From the Inside Flap
"Hey!" said Ethan, widening his blue eyes. "Don't leave me with her." His voice was desperate.
"What do you want me to do?" asked Billy, unsure what they could do with Becca now that it was so late.
"Do her parents even know she's here?" whispered Ethan, eyeing the door. He wondered whether he could make it there before Billy did and therefore absolve himself of the responsibility of their houseguest.
"Probably not, as if they care anyway." Billy walked back over to Ethan and knelt down on the floor beside him. With one knee on the floor, Billy whispered, "Don't you like her?" They both turned to glance at the mildly snoring Becca.
Ethan shook his head. "Man, you kidding me? She's not my type. Now you figure out what to do with her, because I'm going to bed." He hadn't invited Becca over and she wasn't his responsibility.
Undeterred, Billy leaned in farther, whispering, "What's wrong with her? She's got a fine figure, nice pair of boobs on her, and a pretty face. What more do you want?"
"You serious?" asked Ethan. They were both whispering now. He looked from Billy to Becca and back to Billy again. "Is that what you see in Zoe?"
Billy shook his head. "Zoe's different. Though she's got a mighty nice body on her, too."
"She's got a brain and she's funny," returned Ethan, trying hard to nudge Becca away.
"No harm in having a little fun, is there? You don't have to shack up with her," said Billy.
"Is that how you see it?" whispered Ethan, shifting Becca off him gently so that she rested back on the armrest with no weight on him.
Billy rested his arm on his knee. "I don't see what's so wrong in just having a little fun. This girl is crazy about you."
Ethan was silent. He looked at Becca, who was now nicely balanced on the armrest, and decided it was time to make his escape. He stood up slowly and stretched, until a little crackling sound popped from between his shoulders.
"But I'm not crazy about her. I don't want to sleep my way through San Francisco just because girls like me."
"You could easily sleep your way through San Francisco," muttered Billy, a little enviously.
"It's not what I want." Ethan shook his head. There was intensity in his voice. He ran his hands across his face, feeling the slight growth all across his cheeks and chin.
"I don't want to sleep with every girl I meet. I want to meet a girl I want to sleep with."
Billy looked at him, confused. "Ain't that the same thing?"
Ethan shook his head in exasperation. "Don't you ever feel lost?"
Billy gazed sideways, and then slowly stood up as he thought about what Ethan had said. He shook his head. "No, not really. I feel fine as I am."
Ethan clasped his hands together and then turned them outwards so that his palms faced upwards. He stretched his body out.
"I feel like I'm lost. There's all this shit going on in my life and I'm dealing with it and just getting by. I sometimes wonder what the hell is this all for? At times, I admit, I look at you and Zoe and think it's nice you have each other."
"You think all these things?" asked Billy, still confused.
Ethan nodded his head. "Yeah, sure I do. You've got Zoe, and she's got you. Me, I'm trying to keep my head above water. And I'm all alone, trying to figure this out. I'm trying to find my way and I can't. It's like I'm lost in solo."
"Lost in where?" asked Billy. It was getting late and Ethan just wasn't making sense any more.
Ethan shrugged. "Doesn't matter. It's late. I'm going to bed."
"What about her?" asked Billy. They both looked at Becca.
About the Author
Lily Zante writes contemporary romance that will make you laugh and cry. Hers are emotional stories about relationships, love, friendship and family. Readers say that her books keep you up all night and make you fall in love with characters you'll come to regard as your friends. She has one daughter, two sons and a parrot. Her better half prefers not to be mentioned at all.
