Ian sleeps in.

I was the last to get up. Li had headphones on at her computer just a few feet from me. A quick check revealed that yes, I was still naked from the night before. I screwed up my courage and pulled up to my feet, keeping the comforter for modesty. In a single motion I crossed to the in suite bathroom, dropped the blanket and closed the door. Li didn't move.

One refreshing shower later, I emerged in a towel. My girlfriend's roommate had her eyes glued to the screen. Her black hair bopped along to some catchy mp3. I crossed the room again, found my suitcase against Elizabeth's bed, located clean boxers and tried (as much as possible) to slide into them quickly. But my leg missed on first try, and my towel dropped. I next got the wrong leg, and felt cool breezes as my temperature rose. I finally struggled into them, and once I'd gotten my undershirt on and some shorts, I glanced back at Li. She'd been watching the whole clumsy show, but turned in a flash when she was caught.

Feeling a little more than embarrassed, I lay down on Elizabeth's bed and grabbed a book. My thoughts drowned out anything else. Elizabeth had changed since high school, sure, but she was still sweet and considerate—more confident in herself, sure. Was I the same? I felt like the same awkward kid who could barely speak to Elizabeth two years ago. Maybe she's maturing faster than I am. No, let her be the judge of whether I'm right for her or not. I don't want to live without her, that much I do know.

Whatever this train of thought was, it wasn't reading. I dropped the book to see that Li had removed her headphones and was now moving toward her bed. She sat on the edge facing me, and dropped her hair over her eyes.

"I..." she started, "I want to talk. About last night. Ah... first, I do not want to interfere with you and Elizabeth. Most important. But, also...." Her hands bunched up the fabric of her skirt. "I like kissing your girlfriend, Ian. I would also... like to kiss you."

My heart leapt into my throat and a surge of blood headed involuntarily south. Li was cute, almost in the same innocent girl with naughty thoughts way that Elizabeth had been before our mutual friends opened her up. Visions of last night flooded my brain. But hadn't I come here because I didn't want any other women? What would Elizabeth say...did I know anymore?

Li was staring at me with her black eyes partially obscured under her dark, asymmetrical bangs.