Xtina has a tense, lonely meal in the kitchen. Rainier is perfect for her, gorgeous, educated, interested in art and literature. But memories of Coby creep up on her when she's alone, and she misses his warmth, she misses him. And what she did to him was so horrible, sleeping with Rainier while he was out of town, and breaking up with him when he got home, Xtina feels ashamed and she cringes at the thought of facing him. He comes in on her as she's cleaning up, as though thinking about him conjured him into the kitchen. "Ti, check this out, I'm going to be a character in a game," he says to her, happily. "We're all just characters in a game, Coby," she answers heavily. Why is he so happy & she's so miserable? He smiles at her. "Sure, Ti, but I'm going to be in a game I can play. A surf simulation game," he says. Ti tries to smile as she replies, "Hey, that's really great, Coby, congratulations," but trying to smile while holding back tears usually ends in the kind of painful grimace Xtina can feel her face twisting into.

"Ti, are you okay?" he asks softly, taking her hand. She remembers how he used to comfort her when she was miserable over Gavin. "I'm fine," Xtina lies, a tear rolling down her cheek, wiped away by Coby's gentle hand. "Ti, that boyfriend you were so miserable about losing last winter, did you break up with him, too?" he asks her suddenly, obviously remembering what she's remembering. Xtina can't answer the question, her face is twisted in agony as she burst into violent sobs.

Coby embraces her. "I don't want to watch you do this to yourself over me like you did over the last guy, okay, Ti? Especially if I know it's the other guy that gets to kiss away your tears," he says softly. He's so generous & loving, Xtina thinks, and she wants to do something for him, let him know how special he is. "I wouldn't cry in front of Rainier," she says, "I'd be embarassed." Her tears are something Xtina shares with few people. Coby runs his finger down the path of her tears, looking into her eyes. He looks the way he does right before he'd kiss her, and Xtina feels her lips moistening in anticipation, to feel his sweet mouth again, taste his sweet tongue...

But her jerks suddenly away & just pats her arm, saying he's sure she'll be fine before he runs out of the room.

Even in her dreams....

Xtina can't make up her mind.

NEXT