"Yes. In fact, I almost forgot to tell you. I've got us a date."

"Wait, what?" I frown. "Not another double date. Not after last time." I make a face, and my stomach feels slightly nauseous remembering the hot mess of the last date. "Are you sure that's a good idea? After Rudolpho and Bad Boy Joe?"

"Well, actually, the date is with Bad Boy Joe." She winks at me. "I wanted to do it all over again and give him a second chance."

"What?"

"Psych." She points at me, and I admire her bright red nails. "I would never give either of those fools another second of my time. No, this is a really nice guy. In fact, I think that this is going to go well."

"Oh?" I give her a pointed look. "More details, please."

"His name is Thunder."

"No, just no." I groan loudly. "Erica, really? What the hell? His name tells us all we need to know."

"What? I think it's unique."

"Thunder?" I roll my eyes. "What are you going to name your kids? Lightening and Take Shelter?" I giggle.

"You're funny. Not." She scrolls through her phone and opens the app. "Look at how hot he is." She holds up the phone, and I stare at a photo of a man with curly dark hair, bright blue eyes, and deep, dark skin. He is gorgeous, I will give her that. "His mom is from Senegal, and his dad is French. He speaks French, Italian, German, and English. We said if things work out, our honeymoon will be a safari in Kenya."

"Honeymoon?" I raise an eyebrow. "Say what? You haven't even met him yet. Isn't it a bit early to be having those sorts of conversations?"

"We talk about any and everything. We even chat on the phone. He has this beautiful French accent. I think I fell in love with him a little bit when I heard him say my name.” She waves her hand back and forth in front of her face. “He’s really deep, Sabrina. Like, he thinks about real issues. Not about trying to be rich and famous or a rapper. He wants to work for the UN and help underdeveloped countries with their infrastructure. He says that when people see him, they are always confused as to his ethnicity, because he is mixed. He got the darker skin from his mom, but he has his dad's eyes. He said that it's a goal of his to normalize understanding that mixed people come in all shades and—" She pauses. "Sorry, I just love how open he is to talk about everything. I told him I'm just a white girl, and I understand that I may not necessarily understand all he goes through, but I'm always open to listening and learning.” She gives me a beautiful smile. “So, will you go on this date with me?"

"What's his friend's name?" I ask reluctantly. I don't really want to go, but Erica really seems infatuated with Thunder. I'm hoping he's as nice as she is making him out to be. It won't hurt me to go along on the date. And maybe I'll really like his friend. Maybe he'll take my mind off Wes and the sex we had. Though I think that's impossible. I remember that night for the rest of my life.

"I think he said his friend’s name is Joa. He's French, as well, but he grew up in Washington state. He does something with the environment."

"How old are they?"

"I think they're both twenty-five, which is a perfect age." She beams at me, and I nod slowly.

"What's a perfect age?" Wes's deep voice sounds in my room as he steps inside, looking as tall and gorgeous as I remember. His dark eyes are teasing as he eyes me. "Hello, Sabrina. Hello, darling sister," he says by way of greeting.

"Hi," I say, my stomach twisting as I take him in. Why does my body always react like this when I see him? Why is he so handsome? Why does he always look at me as if he can see inside my soul? Why does my soul want to be tethered to him so badly? Ugh, I'm annoyed by the way I react.

"Hi.” He looks smug as he heads over to me, then stops, like he just realized he doesn’t actually belong in this space. “So, what is a perfect age?"

"Our dates." Erica gives him a charming smile and then winks at me. "We're going out with two hotties next week, and they're twenty-five, and I think they could be the ones for us."

"What?" He stills, and there's a hint of annoyance in his tone. "Dates? Not another double date?" He looks at me and presses his lips together. "Do you really think that's a good idea, Sabrina?"

"I don't see why not. Joa is a man of integrity, and he?—"

"Who the fuck is Joa?" Wes snaps and then shakes his head. "You know what? It's none of my business." He looks over at Erica. "I expected better from you."

"What does that mean?" She rolls her eyes. "You know what? I don't care. I'm running late." She gives me a quick hug. "See you later, Sab. By the way, I am 100 percent behind your idea." She giggles. "I think it is for the best. Some people need to come down off the cliff." She winks at me. "See you later."

"Bye!"

"Bye, sis." Wes and I watch Erica leave my room, and then he immediately closes the door behind her and locks it. He turns to me with a frown and arms folded. "You've got a date planned?"

"What of it?" I lick my lips as he stalks toward me, his eyes dark and menacing. "I can go on dates if I want."

"Even though I literally just took your virginity?" He stops in front of me and grabs my chin, forcing me to look up at him. "Is that what you're going to tell Jo-Jo? Nice to meet you. Jo-Jo, just so you know, my best friend’s brother deflowered me a week ago, and my pussy is still sore from when his cock filled me up."

"Wes!" My body goes hot at his words. "Really?"