She　was　even　wearing　makeup；　and　her　curls　looked　as　though　they　had
  seen　a　blow…dryer　at　some　point　in　the　last　twenty…four　hours。
  “You　look　great；”　I　said　as　she　bounded　into　the　backseat。　“What’s
  your　secret？”
  “Freudian　Boy；　of　course。　He’s　amazing。　I　think　I’m　in　love。　So　far；
  he’s　going　strong　at　nine…tenths。　Do　you　believe　it？”
  “First；　let’s　decide　where　we’re　going。　I　didn’t　make　a　reservation
  anywhere；　but　I　can　call　ahead　and　use　Miranda’s　name。　Anywhere　you
  want。”
  She　was　rubbing　on　some　Kiehl’s　lip　gloss　and　staring　at　herself　in
  the　driver’s　rearview　mirror。　“Anywhere？”　she　said　absentmindedly。
  “Anywhere。　Maybe　Chicama　for　those　mojitos？”　I　suggested；　knowing
  that　the　way　to　sell　Lily　on　a　restaurant　was　by　advertising　its
  drinks；　not　its　food。　“Or　there　are　those　amazing　Cosmos　at　Meet。　Or
  the　Hudson　Hotel—maybe　we　can　even　sit　outside？　If　you　want　wine；
  though；　I’d　love　to　try—”
  “Andy；　can　we　go　to　Benihana？　I’ve　been　craving　it　forever。”　She
  looked　sheepish。
  “Benihana？　You　want　to　go　toBenihana　？　Like；　the　chain　restaurant
  where　they　seat　you　with　tourists　who　have　lots　of　whining　children
  and　unemployed　Asian　actors　cook　the　food　right　on　your　table？That
  Benihana？”
  She　was　nodding　so　enthusiastically；　I　had　no　choice　but　to　call　for
  the　address。
  “No；　no；　I　have　it　right　here。　Fifty…sixth　between　Fifth　and　Sixth；
  north　side　of　the　street；”　she　called　to　the　driver。
  My　weirdly　excited　friend　didn’t　seem　to　notice　that　I　was　staring。
  Instead；　she　chatted　happily　about　Freudian　Boy；　aptly　named　because
  he　was　in　his　last　year　of　a　Ph。D。　program　in　psychology。　They’d　met
  in　the　graduate　student　lounge　in　the　basement　of　Low　Library。　I　got
  the　full　rundown　on　all　of　his　qualifications：　twenty…nine　years　old
  （“So　much　more　mature；　but　not　at　all　too　old”）；　originally　from
  Montreal　（“Such　a　cute　French　accent；　but　like；　totally
  Americanized”）；　longish　hair　（“But　not　freaky　ponytail　long”）；　and
  just　the　right　amount　of　stubble　（“He　looks　just　like　Antonio
  Banderas　when　he　doesn’t　shave　for　three　days”）。
  The　samurai　chef…actors　did　their　thing；　slicing　and　dicing　and
  flipping　cubes　of　meat　all　over　the　place　while　Lily　laughed　and
  clapped　her　hands　like　a　little　girl　at　her　first　circus。　Although
  it　seemed　impossible　to　believe　that　Lily　actually　liked　a　guy；　it
  appeared　to　be　the　only　logical　explanation　for　her　obvious　elation。
  Even　more　impossible　to　believe　was　her　claim　that　she　hadn’t　slept
  with　him　yet　（“Two　and　a　half　full　weeks　of　hanging　out　constantly
  at　school　and　nothing！　Aren’t　you　proud　of　me？”）。　When　I　asked　why　I
  hadn’t　seen　him　around　the　apartment　at　all；　she’d　smiled　proudly
  and　said；　“He　hasn’t　been　invited　over　to　the　apartment　yet。　We’re
  taking　things　slow。”　We　were　standing　directly　outside　the
  restaurant　as　she　regaled　me　with　all　the　funny　stories　he’d　told
  her　when　Christian　Collinsworth　appeared　in　front　of　me。
  “Andrea。　The　lovely　Andrea。　I　have　to　say；　I’m　rather　surprised　to
  discover　that　you’re　a　fan　of　Benihana　。　。　。　What　would　Miranda
  think？”　he　asked　teasingly；　sliding　his　arm　around　my　shoulder。
  “I；　uh；　well　。　。　。”　The　stammering　was　immediately　all…consuming。
  There　was　no　room　for　words　when　the　thoughts　were　bouncing　off　each
  side　of　my　head；　pinging　between　my　ears。Eating　at　Benihana。
  Christian　knows　it！　Miranda　at　Benihana！　Looks　so　adorable　in
  leather　bomber　jacket！　Must　be　able　to　smell　the　Benihana　on　me！
  Don’t　kiss　him　on　the　cheek！　Kiss　him　on　the　cheek！　“Well；　it’s　not
  that；　uh；　that　。　。　。”
  “We　were　actually　just　discussing　where　we　would　be　going　next；”
  Lily　stated　crisply；　extending　her　hand　to　Christian；　who；　it
  finally　occurred　to　me；　was　alone。　“We　must’ve　gotten　so　caught　up
  that　we　didn’t　even　realize　we’d　stopped　in　the　middle　of　the
  street！　Hah；　hah！　How　do　like　that；　Andy？　My　name’s　Lily；”　she　said
  to　Christian；　who　shook　her　hand　and　then　pushed　a　curl　away　from
  his　eye；　just　like　he’d　done　so　many　times　at　the　party。　Once　again
  I　had　an　odd　feeling　that　I　could　be　entranced　for　hours；　maybe
  days；　just　watching　him　push　that　single；　adorable　curl　away　from
  his　perfect　face。
  I　stared　at　her　and　at　him　and　became　vaguely　aware　that　I　had　to
  say　something；　but　the　two　of　them　seemed　to　be　holding　up　just　fine
  on　their　own。
  “Lily；”　Christian　rolled　the　name　around　on　his　tongue。　“Lily。Great
  name。　Almost　as　great　asAndrea。　”　I　had　the　presence　of　mind　to　at
  least　look　at　them；　and　I　noticed　that　Lily　was　beaming。　She　was
  thinking　to　herself　that　this　guy　was　not　only　older　and　hot；　but　he
  was　also　charming。　I　could　see　the　wheels　turning；　weighing　whether
  I　was　interested　in　him；　if　I’d　actually　do　anything　because　of
  Alex；　and；　if　so；　if　there　was　anything　she　could　do　to　expedite　it。
  She　adored　Alex　because；　really；　how　could　you　not；　but　she　refused
  to　understand　how　two　people　so　young　could　spend　so　much　time
  together—or；　at　least；　that’s　what　she　claimed；　although　I　knew　that
  it　was　only　the　monogamy　part　that　really　blew　her　away。　If　there
  was　a　speck　of　a　chance　of　some　drama　between　Christian　and　me；　then
  Lily　would　die　fanning　the　fire。
  “Lily；　it’s　a　pleasure　to　meet　you。　I’m　Christian；　a　friend　of
  Andrea’s。　Do　you　always　stop　in　front　of　Benihana　to　talk？”　His
  smile　actually　prompted　a　shooting…sinking　feeling　in　my　stomach。
  Lily　threw　back　her　own　brown　curls　with　the　back　of　her　hand　and
  said；　“Well　of　course　not；　Christian！　We　just　had　dinner　at　Town　and
  were　trying　to　figure　out　a　good　place　to　get　a　drink。　Any
  suggestions？”
  Town！　It　was　one　of　the　hottest　and　most　expensive　restaurants　in
  the　city。　Miranda　went　there。　Jessica　and　her　fiancé　went　there。
  Emily　talked　obsessively　about　wanting　to　go　there。　But　Lily？
  “Well；　that’s　weird；”　Christian　said；　obviously　buying　the　whole
  thing。　“I　just　came　from　a　dinner　with　my　agent　there。　Strange　that
  I　didn’t　see　you　two　。　。　。”
  “We　were　all　the　way　in　the　back；　kind　of　tucked　behind　the　bar；”　I
  said　quickly；　regaining　a　modicum　of　posure。　Thankfully　I’d　paid
  attention　when　Emily　had　made　me　look　at　the　tiny　picture　of　the
  restaurant’s　bar　listed　oncitysearch　when　she　was　trying　to
  decide　if　it　was　a　good　date　place。
  “Mmm。”　He　nodded；　looking　a　little　distracted　and　cuter　than　ever。
  “So；　you　girls　are　on　your　way　to　get　a　drink？”
  I　felt　an　overwhelming　need　to　shower　the　Benihana　stink　from　my
  clothes　and　hair；　but　Lily　wasn’t　giving　me　a　chance。　I　briefly
  wondered　if　it　was　as　obvious　to　Christian　as　it　was　to　me　that　I
  was　being　whored　out；　but　he　was　hot　and　she　was　determined；　so　I
  kept　my　mouth　shut。
  “Yep；　we　were　just　discussing　where　to　go。　Any　suggestions？　We’d
  both　just　love　for　you　to　join　us；”　Lily　declared；　tugging　on　his
  arm　playfully。　“What’s　around　here　that　you　like？”
  “Well；　midtown　isn’t　exactly　known　for　its　bar　scene；　but　I’m
  meeting　my　agent　at　Au　Bar　if　you　girls　would　like　to　e　along。　He
  just　ran　back　to　the　office　to　pick　up　a　few　papers；　but　he　should
  be　there　in　a　little。　Andy；　maybe　you’d　like　to　meet　him—you　never
  know　when　you’re　going　to　need　an　agent。　So；　Au　Bar；　how　about　it？”
  Lily　was　peering　at　me　with　an　encouraging　look；　one　that
  screamed；He’s　beautiful；　Andy！　Beautiful！　I　may　not　know　who　the
  hell　he　is；　but　he　wants　you　so　pull　yourself　together　and　tell　him
  how　much　you　love　Au　Bar！
  “I　love　Au　Bar；”　I　said　somewhat　convincingly；　even　though　I’d　never
  been。　“I　think　it’s　perfect。”
  Lily　smiled　and　Christian　smiled　and　together　we　set　off　for　Au　Bar。
  Christian　Collinsworth　and　I　were　going　to　get　a　drink　together。　Did
  this　qualify　as　a　date？Of　course　not；　don’t　be　ridiculous；　I　berated
  myself。Alex；　Alex；　Alex；　I　silently　chanted；　both　determined　to
  remember　that　I　had　a　very　loving　boyfriend　and　disappointed　with
  myself　for　having　to　force　myself　to　remember　that　I　had　a　very
  loving　boyfriend。
  Even　though　it　was　a　random　Thursday　night；　the　velvet　rope　police
  were　out　in　full　force；　and；　while　they　had　no　problem　letting　the
  three　of　us　in；　no　one　was　offering　reduced　admission　of　any　sort：
  twenty　bucks　just　to　get　in　the　door。
  But　before　I　could　hand　over　my　cash；　Christian　deftly　peeled　three
  twenties　from　a　huge　wad　he　pulled　from　his　pocket　and　handed　them
  over　without　a　word。
  I　tried　to　protest；　but　Christian　put　two　fingers　to　my　lips。
  “Darling　Andy；　don’t　worry　your　pretty　little　head　about　it。”　And
  ?