Someone was shaking me awake. I reluctantly opened my eyes and was staring right into Josh’s. Again. He was on his side, propped up on one elbow.Something was tickling my cheeks. Tears. I was crying. I was crying in my sleep?"Sorry to wake you, but you were crying so hard I couldn't…" Josh tried to smile but a torn expression marred his features."It's okay,” I whispered. “Thanks for waking me.""Was it a bad dream?" I closed my eyes and tried to remember what my dream was about. There were flashes of the neighborhood I grew up in, the giant oak tree I used to sketch under, the park…there was this person, hugging me, but his face was obscured. The flickers were quick, I had them, and then they were gone. Zilch. "No.""Wanna tell me about it?""I-I can’t remember any of it, Josh."With a sigh, he flopped back on the bed, eyes on the ceiling. "You were dreaming about Nelly again," he said. "Saying his name over and over. Saying you loved him." He looked pained, as though whatever I'

"I still think we should wait, Dalia. We don't have to do this.”Determined, I yanked Nelly’s arm, pulling him in the direction of his bedroom in his rented flat. To which I held the keys, considering he was only there on weekends. During the week, it was mine to do with as I pleased. My second home. "I know. But I want to.”Nelly inhaled, closed his eyes. When he opened them again, they were blazing with lust, his tenuous reservation unraveled. Cupping my face, he plunged his tongue into my mouth, taking what was willingly his. Our tongues tangled in a sensuous dance.Never breaking, he moved across the bedroom threshold and kicked the door shut. Then the kiss got deeper, more desperate, as he took small steps forward, forcing me backwards until I felt the bed behind me. I toppled backward, and he fell with me, our lips never parting.I love him so much.When he finally parted ways with my lips, we were both panting, breathing ragged."On one condition.""What?" I rasped. "Anything."

Geo Lee was a joy to work with. He was bubbly, charismatic, jocular and gay— occupying both significances of the double entendre. I'd left Michael's house a sapping mess that morning but was instantly invigorated once I stepped through the doors of GLFH.I was in my zone there, around an immense oak table in an all-glass room choosing fabrics and patterns for an upcoming fashion show. Geo Lee was crazy about a few of my designs and decided to model them in his show. Even though my designs would be carrying his name, I was thrilled and honored that I could actually wow a fashion icon like Geo Lee.Kiwan, an Asian beauty with jet black, bobbed hair and small squinted eyes, was nodding furiously at Geo Lee's rapid words. She was an accessory designer—a hell of an accessory designer, actually. But she seemed overwhelmed by Geo Lee's new requirements.It appeared he'd canceled his previous ideas for the Fashion Show and was now taking a completely different turn on a very slim timeline. A

It was day number four for me at GLFH.Day number five since I'd last seen Josh.He’d called, texted, emailed. Repeatedly. And I’d continued to ignore and delete.As promised, he never showed up on my doorstep. But there were times when I wished he would show up.My eschewing him only served to make me crave and think of him more, not less. He was constantly on my mind, the second I woke up in the mornings, and before I closed my eyes at night. Even in my dreams/memories, he was there.My new job helped. Geo Lee did a fine job at keeping my mind occupied. So I craved work hours."I think he's trying to kill us," Kiwan whispered across the table. "My God, I'm starving."I tried not to giggle, but it couldn’t be helped, and we both giggled, causing Geo Lee to eyeball us suspiciously from the far end of the room where he was on a telephone call, chatting at bullet speed about models and runways.Kiwan was warm and cordial and we worked well together. She wasn't a fan of elaborate designs

"Have to keep gas in the car if you want it to drive, baby girl," Michael admonished as I clambered into his ride when he came to get me.I laughed, feeling stupid. "I said I'm sorry, okay? I've been so busy—""No worries. I'll come get it tomorrow. Right now, there’s somewhere I need to be and I'm late as shit."Michael all but stomped on the gas pedal, weaving through the heavy traffic. It was that time of the evening when everyone was wearily leaving their jobs and impatient to get home. The air thick with carbon dioxide emanating from mufflers, car horns honking inharmoniously, people jaywalking, bikers squeezing through tight spaces, justifying the name for this time of the evening: rush hour.I wisely buckled up, because if Michael was in a hurry, he was about to navigate his way out of this chaos by hook or by crook. "You could’ve told me you were busy, you know,” I said, bracing back in the seat. “I could've called Julia.""Cause you're like my little sister. Can't say no to y