though； I’d love to try—”
“Andy； can we go to Benihana？ I’ve been craving it forever。” She
looked sheepish。
“Benihana？ You want to go toBenihana ？ Like； the chain restaurant
where they seat you with tourists who have lots of whining children
and unemployed Asian actors cook the food right on your table？That
Benihana？”
She was nodding so enthusiastically； I had no choice but to call for
the address。
“No； no； I have it right here。 Fifty…sixth between Fifth and Sixth；
north side of the street；” she called to the driver。
My weirdly excited friend didn’t seem to notice that I was staring。
Instead； she chatted happily about Freudian Boy； aptly named because
he was in his last year of a Ph。D。 program in psychology。 They’d met
in the graduate student lounge in the basement of Low Library。 I got
the full rundown on all of his qualifications： twenty…nine years old
（“So much more mature； but not at all too old”）； originally from
Montreal （“Such a cute French accent； but like； totally
Americanized”）； longish hair （“But not freaky ponytail long”）； and
just the right amount of stubble （“He looks just like Antonio
Banderas when he doesn’t shave for three days”）。
The samurai chef…actors did their thing； slicing and dicing and
flipping cubes of meat all over the place while Lily laughed and
clapped her hands like a little girl at her first circus。 Although
it seemed impossible to believe that Lily actually liked a guy； it
appeared to be the only logical explanation for her obvious elation。
Even more impossible to believe was her claim that she hadn’t slept
with him yet （“Two and a half full weeks of hanging out constantly
at school and nothing！ Aren’t you proud of me？”）。 When I asked why I
hadn’t seen him around the apartment at all； she’d smiled proudly
and said； “He hasn’t been invited over to the apartment yet。 We’re
taking things slow。” We were standing directly outside the
restaurant as she regaled me with all the funny stories he’d told
her when Christian Collinsworth appeared in front of me。
“Andrea。 The lovely Andrea。 I have to say； I’m rather surprised to
discover that you’re a fan of Benihana 。 。 。 What would Miranda
think？” he asked teasingly； sliding his arm around my shoulder。
“I； uh； well 。 。 。” The stammering was immediately all…consuming。
There was no room for words when the thoughts were bouncing off each
side of my head； pinging between my ears。Eating at Benihana。
Christian knows it！ Miranda at Benihana！ Looks so adorable in
leather bomber jacket！ Must be able to smell the Benihana on me！
Don’t kiss him on the cheek！ Kiss him on the cheek！ “Well； it’s not
that； uh； that 。 。 。”
“We were actually just discussing where we would be going next；”
Lily stated crisply； extending her hand to Christian； who； it
finally occurred to me； was alone。 “We must’ve gotten so caught up
that we didn’t even realize we’d stopped in the middle of the
street！ Hah； hah！ How do like that； Andy？ My name’s Lily；” she said
to Christian； who shook her hand and then pushed a curl away from
his eye； just like he’d done so many times at the party。 Once again
I had an odd feeling that I could be entranced for hours； maybe
days； just watching him push that single； adorable curl away from
his perfect face。
I stared at her and at him and became vaguely aware that I had to
say something； but the two of them seemed to be holding up just fine
on their own。
“Lily；” Christian rolled the name around on his tongue。 “Lily。Great
name。 Almost as great asAndrea。 ” I had the presence of mind to at
least look at them； and I noticed that Lily was beaming。 She was
thinking to herself that this guy was not only older and hot； but he
was also charming。 I could see the wheels turning； weighing whether
I was interested in him； if I’d actually do anything because of
Alex； and； if so； if there was anything she could do to expedite it。
She adored Alex because； really； how could you not； but she refused
to understand how two people so young could spend so much time
together—or； at least； that’s what she claimed； although I knew that
it was only the monogamy part that really blew her away。 If there
was a speck of a chance of some drama between Christian and me； then
Lily would die fanning the fire。
“Lily； it’s a pleasure to meet you。 I’m Christian； a friend of
Andrea’s。 Do you always stop in front of Benihana to talk？” His
smile actually prompted a shooting…sinking feeling in my stomach。
Lily threw back her own brown curls with the back of her hand and
said； “Well of course not； Christian！ We just had dinner at Town and
were trying to figure out a good place to get a drink。 Any
suggestions？”
Town！ It was one of the hottest and most expensive restaurants in
the city。 Miranda went there。 Jessica and her fiancé went there。
Emily talked obsessively about wanting to go there。 But Lily？
“Well； that’s weird；” Christian said； obviously buying the whole
thing。 “I just came from a dinner with my agent there。 Strange that
I didn’t see you two 。 。 。”
“We were all the way in the back； kind of tucked behind the bar；” I
said quickly； regaining a modicum of posure。 Thankfully I’d paid
attention when Emily had made me look at the tiny picture of the
restaurant’s bar listed oncitysearch when she was trying to
decide if it was a good date place。
“Mmm。” He nodded； looking a little distracted and cuter than ever。
“So； you girls are on your way to get a drink？”
I felt an overwhelming need to shower the Benihana stink from my
clothes and hair； but Lily wasn’t giving me a chance。 I briefly
wondered if it was as obvious to Christian as it was to me that I
was being whored out； but he was hot and she was determined； so I
kept my mouth shut。
“Yep； we were just discussing where to go。 Any suggestions？ We’d
both just love for you to join us；” Lily declared； tugging on his
arm playfully。 “What’s around here that you like？”
“Well； midtown isn’t exactly known for its bar scene； but I’m
meeting my agent at Au Bar if you girls would like to e along。 He
just ran back to the office to pick up a few papers； but he should
be there in a little。 Andy； maybe you’d like to meet him—you never
know when you’re going to need an agent。 So； Au Bar； how about it？”
Lily was peering at me with an encouraging look； one that
screamed；He’s beautiful； Andy！ Beautiful！ I may not know who the
hell he is； but he wants you so pull yourself together and tell him
how much you love Au Bar！
“I love Au Bar；” I said somewhat convincingly； even though I’d never
been。 “I think it’s perfect。”