Page 33 of Priceless

“What about him?” I sneaked a taste of the chocolate sauce on Maria’s cheesecake. I’d skipped dessert, uncomfortably aware of how money could run through my fingers like water. “We’re through.”

“Try telling him that.” Ashley slurped her margarita, narrowing her green eyes. “He’s crazy about you. He’s not going to let you go so easy.”

Sydney turned abruptly and snapped her fingers at the waiter, who’d been slow all evening. “‘Guys, it’s nine o’clock. How late do we want to make an entrance to Marni Weiss’s party?”

When a big guy brushed by as we left the restaurant, I tensed. I walked stiffly to Marni’s house with the girls, sore between my legs. I toyed with my watch as the time ticked away.

Every minute of the party — the sweat, the bodies, the darkness, a boy whispering into an ear — reminded me of Patrick. His fingers busy, his mouth hungry, his cock greedy. Ruthless. Taking.

Bills all over my body, the bed, the floor.

Shortly before eleven, I found my coat and hugged my friends goodbye.

“Wait,” Ashley protested. “You can’t leave. It’s Marni’s birthday.”

“So? Marni’s so thrashed, she won’t even notice I’m gone.”

“Butpizza.You’re the pizza girl.”

Jesus. I had a rep, and it was for buying everyone pizza. I glanced at my watch. “Not tonight.”

“Come on,” Ashley urged. “I’ll go in on it with you. This party needs pizza. There’s not enough food.”

“Food!” Sydney was next to me, draping her arm around my shoulders. “Are you getting everyone pizza, girl?”

“Sorry.” I went hot. God, I hated letting people down, hating saying no. “I have to go, babe. It’s been a crazy week. Gotta catch up on homework.”

“Are you fuckingkiddingme?” Everyone in a ten-foot radius turned at Sydney’s shriek. “Homework? On a Saturday night? It’s that Kappa Sig guy, isn’t it. He’s making you boring too.”

I tugged on my coat. “He must be.”

Thumping bass followed me downstairs. Outside, the air was cold enough to take my breath away. Pulling on my fuzzy hat, I hurried to Marcus’s apartment on the other side of campus. I had an hour to pay him back before he cut off my supply.

Incense drifted down the stairway inside. At my knock, Marcus opened his door shirtless. His brown corduroy pants hung low on his hipbones. His ribs were countable, his waist narrow, his hair uncombed. He had earbuds in.

I looked away. “I have it.”

“Come on in.”

“That’s really okay.”

“I’d prefer that you come in.” His smile was friendly, but his tone meant business.

“Fine.” I stepped over the threshold and he shut the door behind me. His living room was strewn with blankets. The low coffee table had the legs sawed off. In the corner stood an old piano with a few keys missing.

“Have a seat?” He gestured toward an orange floor pillow.

“No thanks.”

“Tea?”

“No.Here.” I held out a wad of bills. “A hundred fifty dollars, all yours.”

“Nice going.” He gave me a genuine smile. “I’m glad you came through. It would’ve made me sad to cut you off.”

“Really?”

“Sure.” He counted the money. “You got a loan?”

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