on’t you know those things will kill you？”
Dan whirled around。 Vanessa looked beautiful。 Her hair was pulled back to expose her collarbones and she was wearing a sexy； formfitting dress underneath a leather jacket。 She looked nothing like his Doc Marten muse。 And yet…
She looked even better。
“Where’s Serena？” Vanessa asked； hoping she sounded more curious than confrontational。
“Serena and I broke up…。 I’m going to Iowa by myself；” he finished。 He wasn’t sure what he wanted Vanessa to say； but she needed to know。
Vanessa sucked in her breath。 Dan was single。 Now； when it was no use。 “I’m going to Indonesia for two years。”
“I’m glad；” Dan said earnestly。 Vanessa’s face immediately fell。 “I mean； I’m glad you’re doing it。 But I’ll miss you；” he said。 He missed her already； and she was standing just inches from his touch。
“I will too；” Vanessa said shyly。 “Iowa’s two years； right？” She rested her elbows on the concrete balcony ledge and looked down at the street below； which was surprisingly quiet for New Year’s Eve。 Besides one town car idling outside the Star； there was no other traffic。 The boulevard stretched wide and free in the inky night。
“Yeah；” Dan said。
Vanessa nodded。 The more she thought about it； two years didn’t seem very long at all。 After all； she and Dan had spent two years of college practically ignoring each other。
When you put it that way…
“Well… if you need a roommate in two years； I’m really good at making your gross coffee。”
“And I’m good at helping you eat your heart…attack…special pizza；” Dan countered。 It was crazy how they’d lived in the same orbit for so long； had dated and broken up and hooked up for years； how they’d shared an apartment when they were both toget