Chapter 10: Ten

As promised, I recieved a text at noon telling me that he was here. I took one final look at myself in the mirror. I had changed into khaki shorts and a white tank top, even adding a bit of Chanel perfume instead of the usual body mist. This was the closest thing to a date we had ever been on, and I was more than eager.

Finally deciding I was ready, I bounded down my apartment steps, out to where his gorgeous Camaro parked. He was leaning against the passenger door, his face lighting up once he saw me.

"Well, damn. You are absolutely stunning." His eyes trailed my body, taking in every detail, as he stepped aside to open the door for me. Funny how two days could change expectations. I smiled in return, ducking in and sliding my bag onto the floorboard. I hated wearing a seat belt with my purse on. I felt choked.

"As is evident by your fan club, I think you always look good." I added with slightly gritted teeth. Yea, I was jealous. Shoot me. I wasn't a fan of everyone eyeing him like candy when I couldn't even shut them up. Not like I could really do that much before.

"Don't worry, baby. You're the only student I have and would ever invite into my bed." He said with a grin, pulling a pair of shades down over his eyes and making himself look even yummier.

"Well, technically, I've never been invited into your bed, mister. You've been in mine and we've done things in your office, but I still don't even know where you live." Wait, no wonder he was so obsessed over if I lived in the dorms. Duh. He was trying to avoid hooking up with a student. He ran his tongue over his lips, leaving them slick.

"Are you saying that you would like to see where I live? It's not some sexy bachelors pad if that's what you're imagining." I giggled. To be honest, I did half expect a single bedroom apartment with crisp lines and a view. I mean, he was a single man who made good money and had a freaking Camaro. Surely he wasn't in some white picket fence home.

"I wouldn't mind. I'm actually kind of looking forward to seeing your paintings." He raised his brows, turning his head to glance at me before focusing back on the passing asphalt.

"Okay. Um, how about Saturday night? I can make you dinner at my house."

"And you can cook. Of course you can." He chuckled, that deep and melodious sound that made me squirm.

"Don't get your hopes up too high. I can throw together a few dishes, but I'm no chef. Though, according to our current record, you've already set off your smoke alarm more than I have this year." He bit his cheek, making a dimple pop. He was so damn sassy.

I opened my mouth for an equally sassy retort, when the sound of an incoming text message distracted me.

"Who's that?" He asked casually, pulling up to a small white brick building with "Motomo" sprawled across the window face. I shrugged, digging in my bag for it.

"Probably Danny. She's been really invested in… my life…"

"*Unknown Number*

*Hey Jen! It's June. :) I'm super excited for Friday. Do you know where Frat Row is? We can meet around seven*."

Shit.

"Everything okay?" Joel asked, pausing with his door open and head cocked.

"Yea, of course." I replied quickly, shutting off my screen and tossing it back in my bag. I would deal with that later. The last thing I needed was him getting angry over June's text message. This was our first time going out together, and I didn't want to ruin it.

He raised a brow, but didn't press the issue, continuing to the front of his car where he met me to lead me inside. He wasn't kidding.

We were easily the youngest people there, most of them being adults past retirement age. Not a student among them. He didn't waste any time waiting for a waitress, but instead gripped my hand, pulling me behind him, through the paper-walled booths and Japanese decor. It really was a beautiful little restaurant, clean and wonderfully designed.

Eventually we reached a five seat sushi bar, with a glass barrier showing the butcher block and bamboo rollers used to prepare it. Various clear sauce bottles with colored lids sat on the counter and an impeccably cared for Bonsai tree sat in the corner. He pulled out my wooden stool, gesturing with a grand wave of his arm to sit. I giggled, sliding in place.

He sat beside me, pushing his sleeves further up his arm. An elderly asian man, my guess the owner, came out to meet us, bowing respectfully with a large smile on his face. He looked surprised to see me there, speaking to Joel in a heavy accent.

"Dragon Roll?" He must come here a lot. Joel nodded, his eyes squinting with his smile as he leaned forward onto the counter.

"Is that okay with you? Or do you prefer something simpler?" I shrugged my approval. I honestly didn't eat alot of sushi, especially real authentic Japanese sushi, so I had no idea what to order. Besides, a dragon roll sounded cool. The man bowed again, turning to a large cooler behind him for some ingredients.

"This place is beautiful." I mused, scanning my surroundings in awe. I felt like I had teleported to another country. It was unreal.

"Yea, I've been coming here for years. These people know me well by now." As if to prove his point, a younger asian woman with a petite figure and beautiful smile approached us. She offered me a small bow before placing her hand on Joel's shoulder. He turned to face her, lighting up with recognition before embracing her in a quick but tight hug.

"Yumi, it's great to see you again." He said cheerfully, and she returned the sentiment. Her accent wasn't nearly as thick, so I heard everything she said clearly.

"You as well, Joel. I've missed you." Okay. Her eyes traveled back to me. "Oh, you brought a date." Good, at least some acknowledgement. But he just shifted uncomfortably.

"Actually, this is my friend, Jennifer."

Friend. Friend.

My face paled, and mouth clamped shut. I had no idea how to respond to that. All I knew was that it hurt.

Friend?

Does a friend do what we were doing not even two hours ago?

I mean, I knew we weren't officially dating or anything, but I couldn't help but feel like he was ashamed to have me there.

Ha. Who was I kidding? Of course he was. It was obvious that I didn't belong sitting beside him in public. Sex was one thing, but an actual relationship? What a fucking joke.

Yumi looked between us a few times, clearly catching onto my embarrassment as she offered me a small smile.

"Drinks?" Joel ordered me a Dr. Pepper and a water for himself, but I honestly couldn't bring myself to care. I was a cross between humiliated and pissed off, so I just kept quiet.

"Hey, are you sure you're feeling okay? You look pale." He lifted his hand to my forehead, and I flinched away. "Jen?"

"I need the bathroom. Could you direct me, please?" He furrowed his brow in concern, but responded anyway.

"Yea, just down that hall." He pointed to a wooden placard that said 'Restrooms' and I got up to follow it. I felt his arm brush against mine as if to stop me, but pretended not to notice as I pushed on to the small room of peaceful isolation.

The second it was locked, I slid to the floor. Its was cold tile, clean like the rest of the restaurant, with a dim yellow light coming from above. I rested my head against the red wallpaper beside me, and curled my legs to my chest to hug.

Come on, Jennifer. Don't let him get to you. It was probably just Danny's talks of soulmates that got the ridiculous idea in your head, but now that you understand how he really feels, you can respond accordingly.

By some miracle, I kept my tears at bay. This man was giving me whiplash, and I had no idea what I was doing. All I knew was that he said he liked me. But liking someone for sex and company was different than liking them for a serious exclusive relationship. It had started as the former, and now I knew that it had never left.

I was his sexual companion. That's it.

I took a deep and shaky breath, reaching into my bag to pull my phone back out. If we weren't actually dating, he had no right to keep me from my friends. Especially not through threats of withholding an orgasm, which already had me pissed at him.

"*Hey June! Yea, that would be fine. Which frat should I head to?*"

I clicked on his number after hitting send, entering his contact info as 'June Lawson', since that's what Joel said his last name was. By the time it was saved, he had responded.

"*Whew. So glad you replied, I was getting worried. Kappa Sigma. It's the big white one dead center of the row. We have a sign out front, if you want to meet there. :)*" He was getting worried? Was he waiting for me to reply?

"*Of course! To be honest, I'm really excited for it, too. I don't normally go to those types of events*."

"*Don't worry, Princess. I'll protect you from all my drunk and horny brothers. You can count on me. ;)*" I smiled. He really was a sweet guy. He seemed genuine, unlike my previous experience with Frat boys in the past. Which just made me wonder how he ended up pledging to one of the biggest ones on campus. I didn't think they let the nice ones in.

"*I plan on it. :)*"