How to Date the Guy You Hate by Julie Kriss Page 0,12

said.

“I don’t know if I could handle it,” I said to Holly, “everyone eyefucking my boyfriend.”

“I don’t mind,” Holly replied. “Even when guys do it.”

“Shit,” Dean said again. “This is sounding too much like your wine nights. I’m out.” He pushed back his chair and stood. “See you later, Hols.” He touched her shoulder again and walked out the door.

Holly watched him go and sighed, smiling as the mischievous look left her face. “I love him,” she said.

I sipped my coffee. “I know you do.” And I was happy for her, I was. But the way Dean touched her shoulder—just his fingertips pressing gently, possessively, for a brief second—and the way he said her nickname, Hols, gave me a shiver of jealousy. It was small, but it said a lot. It said that Dean and Holly were together for the long haul. And it said what I suspected, what Holly had pretty much admitted to me—that their sex life was off the charts.

No guy had ever touched me like that. Or given me a nickname.

I’d never had a sex life that was off the charts.

And suddenly, I wanted one.

I had an appointment with Dr. Pfeiffer tomorrow. I needed to think about today. Right now. Because tomorrow… anything could happen.

What did I want? Right now? Because I wasn’t happy—that much I knew. If I were going to die tomorrow, what would I want to do today?

I’d like to see Jason Carsleigh naked again.

Now that my anger had burned away, I knew that was what I’d wanted all along. My body at war with my brain, my memories, my embarrassment, my feelings. My feelings were confused, but my body wanted to finish what we’d started five years ago.

And technically, it could. He was single now, unattached. That hot body of his didn’t belong to anyone. Not anymore.

If today was your last day on earth, what would you do with it? A theoretical question, at least for most people. Closer to home for me.

“You know,” I said to Holly, “maybe Dean is right. Maybe I’ll ask Jason.”

She smiled at me, happy, unaware of my secret, filthy designs on her brother’s body. “Really?”

I smiled back at her. Holly knew I had a big problem with Jason, but like everyone else, she didn’t know what it was. “I’ve decided that maybe I should stop holding a grudge,” I said. “It was a long time ago, and it doesn’t matter anyway. I think I should move on.”

“Okay,” Holly said. “I’m sure that whatever made you mad, Jason is really sorry about it.”

I nodded, thinking about Jason apologizing to me, face to face. He’d meant it. “Yeah, he probably is.”

“Well, it’s a great idea if you can convince him. I’d like you guys to be friends.” She checked the time on her phone. “I think his shift at the bank usually ends at seven thirty. You can still find him there if you want.”

I picked up my coffee. “Fine, I’ll try. Don’t warn him, though. I want to surprise him.”

Holly smiled. “My lips are sealed,” she said.

Six

Jason

Seven o’clock. The bank branch I worked at closed at seven, to accommodate the after-work crowd, and they clocked my shift out at seven thirty so I could help wrap up paperwork and turn off the phones and computers before setting the alarm.

All of which I would be doing, if I was actually at the bank.

I dribbled my basketball on the court in the park near my house, circling in, doing a layup, circling out again. Dusk had set in, and it there was the beginning of fall chill in the air, accompanied by a thin, misting rain. It was cold on my skin, but it didn’t matter. I kept moving and kept myself warm.

I’d been here for over three hours, playing alone. I’d been here when the after-school crowd came to the park, chasing out the stay-at-home moms with little kids. I’d been here when the after-school kids had gone home to dinner, leaving the park to the after-work joggers. I’d been here when the rain had chased the last few stragglers away and I had the park to myself. Now everyone was gone and there was nothing but the quiet and the soft hush of rain and the wet, green smell, mixed with the smell of my own sweat.

I moved to the end of the court and stood in a crouch, my knees bent and ready, dribbling the ball back and forth between my hands, feeling it hit one