Free Char by Mercy Amare Page A

get ready in ten minutes,” I say, scooting beside him.
    “Well you certainly managed just fine. You’re very pretty.”
    Pretty? No girl wants to be pretty . I want to be hot . Or sexy . “Um, thanks.”
    “So today, we are going to be tourists. What is it that you want to see?”
    I think about his question. “Jersey Shore.”
    “Jersey Shore is still pretty messed up from the hurricane that hit,” he tells me. “We could go to the empire state building?”
    “Meh. Seen one big building, you’ve see them all.”
    He laughs. “Well, we could go see the Statue of Liberty.”
    “I did that when I was a kid.” One of the times I actually visited my dad he took Chloe, Candice, and I. Then he got called into the office, so we had to go back home. That was when I realized that my dad didn’t care about me or my sisters.
    “Times square?” he asks.
    “Yes! But lets go at night.”
    “Okay. Let’s start with breakfast, and we’ll go from there.”
    The limo stops in front of a cafe, and the driver opens the door for us. We get out and walk inside. On the inside, it looks more like a ball room than a restaurant. The ceilings are tall, and matching chandeliers hang down from each section.
    “Tristan Becker,” he tells the hostess.
    Really? We had to have reservations for breakfast ? I look at the time on my phone and see that it’s actually closer to lunch time. Still, who makes breakfast or lunch reservations?
    “Right this way, Mr. Becker.”
    We follow the hostess to a room in the back… A private room. Really? He does know this isn’t a date, right? Maybe I should clarify.
    “My dad owns the building,” Tristan tells me as the hostess leaves. “They always go out of the way to make us feel like royalty.”
    Oh right. Becker Industries. I wonder what else they own.
    After we order breakfast, I excuse myself to go to the bathroom. I got ready in such a rush that I didn’t have time to go before I left the house. The bathroom is… immaculate. Probably one of the cleanest public restrooms I’ve ever been in.
    When I get back to the table, Tristan has my phone in his hand.
    “Your phone keeps going off.” He hands it to me.
    I look through the texts. They’re all from Aaron.

    Aaron: I’m not at all liking your silence.

    Aaron: Please, just text me back. And tell me that you’re definitely NOT going to fall in love with him.

    Aaron: Okay, seriously? Now I’m freaking out. I’m about to get on a fucking plane and fly to NYC.

    Oh right. I forgot to text him back this morning. Crap. I look up at Tristan. “Did you read any of that?”
    “Just the part where he told you not to fall in love with me, and you didn’t reply,” he says. “I might have also read something about him flying to New York if you didn’t reply.”
    Right. Of course.
    “I take it Aaron is your ex-boyfriend?”
    “What? No way. He’s been my best-friend since I was five. In fact, I was dating somebody else for the past year. I broke up with him a few days ago when I found him cheating on me. Aaron doesn’t like me like that.”
    “Sounds like he does.”
    “No way,” I say. “I called him this morning, and he was totally in bed with another girl.”
    “Right. The filler girl.”
    “He always talks like that with me. He’s definitely not in love with me. He’s my best friend, and nothing more. I promise.” As the words leave my mouth, my phone starts vibrating. Aaron is actually calling me.
    “Are you going to get that?”
    I sigh, and answer it. “Aaron, what’s up? I’m busy.”
    “Oh my God. Are you with Tristan?” Aaron asks. I can hear the disgust in his voice.
    “Yes. I am with Tristan. What’s the big deal? I thought you were having round two with that girl…”
    He laughs. “Actually, that was more like round four. But whatever. I kicked her out after I banged her.”
    “You’re a jerk.”
    “Whatever,” he says. “But seriously, why are you hanging out with Mr. Columbia?”
    “Because