The Kiss

fantasies, and then she was on her feet, dashing towards the door. She already had her hand on the doorknob when she realized she was about to enter the dorm’s main corridor topless.
    By the time she was fully dressed and out of her room, Nate was nowhere to be seen.
    She contemplated calling Bill and asking for Nate’s address, his phone number—anything that would help her get hold of him and demand some explanations—but decided against it. She’d have to think first. What would she ask Nate? Why he’d kissed her in the dark? If he’d been willing to answer that, he wouldn’t have run out of there as if hell was after him.
    Sleep on it was the way to go, she decided.
    It would have been a good plan too, if only she’d managed to actually get any sleep instead of tossing and turning for hours. Her mind kept ignoring her better judgment and scanning through all her meetings with Nate—as if on a loop—trying to make sense of his kissing her.
    He’d seemed to despise her from day one, and yet his lips had been so infinitely gentle against hers. He kept insulting her but had jumped to her defense and gotten a torn cheekbone for his trouble. He’d mocked her mercilessly for two years then told her she was worth so much more than what she wasted herself on.
    And then he’d kissed her and run.
    There was only one explanation that made sense to her at three in the morning: he wanted to drive her crazy! He was sending her so many mixed signals that there was no way to take him seriously and avoid going cuckoo.
    It was disturbing that she took him seriously.
    Another couple of failed attempts to fall asleep later, Eliza sat up in bed, reached to the nightstand, and picked up the phone receiver. She dialed a number she hated still knowing by heart and waited for the person on the other end to pick up.
    It took seven rings for Greg’s groggy voice to say, “ Hello?”
    “What’s wrong with you and your friend Nate? Better yet, don’t tell me. Whatever fucked up plan you have, you better quit it. Now.” The last word came out as a bark.
    “What? Huh? Who is this?”
    She’d have found his confusion adorable when they were still dating. Now it just bugged her. Rolling her eyes, she told him her name and waited for his reaction.
    “Eliza?” He sounded incredulous. “Are you crazy? What time is it?”
    “I don’t know and I don’t care.” She huffed. “And I’m definitely not crazy.”
    “No. No, you’re not. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it.” He suddenly sounded awake, panic evident in his voice.
    “Whatever.” His panic was not her business. She didn’t care. “Will you and Nate cut the crap?”
    “I don’t know what—”
    “You know perfectly well what. Nate’s acting all civil and gallant toward me lately.” She didn’t know why she didn’t mention the kiss. The kisses . “I don’t know what you’re playing at, but stop it. This is my last warning.”
    “ Nothing . We’re playing at nothing , Eliza. Please believe me! I’ve got no clue what you’re talking about.” He sounded near tears. “Have you talked to anyone about your… suspicions?”
    “No.” Eliza frowned. Was she missing something? She knew she’d hurt him when her knee had connected to his groin all that time ago, but really didn’t think he’d be intimidated by her.
    “Please don’t tell anyone. Please .”
    “Um, okay. But you owe me.” She was definitely missing something but decided to let it slide, since it seemed to be working in her favor.
    “Sure.” His eagerness would have been heartwarming if she didn’t despise him like the worm that he was.
    She hung up without saying goodbye. Great, now there was another mystery floating around her head. Why had Greg acted so weird? He’d sounded afraid of something—so much so, that he’d convinced her he wasn’t in on whatever Nate was doing.
    She flipped onto her stomach, wondering if all the males she knew had been taken over by aliens.
    ***
    Krista tiptoed into the bedroom a bit after five in the morning, only to let out a yelp when the light was switched on.
    “Have a good night?” Eliza was grinning, arms crossed over her chest.
    Krista nodded vigorously. “Uh huh.”
    “Glad it was good for one of us!”
    Krista rolled her eyes. Her best friend’s exaggerated sighs showed that she itched to talk about whatever had transpired. She felt a pang of guilt for thinking maybe she should have stayed at Bill’s. The point had been to get