Imperfect Chemistry, Page 21

“I don’t think this is such a great idea, Freya.”

  We’re sitting in my living room, waiting for my fake date to arrive.

  “Of course it’s a good idea! Maybe he likes you, but he doesn’t know that he likes you. If he sees you with someone else, he’ll realize that he’s jealous, and that he’s always loved you and he’ll burst in here, all bulging biceps and unspent fervor, and he’ll challenge Tony to a duel and you’ll fall passionately into his arms, his lips crashing down on yours…” Her eyes have glazed over, and she’s not even looking at me anymore.

  “Freya?”

  “Hmmm?” She’s still gazing off into the distance, at a daydream only she can see.

  I snap my fingers in front of her face and she startles a bit before meeting my eyes.

  “What if he decides I must not like him and he gives up? And this is all assuming he has the smallest inkling of feelings towards me. He might view me as a sister or mere friend, in which case all your efforts will be for naught.”

  “What? No way. Who knows more about relationships and snagging a guy, me or you?”

  I raise an eyebrow in her direction. “I’m not entirely sure considering you’ve recently lost your virginity, and your boyfriend cheated on you and then you had him beat up before you took him back, and now he won’t call you.”

  “Forget all that.” She waves her hand dismissively. “Trust me on this, okay?”

  I sigh. “Okay.”

  Her friend Tony comes over, and he’s so obviously gay that I start to relax. Jensen will immediately realize that I’m not dating him.

  When the rumble of Jensen’s Mustang sounds in the driveway, Freya shoves us out the door. Tony takes my hand and gives me a brilliant smile. He’s really good-looking, in an almost feminine way. He’s tall and thin, but leanly muscular with angular features and clear blue eyes that stand out of his darker complexion. He’s very well dressed and clean shaven, and his dark hair is styled in that perfectly tousled way.

  He pulls me down the steps as Jensen is coming up them. I try to remove my hand from Tony’s, but he just holds on tighter.

  “Hey,” he says to Jensen.

  “Hey,” Jensen returns. His gaze roams over us and pauses on our linked hands, and I silently will Tony with my mind to say something else to reveal that he prefers people with Jensen’s reproductive organs over mine.

  We’re stopped on the steps and they’re both staring at me and I have no choice but to make introductions.

  “Jensen, this is Tony. Tony, this is my neighbor Jensen.”

  “How’s it going man?” Tony extends his hand that’s not linked with mine and surely the shock that’s pulsing through my body is revealed on my face.

  All of a sudden Tony sounds completely not gay and totally masculine. He shakes Jensen’s hand and I can tell he does it firmly and confidently, and then Tony turns to me and says, “Are you ready, babe?” and I cannot reconcile the creature in front of me with the same man that burst into my house and squealed like a little girl only a half hour ago.

  “Yes,” I manage to squeak out, and then he’s pulling me down the steps. I throw a look over my shoulder and see Jensen still standing on the steps, watching us. I can’t see his eyes or his expression clearly. All I know is I feel that I’ve done something terribly wrong.

  When we are out of sight, Tony drops my hand.

  “So, what did you think?” he asks excitedly.

  “I can’t believe you do that so well,” I say, amazed.

  “Oh, you are too sweet, honey. Didn’t Freya tell you I’m a theater major?”

  “No, she didn’t.”

  “You should have seen the look on your face!” He claps his hands together. “Now, hurry up doll, let’s go get some stuff to make martinis and we can celebrate!” He shimmies his shoulders.

  ***