Keeley pulled her hand back. She didn't like the direction the conversation was going. It wasn't his business what she did, even if they were old friends.

Ryan slurped his soda angrily. "He won't make you happy," he said.

"You think I don't know that? It'll all be over when I leave in January anyway. What does it matter if I'm trying to be the bigger person?"

"There's a difference between being the bigger person and letting someone walk all over you. You're a doormat! He kept bugging you until you gave in! I thought you were stronger than that," he said, shaking his head condescendingly.

Her temper flared. She smacked her hands on the table. "You have no idea what you're talking about!"

He didn't know how hard she'd tried to put the past behind her. What else could she have done when it seemed the whole universe was conspiring to reunite them? She hadn't wanted this!

"Can't you see you deserve better?" Ryan pleaded. "Someone who respects you and shares your interests, at the very least."

Keeley appreciated the sentiment but was annoyed by his nosiness. "Yeah, like who?" she snorted.

"Well… me."

Her eyes widened. She was completely blindsided. Since when had Ryan been interested in her? He was just a friend, a study buddy turned friend!

She stood and stumbled out of the booth. "I have to go."

"Keeley!"

"I said I have to go!" she snapped, hurrying out of the restaurant.

How? How had this happened? They were supposed to be having dinner, as usual. A perfectly normal thing they'd done a hundred times. Had he always considered them dates?

He knew how much she hated relationships! How could he ruin a perfectly good friendship?

Ryan had been one of her closest friends. She'd lost everyone else—Jennica and Valentina were gone, living their own lives. Now him too.

She couldn't keep seeing him knowing his feelings, especially since she didn't reciprocate. It wouldn't be fair to either of them.

Keeley let out a bitter laugh. She was doing the exact same thing to Aaron. She knew he had feelings for her, yet she continued letting him into her life.

It was different, though. She and Aaron weren't friends. His feelings stemmed from guilt. But she was probably still hurting him. She'd seen how upset he was at Jennica's engagement party when she'd ignored him.

She needed the truth from him but was afraid to ask. Seeing him afterward would be incredibly awkward, and he was cat-sitting for her. She couldn't avoid visiting Molly forever. It was better to keep it to herself.

They had a kind of understanding, hadn't they? Weren't things fine as they were?

Keeley was exhausted from crying by the time she reached Aaron's place. She ran a bath. When the tub was nearly full, she added bubble bath.

She hadn't realized how easily the cap poured; she added far more than intended. With the jets on, the bubbles piled over a foot higher than the tub's edge, forming a mountain that stayed perfectly in place.

It was a child's dream. She eagerly turned off the water, undressed, and climbed in. So many bubbles covered her head even when seated.

She had to create a gap for her face to breathe. Being completely engulfed was oddly relaxing. Her mind emptied.

Ryan didn't matter. Aaron didn't matter. Only Keeley and the bubbles existed.

She played like a child, making a bubble beard (carefully avoiding inhalation). Only her eyes and nose peeked out. She resisted laughing to avoid getting bubbles in her mouth.

The jets swirled, making the bubbles grow higher. She must have added nearly half a cup of bubble bath by mistake.

Miraculously, none had spilled. They held their shape. This was high-quality bubble bath, as expected from an expensive apartment building.

Keeley had forgotten to close the door. The last thing she expected was to see Aaron, pulling a suitcase, looking at her like she was crazy in the doorway.

She shrieked and disappeared completely under the bubbles, getting some in her mouth. She was mortified, though he hadn't actually seen anything.

What was he doing back a day early?! A little warning would have been nice!

When she peeked out, the door was closed. At least he had manners. She hid until most of the bubbles were gone, but her embarrassment lingered. All enjoyment vanished the moment he arrived.

Keeley took deep breaths to calm herself. "You left the door open. He didn't know you were in there. He didn't see anything except you acting like a five-year-old, and it's not like that's never happened before. You're fine," she thought firmly.

That gave her the courage to get out and face him. Her pajamas were in the guest room. She triple-checked the coast was clear before venturing out, wrapped in her towel.

Once safely in the guest room, she locked the door and changed quickly. Pajamas were out of the question.

She put on jean shorts and a pizza-print graphic tee. Her hair was in a towel turban; it was thick and took forever to dry.

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