Page 16 of Bang Buddies With Benefits
“Yes.” His sigh carried over the line, and I could picture him pinching the bridge of his nose. “I love Jeremy. He’s the love of my life—I’ve never been more certain of anything. But his family is just…”
“You don’t have to tell me; I’m painfully aware.” I was also public enemy number one as far as they were concerned.
“Ah, but I do. It’s comments like those that could snowball into a big fight, whether you have a date by your side or not. In fact, having a plus one might lead to more passive aggressive comments, and I need you to be able to ignore them instead of engaging and causing a fuss.”
Frustration welled, and I tapped harder on the keyboard than necessary. “Look, you wanted a plan, and this is what I came up with. Are you saying it’s going to upset Julia that I’d dare bring a date? Because I thought your main worry was a foolish hookup, something you really don’t need to worry about, since she’s…her.”
“She was her the last few times—for instance, at our engagement party—and that didn’t stop you.”
“Low blow, dude.” It wasn’t the first time my lack of judgment leading up to that night bit me in the ass, and it likely wouldn’t be the last. Technically the hubbub had started before the party, when Julia and I had been planning it. She was the one who’d leaned over the bar and kissed me—completely sober, I’d double checked. It’d all come to a head at the party, though. “I’m not the only one who made that mistake, and I’ve apologized several times. How long is my penance going to last?”
Another sigh. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”
It wasn’t like I’d gotten off easily. Julia had assumed my kissing her back meant I’d “seen the error of my ways,” a bomb she didn’t drop until we were at the party, glasses raised in honor of our brothers’ love.
Long story explosively short, it did not go well.
“Besides,” I said, “what happened that night is another point for having Cat by my side. It’d be nice to have one person on my team when Julia and her sisters gang up on me again, and you and Jeremy are busy playing Switzerland. Don’t get me wrong, I get it. But I’m done playing the whipping boy.”
“That’s fair,” Noah said. “Jeremy actually said something the other night about how it’d be good for Julia to see you’ve moved on so she’ll allow herself to do the same. After taking a moment to process, I think it’s a solid plan, one that’ll be beneficial to everyone. But this means she’ll likely find a date herself, and I need your word that you won’t take that as a challenge.”
“Nope. Not anymore. Not ever again.”
“Sure.” He could’ve sounded less skeptical, but since he was under a lot of pressure, I let it go and offered him a safe place to vent. I did owe him, after all.
This week’s episode of the ongoing nuptial drama involved a breakdown over centerpieces. Tropical-themed items had been ordered instead of beach-themed, and evidently therewasa difference—who knew?
All I could think about as he relayed the story was that I was glad I’d decided against the holy matrimony route. The rollercoaster relationship with Julia only confirmed it wasn’t for me.
Originally, she and I had clicked on a lot of levels. While our childhoods were vastly different, what with her affluential family, our high school memories and being from adjacent neighborhoods with friends in common, gave us a lot to talk about. We enjoyed several double dates as our brothers continued to grow closer, and it seemed a bit like fate.
The problem came during our one-on-one time. As a Carrington, Julia was used to extravagance. Our lifestyles didn’t mesh well, and I failed to meet certain expectations I hadn’t even been aware existed. No matter how hard I worked to keep her happy, I constantly fell short, and soon we were bickering more than we were chatting and laughing. About the women who hit on me at the bar, even though I always informed them I was taken. My late-night hours, and didn’t the fact that I was the boss mean I could change that? Also, was I seriously planning on running the bar the rest of my life?
The buzzer rang, meaning someone was at the back door, and I stood. “That’s my gin guy. I bought a few extra cases for the wedding, and Zo and the rest of the bartenders are having a competition on who can create the best new cocktail in your and Jeremy’s honor, to serve at your wedding. I’ll make sure to tell them to go more beachy than tropical.”
“Or at least tell my mother-in-law it is,” Noah retorted. “And please, for the love of God, not anything called Sex on the Beach. The last thing any of us want is to hear our parents asking to get laid in the sand.” He snorted a laugh and expelled a long breath. “Fingers crossed there won’t be any more hang-ups, and everything runs smoothly from here on out.”
“Hey. Look who’s got their sense of humor back.”
Noah’s grumble filled my ear. “That’s not fucking funny,” he said, and I snickered and assured him I was pretty sure it was.
Then I opened the door for my gin guy.
Only the person at the door neither had gin, nor was a guy.
She was the very person I’d sworn to my brother that I’d never slip with again.
* * *
“Don’t look so disappointed.” Julia hooked her thumb in the strap of her purse and charged right on past, as if she owned the place. “Coming here was difficult enough.”
Pinching the bridge of my nose, I followed after her. “It’s unexpected is all. You don’t have to read something into everything.”
“Yep, that’s me. Always jumping to the wrong conclusion.” She whirred around so quickly I nearly plowed into her. “It’s not like you’re an open book. If you’d communicate once in a while instead of leaving me guessing…” She shook her head. “This is already going off the rails.”
I gritted my teeth and reminded myself I’d just promised Noah I’d play nice—or something akin to that anyhow. “Why don’t I grab you a drink? Would you like a mojito a glass of rosé?”
“A Diet Coke, please. I’m on my lunch break, and my job doesn’t include being tipsy.” That was definitely a slam on me, and if I clenched my jaw much tighter to hold back the comments, I’d have to drink all my meals for the rest of my life, as I wouldn’t have any teeth left for chewing.
