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fair point. You might never find your soul mate, but you can't dance with a bar, and a bar will never wrap its arms around you and make you feel more loved than anything else ever can.”
    Nina's green eyes bored into me and I had to concede. You could dance on a bar, but it certainly wouldn't be kissing you goodnight.
    “I'm not going to stop praying for you, kid. I want you to find that girl. I want you to build your dreams together.”
    “You do that, Nina.” I forced a small grin.
    “Oh I will.” Jumping down from the bar, she blew me a kiss and headed for the stairwell. “I'm gonna go check on Frankie. You have a good day tomorrow.”
    “Yeah, I better get going. My first class is at eight-thirty.”
    She stopped at the door, pride shining in her expression. “Good luck. And say hi to David for us. Tell him he has to stop by for a meal.”
    “Will do.” I waved them goodbye and slipped out the back, hearing Malachi lock the door behind me. The evening air felt fresh on my face. Man, I loved this time of night. The city still had a buzz to it, but it was softer and less intrusive.
    I caught a cab easily and was soon handing over my cash and taking the stairs two at a time to my dorm room.
    I couldn't stop thinking about what Nina had said. The whole falling -in-love thing irked me. I didn't want to need it. I didn't want to see how happy my foster parents were together and then yearn for the same thing. I'd been on my own since I was ten, fending for myself; I was used to it. But Nina and Malachi had really picked away at my barriers. When I'd first arrived on their doorstep, I was a messed-up fourteen-year-old, and the first thing to really break through my stone wall was the loving way they treated each other. The way they laughed together, danced together, sang around each other as they cleaned up the bar. Or the way Malachi would sometimes just sit there, watching his wife. She was oblivious to his gaze in spite of the love emanating from it. I couldn't help wondering what that felt like.
    I opened the door quietly, knowing David would already be asleep. He'd moved in with me my sophomore year and swiftly become my best frie nd on campus. He was a good guy—intelligent, funny, easy to be around—but he was also super-studious and got a little pissy with my work hours sometimes.
    I crept past his door, wondering if his girlfriend was nestled up beside him. I knew she was arriving today, and I knew he couldn't wait to introduce me. For the life of me, I could not remember her name. Sneaking over to the bulletin board above his desk, I shifted aside the class schedules and study plans, finally unearthing a picture of her.
    She had a broad, yet tentative, smile. She was tucked under David's arm as he beamed at the camera. Maybe having a long-term girlfriend was a good thing. I mean, these guys had made it work long-distance for two years; that had to say something about how awesome it could be. I dropped the papers, covering up the image, and shook my head. I just didn't see the point of continually hanging out with a girl who didn't set my insides on fire. I wanted to be inspired. There was no way I wanted to settle.
    Sure, I didn't believe in soul mates, but I also didn't believe in being with someone who bored me to tears. What was the point? I'd rather be single.
    Dragging my tired ass toward the bed, I knew I should probably have been collecting my stuff and taking a shower, but I couldn't be bothered. I squinted at my watch, setting the alarm for 5:30 a.m.; I'd beat the early rush that way and still have plenty of time to get my stuff organized for the week ahead.
    I kicked off my shoes, punched the pillow beneath my head and shuffled around until I was comfy. A slow smile spread across my lips. Tomorrow was the first day of my senior year. In less than a year , I'd be a free agent and then I could really start making my dreams come true.

CHAPTER FOUR

    ELLA

    I didn't need an alarm to wake me ; I had