After work, Keeley headed to the pharmacy across the street from the medical school to get a morning-after pill—better safe than sorry. Just outside her building, she ran into an unpleasant surprise: Ryan.

"Ryan. What are you doing here?"

He looked disheveled, nervously running a hand through his hair. "I wanted to apologize, but I don't know where your new place is, and you won't answer your phone."

Of course she wouldn't. She'd blocked him after he'd texted her incessantly, and she wasn't in the mood. It had hurt to realize that someone she considered a dependable friend had only seen her as girlfriend material.

Keeley disliked being lied to. Ryan knew her feelings about romance and pursued her anyway—insensitive, in her opinion. Worse, he'd tried to dictate her life choices, which was unacceptable. Even Aaron had been less controlling lately. She hated people trying to control her.

"Well, you've apologized. If you'll excuse me, I have things to do," she said coolly.

He stepped in front of her. "Come on, Keeley, don't be like this! We've been friends for a long time, haven't we?"

"Yes. Friends. Which you apparently don't want to be anymore, so I can't keep seeing you."

Ryan huffed. "How is that fair? You let that other guy, Aaron, stay around even though you've dated before, but you won't be friends with me just because you know I like you?"

She admitted she might be hypocritical, but her situation with Aaron was unique. She disliked that this seemed to be Ryan's only argument.

"Do you have anything to say that doesn't involve Aaron?" Keeley asked wearily.

He straightened his shirt and cleared his throat. "I wanted to invite you to my birthday party this weekend. Valentina's coming, and so are the guys we hung out with on Halloween."

She eyed him distrustfully. Valentina was too busy for parties; she'd have to check.

"I might not be free."

His face hardened. "Because of Aaron?"

"No, because of my dad!" she snapped. "Aaron this, Aaron that! I help him out of compassion, but apparently, I'm not allowed basic human compassion for other guys just because you like me."

"What's going on with your dad?"

Keeley scowled. He hadn't grasped the important part of her statement. "None of your business. We aren't friends anymore."

She turned to leave, but Ryan grabbed her arm.

"Let go of me!"

"Not until you listen to what I have to say," he growled.

She was about to kick him when help arrived. A pair of arms encircled her shoulders, and Ryan's hand was slapped away.

"She said to let go," Aaron said coldly.

She looked up at him. "What are you doing here?"

"I was going to suggest dinner, since you helped me earlier. Good thing I showed up."

He glared at Ryan, who was rubbing his wrist. Part of her was grateful, but another part was annoyed; Aaron had just proven Ryan's point. Ryan would be even angrier.

Ryan gritted his teeth. "Why are you everywhere?"

"I could ask you the same thing," Aaron replied disdainfully.

Keeley felt trapped. "Come on," she whispered. "Let's go."

With Aaron's arm still around her, they walked toward the parking lot.

"You were a jerk to her! She'll never love you!" Ryan yelled.

Aaron stopped. Keeley worried. He told her to wait and loomed over Ryan. Though only a couple of inches taller, his intimidating presence made him seem gigantic.

"Maybe so," he said menacingly. "But she'll never love you either."

He returned to Keeley, his dignity palpable, Ryan speechless. Keeley was flustered, but Aaron's expression softened.

"So, what do you want to eat?"

She blinked. "I don't care. You pick."

"Sushi it is!"

In the car, Keeley scrutinized him, finding no trace of his earlier anger. He was back to normal. She sometimes wondered if he was bipolar.

"Are you really treating me to dinner because I pretended to be Aiden for you?" she asked doubtfully.

Aaron nodded. "My father was furious but couldn't do a thing—it was amazing. I'm in a good mood, so I thought I'd spare you cooking tonight."

He seemed sincere. Initially, she'd thought it was an excuse to see her, but after Ryan's outburst, his good mood seemed genuine. She let it slide.

They went to an all-you-can-eat sushi place, and Keeley overate. It was a mistake, but she hadn't had sushi in ages.

"If you like sushi that much, I'll order it more often when the new semester starts," he said, smiling faintly.

Keeley sighed. She didn't want to think about the end of her free evenings. She only had a month left before school started.

"Don't remind me."

"I thought people like you loved school," he teased, "since you chose to go longer than most."

She shook her head vehemently. Grad students hated school more than anyone—they just hated themselves more.

She'd only stayed so long because of her research specialty. A biotechnology bachelor's degree offered lab jobs, but she wanted to choose her own research someday.

That said, she needed to do more than watch TV. She needed to enjoy her free weekends, but most of her friends were busy or connected to Ryan, or both. She had acquaintances, but not the kind she'd hang out with outside of school or work. She could visit Jeffrey and Keisha over Labor Day weekend if she had the money…and she did! She didn't need to pay rent next month. She'd call them to see if they were free.