I wake as the sun peeks through the light curtains. We left the window open to let in the cool night breeze. I shiver and her arms tighten around me. Her lips gently caress the nape of my neck as she pushes some of my hair aside. I close my eyes and sink into her. A low hiss releases from my mouth.

"I might have overstepped again. I tend to forget about boundaries."

I spin so that I'm facing her. Reaching up I cup her cheek in my hand. I love when she tilts her head into my hand. Butterflies dance like crazy in my lower stomach as she closes the minuscule gap between us. It's my turn to show her I feel. I slip my hand lower beneath the sheets. Her low guttural moan makes my insides throb with want.

"Confession. I wanted it."

She smirks and that's all it takes for me to lean in and kiss her. I allow myself to rest my lips on her jaw line, then her neck. I brush aside her hair. We never put our clothing on last night, aside from undergarments. Her lacy bra doesn't cover anything and I let her know how I feel.

We spent the next few hours in each other's arms. I almost never want to leave this room. Between kisses and giving each other exactly what the other needed, it was the best morning I've had in months.

It's nearly noon by the time we go downstairs. Pat is at the stove cooking up some lunch. We come down hand in hand giggling about some silly story I told her about how Pat and I first met. His eyes meet mine the second we hit the bottom step. An annoying blush crawls up my face, I can feel the heat prickling under my skin.

"Oh. Is that grilled cheese?"

Before she let's go of my hand to inspect Pat's cooking, she puts her lips on mine. I smirk as she pulls away. She skips around the counter and over to the stove that sits against the outer wall. A small window sits above, and the sun shines through. Looks like it's a beautiful day.

"It sure is. You want some?"

"Yes please," she says, giving him a squeeze from behind.

"What's going on?" he asks, looking between the two of us.

She crosses the room back over to me and reaches for my hand. "Your friend has me smitten." Her fingers slip between mine and it's like tiny lightning bolts shoot through my fingertips.

"Smitten?" He raises a brow in our direction. "Who even says that anymore?"

"Apparently I do," she smirks.

"Do you want a sandwich too?" he asks, grabbing from the loaf of bread he left beside the stove.

"Sure."

The three of us sit down at the table. I'm not sure where everyone else is, but it doesn't matter. I love being here with my best friend, and the girl I've somehow fallen for. It was so easy, she had this thing about her that made me feel all warm and gooey inside.

"So, since I'm staying on Long Island while I search for a college, and a job, I thought that maybe I could come visit you on campus."

Pat smiles. "I'd like that a lot. It was weird, going from seeing you everyday of my life." He makes it sound dreadful, but does it with a smirk. "To only talking on video chat."

"I missed you too, Patty." She smirks.

"What was your High School like?" She turns to me. "Let me guess. You were a part of the smart crowd."

I laugh. "I was in between. I never made it to any AP classes. My one friend Brittany was in several, but I stuck with the slackers."

She chuckles. "Were you a One Direction girl or a 5SOS girl?"

"I was convinced I was going to marry Luke," I laugh. "That hair and the lip piercing."

She giggles. "Back then I probably would have said the same thing before coming out."

We go back and forth chatting about our High School experiences, mine and Pat's first few years of college, and more about her trips around the world. While we talk, she makes sure to keep one hand on my leg, while I place mine over hers.

After we eat, the two of us offer to wash the dishes for Pat, while he, Sally, and Hunter head out to the store to get some more food. There isn't much to clean up, but it gives us some more alone time together.

As I scrub at the pan Pat used to make the grilled cheese, her fingers sweep my hair to the side again, and her arms wrap around my waste. She rests her chin on my shoulder then buries her lips into my neck. I almost drop the pan, but somehow finish cleaning it.

"What are your plans after college?"

I shrug. "Not sure yet. I plan on applying for some internships at some publishing companies in the city for the semester. I want to see if it's for me."

"Have you had any time to search for what you want?" I ask.

"Yeah. Lots of good options, some city ones too. Are you planning on staying in the city?" she asks.

I wash my hands, then dry them on the towel. When I spin she locks me in her arms. I glance up at her.

"I think so. Why?"

"I don't know. This was supposed to all be fake, but to be honest from that very first day I couldn't keep my eyes off of you." She smirks. "I was hooked the moment you let me read with you. The fake dating was a ploy to get you close. I knew you were hurting and figured I'd give you a little fun. I-"

I don't let her finish the sentence. I wrap my arms around her middle and kiss her. I'm not normally someone who takes action, but with her it's different. She makes me feel like I'm strong and can get through anything.

She chuckles, as I rest my head against hers. "Maybe it doesn't have to be fake."

"What are you saying?" she asks, grinning. She knows exactly what it is, but she wants me to say it.

"I'm saying that if you're sticking around I want to get to know you better. No fake-dating, just a real friendship."

Her shoulders fall, like she's been holding in a breath for so long, and what I said was exactly what she wanted to hear. It's like all her fears and doubts about whatever this is left her mind. She grasps at my neck gently and pulls me into her again.

"This is as real as it gets."

With all the strength she can muster she lifts me up onto the edge of the counter beside the sink, and stands between my legs. My insides tingle, and I squeeze my thighs to control the pressure. Her lips feel good all over me, but her hands, those soft delicate hands, make me feel things that should be forbidden.

"I really-"

As she's about to say something the front door opens and an unfamiliar woman with fiery red hair stands in the doorway. The woman's bright green eyes scan the room. Anna has already taken a huge step away from me, and there's a look on her face I can't quite read.

"Veronica?" She stares in disbelief. "What are you- what are you doing here?" Anna stutters, and it's not something I'm used to hearing from her.

The woman, wearing a black dress that from the back you could probably see the bottom of her ass cheeks, can't keep her eyes off Anna.

"I'm so glad you're still here."

The woman drops the pink polka dot duffle, and it lands with a thud on the floor. Before I realize what's happening she's crossing the room and scooping Anna into her arms. I'm frozen on the counter. I can feel the blood rushing out of my face. My stomach churns as the woman pulls away and plants a long loving kiss onto Anna's lips.

Anna pushes at the woman's chest and the two stare at each other breathless. The one thing we never spoke about was Anna's love life. I'm wondering how Veronica fits in with all of that.

"Oh. Is everything okay?" Anna asks. She blinks, but it's like she's a shell of the person I know. She's quiet and reserved, and not the woman who burst into my room that first day.

"I can't get you out of my mind. I know we left things up in the air, but god I miss you."

I take that as my cue to leave. Anna almost doesn't notice, but when I reach the door, I hear her call my name.

"I'm going for a walk," I say, not turning to check her reaction.

She doesn't seem to understand that I want to be alone. Her hand wraps around my wrist before I can open the door.

"Let me explain-"

"Don't worry about it."

My heart hurts worse than it did over my two year relationship with Oliver. What am I supposed to do with that feeling? I tug away from her grip, but she reaches again. I shake my head and her hand retreats.

"Can we talk later?" she whispers, blinking at me through her long beautiful lashes.

"I don't know."

I don't let her get another word in. Once outside I lean against the door, my heart beating hard against my rib cage. Minutes ago I was in Anna's arms content and happy, and the next she was ripped out from under me. Maybe a relationship is a terrible idea. Of course it was. My heart was, and still is shattered from Oliver. No matter how much I try to deny it, seeing him every day has been difficult. No matter how rocky our relationship was I spent two years of my life with him and did have some of the best memories.

Voices come up the side of the house and I don't have time to react as Pat, Sally, and Hunter walk up with brown paper bags in their hands.

"Hey, Kat, what are you doing out here?" Pat asks.

"I uh- I needed air." I step aside to allow them in. As I do, Pat reaches out with one hand, balancing the bag on the other. The other two go inside, while he stares me down like he knows.

"What's up?"

"Do you know who Veronica is?"

Pat bites his lip. I expect him to look away and try to deny it, but his eyes linger on mine, giving me all the confirmation I need.

"Wait here. We'll take a walk."

He rushes inside. I'd run away, but my legs feel like rubber. Pat returns seconds later, taking my hand and leading me down onto the beach.

"It's complicated," he says, as we stroll down the beach hand in hand.

"Of course it is."

"Veronica was her first love. They were best friends turned lovers, enemies, turned lovers. Rinse and repeat."

I sigh. "I should have protected my heart better."

"No. I should have. That's my duty as best friend. I'm sorry I pushed you to move on so fast," he glances down at the sand, clearly upset with himself.

"It's not your fault, Pat. You were looking out for me. I never expected to fall so hard. Faking it was too easy. I should have said no."

He sighs. "I feel responsible. Do you want to leave early? We could go back to school and have a city adventure before everything starts. We could go to the wax museum and pretend we're dating celebrities again."

The memory puts a smirk on my face. Pat and I had many city adventures over the past few years. I remember our first one we went to the Central Park Zoo and some kid threw up on his shoe. Or the time we snuck a peek at a movie set that was filming close by. Going back to the city wouldn't be such a bad plan, but I'm not ready. I love the beach.

"As good as that sounds, I'd like to stay. I love the beach. Maybe I'll sleep on the couch," I say.

"You can stay in my room. It's one bed, but it's not like we haven't had a platonic sleepover before."

"Are you sure?"

He nods. "If you need space, but want to stay at the beach, my bed is up for grabs."

I laugh. "As long as you don't try to fake date me and make me fall for you."

He smiles, but it doesn't reach his eye. "You're an easy woman to love, Kat. But don't worry about me, you're not my type."

I chuckle. "Thanks. Not sure if I should take that as a compliment or not."

He bumps his hip into mine. "I've got my eyes on someone at school." He winks.

"What, who?"

A blush crawls up his cheeks. "It's a first for me, so I'm not sure I'll do anything about it."

I stop walking and glance up at him. "Are you telling me that you-"

"Might be crushing on a guy?" He lowers his eyes to the sand, and kicks at the tiny grains. "You've inspired me to be me. It's something that I didn't notice until we were here at the beach. I found myself texting him and checking in. Every time a message came through it made me smile, and I just knew."

"I'm so happy for you."

His confession puts a smile on my face. I had an inkling about my best friend, but he never talked about crushes much, or liking someone. I figured he didn't like anyone.

"Do you wanna go swimming?" he asks. "Take our minds off everything?"

"I'd love to."

We spend the entire afternoon on the opposite end of the beach far from the house. It's not easy to forget my broken heart, but when I'm with Pat I'm able to think clearer. He brings out the best in me, and his friendship is better than any relationship I've ever had. I hope to god that the feeling never goes away.