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resignation?"
    "Not
yet. I have to apply and be accepted. It shouldn't take too long to
find out."
    Mandy
nodded. There was a wail from down the hall followed by Jessa,
holding Paige, appearing around the corner. Nicole went to soothe her
little one.
    "So,
Chris?" Mandy said out of nowhere.
    "What
about Chris?" She'd been avoiding looking at him all evening,
because it made her want things she wasn't supposed to have. Not with
him. He was too good-looking.
    "Both
of you stare at each other when you think no one's watching."
    "I
haven’t looked at him tonight, at all.” Tony felt a blush
creep up her face.
    Mandy
laughed. "He's handsome."
    "Yep.
Too handsome, too charming."
    "Is
there such a thing?" Mandy mused. "I guess I used to think
Kip was too handsome. I'm lucky, he thought I was gorgeous. And
brilliant. So what has Chris done that's worthy of the cold
shoulder?"
    "Personally,
nothing." Yet. "I don't date the terminally charming is
all."
    "He
seems like a nice, normal young man. very little charm. As far as I
know, you don't date anyone. I guess Chris asked you out. Like that
cute guy from the sub shop and the cute guy from the deli department.
And the cute-"
    "All
right. I have reasons for not trusting 'cute' guys. I'll tell you
another day, because that would take ages. And Chris didn't ask me
out, well he did once, I think, the first day we met."
    "Did
he wander into your room and hump your leg?"
    Tony
snorted then coughed to clear the coffee from her windpipe. "Damn
it. If you must know, he kissed me."
    "Was
it good? The first kiss has to be good."
    "It
made my fingers and toes tingly and I felt light headed." Tony
had no other kiss to compare it too. The memory of the bully's kiss
was fogged by him trying to force her, then spreading rumors.
    "It
was good." Mandy folded her elbows on her knees and leaned on
them. "I remember when Kip first kissed me. I thought I might
die, because nothing in my life was ever going to be better. Turns
out there is." Mandy grinned.
    Tony
felt her face turn hot. "What do I do?"
    "What
do you want to do?"
    "If
I knew that I wouldn't ask you."
    "Most
girls when faced with a cute boy who likes them, grab him and have
fun."
    "What
if he turns out to be a jerk?"
    Out
of the corner of her eye, she saw the guys returning. She turned and
stared at Chris, listening intently to whatever Kip was saying.
    Mandy
followed her gaze. "Then you cut ties, retreat and lick your
wounds for a while."
    Tony
dragged her gaze back to her conversational partner. "Too risky.
Too much chance for pain."
    "What
about the chance for joy and bliss?"
    Tony
drew a breath and blew it out.
    "It's
not like you start with everything on the line. First you go on a
date, get to know the guy. Trust your instincts on if he's a jerk.
Usually, it's very apparent."
    Tony
looked at Chris again. He must have sensed her gaze, because he
turned and met her eyes. He smiled widely and waggled his fingers.
Her heart skipped a beat and her breath caught in her throat. She
smiled back, pressing a hand over her heart.
    Nicole
walked between them, holding Paige and disrupting the moment. She
glanced at Mandy, then Nicole. Mandy looked like she was holding back
laughter.
    "What
are we talking about?" Nicole said.
    Before
Mandy could reply, Chris approached them. He tapped her foot with
his. "We need a fourth for pool. You any good?"
    Tony
shrugged. "I can hold my own."
    "You
can be my partner," he said.
    Tonya
looked at Mandy and Nic. Mandy widened her eyes. "Go. Have fun
when the opportunity presents itself."
    Chris
held his hand out to her. She glanced at Mandy who nodded. She
reached out and let him pull her to standing.
    "One
game," Nicole called after them. "We still have to have
cake."
    When
they got into Corey's man cave, Corey and Kip weren't around. She
whirled on Chris. "Was this a ploy to get me alone?"
    "For
that I wait in my room in my boxers."
    She
shoved his shoulder.
    "I
have no idea where they went." He pulled a cue off