Lucky Number Four (21 page)

“So, how do you think you did?” Jeff asks
when we’re back out in the stark courtyard. The temperature has
dropped at least twenty degrees since we started the test. I
shiver, not from the cold but from what my grade will probably
be.

“I don’t know. I had problems with the second
half, but I think I aced the first. I can’t believe that SOB gave
us a freaking booklet to finish in under an hour, not to mention we
still have to take the second part of the final that he says most
of our grade will be based on. Who has their students take a
two-part final … in math? Sadist much?”

“I’m sure you did great. Let’s go get some
lunch. My treat.” Jeff puts his arm around me and pulls me close,
kissing the top of my head. I love Jeff, and even if I bombed the
test, it won’t be because of his tutoring.

“Is he as hot as what I imagine?” Jeff’s grin
is contagious as we wait for our lunch.

“I swear he has a twelve pack, and there
isn’t an ounce of fat on that body. It’s sickening. Nobody should
be that perfect.”

“Twelve pack, huh? So let’s get down to the
real grit of the subject: his dick. Well?”

“Nothing special,” I say with a straight
face, and I love Jeff’s shocked expression.

“No way. The boy has to be hung. I would bet
my daddy’s fortune on that,” Jeff argues.

“I’ve seen worms bigger.” I love that he’s
torn between believing me and not.

“Worms? Are you guys going fishing?” A
familiar voice makes me freeze, hoping he hasn’t heard more.

“Hey, Drew,” Jeff says. “Take a seat. I was
just reminiscing about the last time I went fishing. Dora just told
me she hates worms. Despises them, in fact. It’s a girl thing.”

I kick Jeff under the table, hoping he won’t
say more. Drew moves in next to me in our booth, his thigh nestled
next to mine.

“So, Dora told me about your little volunteer
session this morning.” Jeff smiles. “She thoroughly enjoyed having
a live model to draw instead of that boring old bowl of fruit.”

I grit my teeth, wanting so badly to smack
him upside his goofy grinning head.

“Yeah, it was really fun. When I approached
Tim with the idea, he was so excited. I guess this is the first
time he’s had a real model come to his class, especially with all
the university’s budget cuts.” While gesturing as he talks, Drew
brushes his arm up against mine which cause him to grin at me.

So, it probably seems odd that I’m not
reacting to him in a positive way. Mostly it’s because I know he’s
not really into me, but I also don’t get those funny feelings in my
stomach that I get around Colin.

“What’s it like, being naked in front of a
class of artists?” Jeff’s question makes me want strangle him. Yes,
my blushing mechanism is going full blast, and I quickly grab my
cold drink, hoping it helps some.

“It’s something I’m used to, I guess. If
you’re shy about nudity in the modeling biz, you don’t last too
long. We constantly change in front of a crowd of photographers,
makeup artists, directors, agents, and other models. So, modesty is
quickly forgotten.”

That wouldn’t work for me. I’ve been naked in
front of a select few, but a crowd? No way.

“Dora, how would you feel being naked in
front of a group?” Jeff asks, raising one eyebrow, looking all
innocent.

“I wouldn’t do it. I’m not a prude, but I
like my privacy,” I say in a no-nonsense voice, with thoughts of
how I will strangle him running through my mind.

“I wouldn’t want you naked in front of a
group, Dora.” Drew nudges my arm, which makes me look up at him. I
can tell he’s serious. “There’d be broken jaws and black eyes, and
several guys would end up hospitalized.”

“Well, we won’t have to worry about that, now
will we?” Why would he be so upset with me naked in front of a
group? “Where’s that waitress? I’m starving,” I say, changing the
subject as the vision of Drew sitting naked in class revisits my
mind.

Christmas shopping should only be done
online.

There, I said it. Whoever doesn’t like that
statement can, well, deal with it. Julie and I are stuck in
department store hell checkout lines with a thousand other grumpy
people while cheery Christmas music continuously plays from hidden
speakers.

Yes, I’m peeved. I haven’t seen Colin for
days, and tomorrow is the dreaded ‘graphic sex of Sunday’ dinner.
It was supposed to happen last Sunday, but the flu bug hit my
family, so I was given a reprieve. No, I’m not happy they had the
flu, but I’m hoping and praying that Grandma Alice will have
forgotten about the sex book she apparently raved about to all of
her friends at bingo.

“Fuck, Dora,” Julie gripes. “This line is
fucking taking forever. My feet hurt and I’m thirsty.”

I know she doesn’t say the F word at work, so
why can’t she restrain herself out in public? The F word and
Christmas music just don’t mesh.

“Calm down, Jules. At least we’re not at the
back of the line. In fact, I can’t even see the back of the
line.”

“Yeah, that really helps. Oh, look … they’ve
opened another register. Hey, what the fuck? That lady was behind
us and now she’s being waited on.”

I cover Jules’ mouth, as any minute now
she’ll start a riot, and I don’t want to be on the Channel Six news
at eleven. Jules nips at one of my fingers and I gently tap her on
the head. The people behind us are getting upset. Part of me wants
to dump the stuff we have, but I persevere and we finally escape
without inciting a riot.

Shivering, we enter the warm confines of the
loft’s lobby. Brad is sitting at his post, his hands wrapped around
a huge mug of something that is steaming.

“Ooooooh, that looks yummy,” Julie stutters
with quivering lips.

“Would you like a cup? It’s a special hot
chocolate blend. I have a pot of it in the back.” His grin is so
adorable.

“We’ll love you forever, won’t we, Dora?”
Julie replies.

Brad jumps off his stool and enters a door
behind him. Seconds later, he’s back with two mugs.

“You’re such a lifesaver. Not only did we
fight the cold today, we also did our dreaded holiday shopping.
You’re awesome.” Julie takes a sip and her eyes close. “Mmmmmm,
this is the best.”

I take a drink of mine and have to agree—it’s
a chocolate orgasmic experience in my mouth. The ding of the
elevator has all of us turning at the same time. My knees go weak
as I see Colin standing there with Liam. Colin grins and Liam is,
well, it looks kinda like smiling.

“Tis the season,” Colin says.

“Yep. Long lines and evil people, but Brad
has fucking saved the day.” Oh, so full of Christmas cheer is
Julie.

Liam and Colin look at my face and start
laughing.

“You guys, stop that. It’s not funny. You try
keeping Ms. Potty Mouth under control. I’ll gladly give you the
job.” I glare at them as they continue to laugh. Brad has his hand
over his mouth. I’m sure he’s laughing too.

“My mouth is not a toilet. They’re only
words, after all.” Julie pretends she’s in a huff, but she loves
the attention. “Where are you two hot bods off to?” she continues,
and I groan as the two “hot bods” stop laughing, smile, and stand
up a little straighter.

With that, I take off toward the stairs,
ignoring the foursome. What has me so mad? Julie is just being
Julie, after all, and … I don’t know. I haven’t been this confused
in my life.

I reach the fourth floor, realizing through
rambling thoughts that I’m not out of breath. Pulling open the exit
door, I run into a hard object—a really hard object. Raising my
eyes, I meet Drew’s smiling ones.

“Whoa, Dora, where’s the fire?” His dimple
deepens as his gorgeous grin widens.

“No fire. I felt like climbing the
stairs.”

“Lucky stairs,” he replies, staring at my
lips as if he wants to devour them.

What the hell? Where did that come from?

Bad boy. Remember, notches on bedposts and
all that?
I’m so not going to be the millionth and one girl on
his list.

“Ha ha, very funny,” I say.

“Ah, Dora, you wound me. Me, who adores
you.”

Oh, brother. Time to run—I mean,
walk
—away right now.

“Love to stand here and chat, Drew, but I
think your cohorts are downstairs waiting for you, and I have
presents to wrap,” I say, lifting my packages to show him
proof.

“I don’t get it. I feel you’re always trying
to get rid of me, and it hurts my heart.”

Gently pushing him away with my packages, I
start off down the hall. “I’m so sure, Drew,” I reply without even
turning to look at him, instead banging on my door. I’m relieved
when Jeff immediately opens it.

“Hey, Dora, what did this door ever do to
you? Oh, hey, Drew,” he says, looking down the hall as I push past
him. “Rude much?” Jeff shuts the door and I can feel him staring at
me.

I fling the packages on my bed before
storming over to the refrigerator. “Why do you always side with
them?” Anger fills my voice.

“Hey, I was just being neighborly. You really
need to get laid, and I think I found you someone. You’ve been hard
to live with lately, so I set you up on a blind date tonight.
Whether you like it or not.”

“You did? Without asking me first?”

“You tell me all the time to find someone for
you, and I’ve done it. Don’t make me regret this.”

“You did? Oh, Jeff, I’m so sorry. I so love
you!” He grins as I fling my arms around him and hug him
tightly.

“Now go get ready. The little black number
will do. In fact, if you let go of me, I’ll even get your clothes
ready for you.”