Page 103 of One Night

"This is the first time in years I've done nothing all day but relax," I say to Dylan as we're eating dinner.

"And you've still got two more days."

"I don't know if I can do it."

"I'm going to make sure you do. I'll lock you in the bedroom with me if I have to."

I smile. "That wouldn't be so bad."

"Let's hurry up and finish eating so we can go home."

"Dylan," I hear a girl say from behind me.

Dylan sighs. "Hey, Allison."

Allison. His ex.

"What are you doing here?" she asks. "Why didn't you go home for Thanksgiving?"

"I'm from here, remember? My family lives in the suburbs."

"Huh." She tips her head to the side. "I don't think you ever told me that."

"I did." He sounds annoyed. "You must've forgot."

"So what are you doing tonight?" She walks up to him, her back to me, pretending I'm not even there. "My girlfriends and I are going to a club. Why don't you come with us? It'll be like old times."

"You and I never went to a club."

She touches his arm. "I meant afterward. We'll go back to your place."

"I have a girlfriend, which you already know." He motions to me across the table. "This is Amber. Amber, this is Allison."

She stares at me, her eyes narrowing. "You really think you can steal him from me?"

"She didn't steal me," Dylan says to Allison. "I broke up with you."

"Yeah, because of her." She points her bony finger at me.

"It wasn't just because of her. It was because you and I didn't have a real relationship and I was tired of it."

Her hands go to her hips. "And yet you had no problem fucking me."

The people at the next table look over at us.

Dylan notices and lowers his voice. "Allison, get out of here. You're making a scene."

"You're seriously staying with HER? You've known her for what—a week? We have a history, Dylan. You owe it to me to get back together."

"I don't owe you anything. Now leave. I'm serious."

She glares at him, then turns to me, leaning over and getting in my face. "He said I was the best he ever had. You'll never be able to take my place." And then she storms off.

"Sorry," Dylan says, shaking his head. "She's freaking crazy."

"Then why'd you date her?"

"Because she—" He stops suddenly. "Never mind."

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