Page 74 of Playing a Player (Sweet Cravings 1)

"So you just quit? How close were you to being done?"

"I finished two out of four years."

Two years. That was how long he had dated his last girlfriend. That couldn't be a coincidence. "What do you want to do?"

He looked back at me and traced his fingers along the back of my dress. "You know what I want to do," he said in a low voice.

"No, Rory," I laughed. "I mean what do you want to do in the future? Like five years from now what do you want to have accomplished?"

"I don't really like thinking that way. I just want to be happy. And thinking about the future all the time isn't the way to get there." He turned and looked out the window.

The way to get there. So he's not happy now? I wanted to be the one to make him happy. "So what did you do after you dropped out?"

"After crashing in Connor's dorm and driving him crazy, I went to Italy and got a job at this amazing restaurant. I learned way more in those few months than I did in two years at Penn University."

"If you liked it so much, what made you come back to Philly?"

"I loved Italy, but I was homesick. It was more running away from something than actually wanting to be there."

"Your ex?" He was even more like me than I realized. I always wanted to run away from problems too. That was why I had told Connor I was moving out last night. I couldn't help but think that it was bad that we were both flight risks. But being with him was a risk I was more than willing to take.

"Yeah." He scratched the back of his neck. "So what about you, Keira? What's your master plan for five years down the road?"

I'd like to be with you. "Being happy seems like a pretty good goal. That's what I want too." Give me a chance to make you happy. I leaned against his shoulder and was happy when he didn't flinch.

Chapter 30

I grabbed another glass of wine off one of the trays that waiters were carrying around.

"What do you usually do at weddings when you don't have a date?" Rory was smiling at me.

"Honestly? I usually drink too much and try to make out with someone in a closet." I lowered my glass of wine.

He laughed. "Well, I guess it's good I came with you then. Because I wouldn't mind making out with you in a closet at all." He wrapped his arm behind me and let his hand rest on my hip. "By all means, keep drinking."

"You don't have to get me drunk if you want to kiss me, Rory."

"But what if I want to do more than kiss you?"

I could feel my face flushing. I had never done anything like that before in public. But for some reason the idea excited me.

"From the look on your face, you probably don't need to be drunk for that either." Rory glanced behind him. "There's a closet right over there if you're interested."

/> Holy shit.

"Oh my God, Keira, is that you?!"

I turned my head to see another girl from my journalism club. "Hi, Ella. Wow, it's been so long." I gave her a quick hug. We had never really been friends. I probably wouldn't have even said anything to her if she hadn't approached me. She always talked too much and tended to annoy me. The only thing I ever wanted to listen to when I was writing was music, not Ella's endless chatter.

"And is this your boyfriend?" Ella stuck her hand out to Rory and gave him a big smile.

Shit don't use that word, Ella! You freaking bitch! I took a deep breath. I was completely on edge tonight. I almost wanted to laugh at my reaction. Calm down.

Rory coughed. "We're just friends," he said and stuck out his hand.

"Oh, sorry. You just..." she let her voice trail off and let go of his hand. "It was nice seeing you, Keira." She quickly walked away.

My reaction hadn't been that inappropriate. That was completely awkward. But I didn't want to dwell on it. Rory and I still hadn't had that conversation. I might have said the same thing if one of his friends had asked. It definitely wasn't worth ruining our night over. Besides, I had never seen Ella shut up so quickly. It was probably good that Rory had acted weird.

---