Page 94 of City of Sin (Men of Manhattan 1)

"Jesus, why not a high school boy with a crush? You're all crazy." I took a sip of my beer. I wasn't going to turn into some whipped dick. I just needed to stop thinking about Bee for two seconds.

"Oh," James said. "Speaking of Bee, I need her number."

"I thought you already got the girl you wanted from the University of New Castle?"

"Yeah, I did. It's not for me. Penny wants it."

"I don't think them hanging out is a good idea."

"Why?"

I shrugged. "Why does Penny even want to?"

"Because her only other friend from Delaware that's here is a guy. And I'd rather her hang out with your new girlfriend."

"She's not my girlfriend. And it's going to be weird if they're friends if we stop seeing each other."

"If? There you go. Point made," James said.

"That doesn't mean anything."

"You said if, not when."

"I think it's great, Mason. You don't have to act so defensive."

"I don't," Rob said. "I think it's terrible."

Matt laughed. "I'm just happy she's a poor secretary. Because Mom and Dad are going to be pissed. Not that they aren't already pissed at you."

"She's not going to meet them," I said. "We're just fucking."

"Whatever you say," James said. "I still need her number."

"Yeah, I'm not giving you her number. Tell Penny I'm sorry."

"What is she doing tonight anyway?" Matt asked.

"Studying," James said.

"Has she gotten close to any of her new professors?"

James frowned. "No."

Rob laughed. "I don't know why, but Penny is completely obsessed with this guy." He put his hand on James' shoulder. "Trust me, I've made tons of passes at her, and she always says no."

James pushed Rob's hand off his shoulder.

Matt laughed. "Maybe I should come visit you," he said to Rob. "I feel like I'm the only one who hasn't been with a marketing major from a party school. I must be missing out on something."

"Yes! You should wait till the spring, though. When the skirts come back out. Right now it's all North Face jackets and Uggs."

"Sold."

My phone buzzed in my pocket. I quickly pulled it out and slid my finger across the screen. Bee had finally texted me: "Are you sure you don't want to just meet up tomorrow? I'm so sorry this is taking so long."

I didn't want to wait to see her until tomorrow. I wanted her now. And I refused to let her go back to that dingy little apartment. She didn't belong there. She belonged with me.

"Did she finally text you?" Rob asked.

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