floor, stands behind me leaning over my shoulder and giving Goldie eyes. "Well if he makes it through the day, I'd suggest you flush him or take him home.""Flush him!" It's a ludicrous idea. I've named him. I can't let Goldie die. I'll sneak him home and hide him in my bedroom. That sounds like a reasonable plan.... The elevator doors are half open before I realize Ryland's home. Past the hallway he sings along to a song playing over the speakers. So much for spending the day in Palo Alto with Finn checking out new software.I step into the hallway and carefully place Goldie in my purse. He's been in the bag for over three hours. I'm worried his time is running out. How much oxygen does a fish need?Maybe if I sneak out, I'll make it past and to my apartment before Ryland realizes I'm home."Is that you, Marissa?" he yells from the main living area.I cringe — who else would it be — and keep walking with the quiete