A Million Reasons

Chapter Three: Among Friends

"So... how was last night?" Kaitlyn wore a broad smile as she waltzed past Aaliyah, handing her a café latte as she entered the apartment.

"Aren't you supposed to be at work?"

"I took the day off." She took off her black Kenneth Cole boots, sat on the couch, and propped her feet on the coffee table.

"Do you mind?" Aaliyah pushed past her friend, causing her legs to drop to the ground.

"No dodging the subject, Liya. I want details. I won't settle for anything less."

Taking a sip of her café latte, Aaliyah let the warmth sink into her soul as her mind replayed the perfect night she spent with Nathaniel.

After an amazing dinner, they ended the evening with cocktails at Salon de Ning. Hands down, it was the best date she'd ever been on, but she chose to downplay the details. Kaitlyn would read too much into it and probably freak when she learned that Aaliyah had agreed to go away with him for the weekend.

"It was nice."

"Nice? What the hell is that supposed to mean, Liya? An afternoon at the park or a day trip to the coast is nice—dinner with a sexy ass billionaire is a religious experience!"

"God, Kaitlyn. He's a guy just like the rest of them."

"Tell that to his bank account."

"You're crazy! You know that, don't you?"

"Ok. I'll be good. I promise." She arched her blonde brow and inadvertently crossed her fingers as she held her café to her lips and smiled.

Unable to contain her happiness another second, Aaliyah sighed and let the levy break. She held nothing back—from the private dining to the confession of love. By the time she finished talking, Kaitlyn sat silent—green eyes and red lips gaped wide open.

"He did all that and went home—leaving your virtue intact?"

"First of all, my virtue... hasn't been intact since freshman year of college. Second of all, unlike you, I don't put out first date—no matter how much the guy pays or begs."

"He begged? I knew he was after that punani!"

"God, Kaitlyn!"

"Well, he was!"

"No. He was a perfect gentleman."

"Uh-huh," Kaitlyn rolled her eyes and took another sip. "I don't see how you had the strength to resist all that man. God knows I wouldn't have. He would have had me six different ways before the main course."

"Remind me why I let you in my apartment again?"

"You got a hormone problem Liya—seriously. Look at this man...." She held up a magazine with a smoking hot picture of Nathaniel on the cover. "This is the face of a man who gets it daily! And I bet you he knows how to lay some pipe, girl!"

"Ok, you gotta go!" Aaliyah stood to her feet.

"Ok, ok. I'll be good this time. I promise."

"Nathaniel was a perfect gentleman. I wouldn't have agreed to go away with him this weekend if he weren't."

'Shit,' she groaned as she revealed a little too much.

"You agreed to do what?!!!"