�Thanks, I really appreciate it. You still hang with the other guys?�
�Yeah, of course! Me, Rob, Phoenix, Joe, Sean�in fact, we�re having an open party tomorrow at my house. Why don�t you and your girlfriend drop by? It�ll be like old times. We�ll all catch up.�
�I�m not his girlfriend,� interrupted Morgan as she gestured to her and Apolo. �Just friends��
�But I�ll definitely be there tomorrow night, J. With my girlfriend.� Apolo smiled at him, assuring his invitation. �And hopefully, a close chick friend for some other company.�
�I really hope you come. Tell you what,� whispered J.J. as he moved one of his fingers down Morgan�s arm, �you can even bring a friend if you want.� A chill danced down her spine, and yet, she couldn�t decipher it�s intention.
�No, no, thanks but I�ve got one of my drafts due for class on Monday, and it�s not even halfway done��
�Smart girls don�t come my way very often, so when they do, I can spot it instantly. Bam!� J.J. snapped his fingers and smiled, revealing his pearly-white grin.. �And by the looks of you, I know, there is absolutely no ounce of doubt in me, that you�re an intelligent woman. One that can whip up papers instantly and still find time to party her ass off and dance. Do you like to dance?�
�Yes, I do in fact. Do you dance?� Morgan asked, biting down on her lower lip as she tried to contain her smile.
�Oh, baby, I�m a great dancer with the skills to grind, but you won�t feel it if I don�t see you tomorrow. So what do you say?�
* * *
�I can�t believe you said yes to this party.� Morgan�s eyes darted from her bureau mirror towards Lauren, dangling her legs off the side of the bed.
�Well, we never go partying that much anymore. And I couldn�t say no to J.J. He was just sooo��
�Slick? Cunning? Conniving?� Lauren got up and walked to Morgan�s closet, sorting through her pile of shoes.
�No, I was thinking more along the lines of charming and adorable. Why are you being so hard on him anyway? I thought you were the one who said I should leave Apolo alone,� retorted Morgan as she rose out of her chair, pulling her top over her head.
�Here, these will match.� Lauren tossed a pair of sandals at Morgan�s feet. �And I never said you should leave Apolo alone. I said that you should try finding someone new, that�s all.�
�I am! I liked J.J. I mean, I was weary of him at first, but he basically seemed like a nice guy.�
�I just don�t think it�s prudent of you to go flirting with some guy you just met at a party where your hot fling and his bitchy girlfriend are gonna be.�
�Well, this is how I figure it��
�This should be one hell of an explanation.�
Morgan shot an icy glare at Lauren. �Anyway,� she started, simultaneously throwing a denim skirt at her friend�s head, �Apolo and I are great friends who just happen to share some down time. Friends are not exclusive items. Hence, if he�s allowed a girlfriend, who says that I have to have complete fidelity towards him? And I want something more than Apolo.�
Lauren stopped folding the strewed clothes lining the floor. �What?�
�You heard what I said,� replied Morgan as she zipped up her denim capris. �Lately, I�ve been really thinking about want I want for my future. And when it comes down to it, I realized that I don�t want to be at someone�s beck and call, and I don�t want someone at mine either. I would like to have an open, intimate, and tender relationship rather than a hot, fiery fling. I mean, those are ALWAYS welcome, but I think maybe it�s time I start growing up.�
�It�s been way too long, but finally, welcome to the club.�
* * *
The heat nearly smacked Morgan in the face as she followed Lauren through the threshold of the Spanish-tiled house. Leaving her jacket on the backside of a chair, Morgan and Lauren swerved their way through the overly crowded living room. The outside cold lingering on Morgan�s skin mixed with the body warmth of the guests brightened her apprehensive mood. To be honest, she had never met any of Apolo�s friends from Seattle. They hung around the same crowd in New York, but as of now, this was his turf and from his notorious reputation, anything was to be expected
�Show him to me.�
�What?� Morgan ran her fingers through her hair as beads of sweat started to form behind her neck.
�You brought me here to show me J.J. So where is he?� Lauren asked, leaning in closer to talk.
�I brought you here to have fun.�
�And to also see J.J.�