Page 14 of Friends with Benefits

That’s the love my parents shared and I am thankful every day that I got to see and be part of a love like theirs.

It is the greatest love I have or will ever know. I keep it alive, in my heart, and in my soul.

But I fear it. I fear its strength and the things that have to happen for it to live on.

I cherish it and I cower from it. Love is dangerous.

It has the ability to consume you. It has the power to end you.

And that’s why the arrangement Jake and I have works just fine.

5

JAKE

‘Jess, come on. We have to get to the airport.’

I’m sitting on the sofa in the living room with my packed case beside me, ready to go. Where, incidentally, I have been sitting for the last twenty minutes… ready to go.

‘I’m here. I’m here.’

She comes into view, dragging her case along the corridor. She has on the most outrageously bright lounge pants I’ve ever seen, although she’s paired them with a slouchy beige sweater and a thin scarf – for decoration, not because it’s going to be too cold out. It is only 9a.m. but the end of summer heat is keeping back London’s chill.

She stops in front of me and holds her hands out from her sides.

‘Mm, you’re a five,’ I say. ‘You know I like that sweater. It’s soft, practical and sexy as sin when it falls off your shoulder.’ I wiggle an eyebrow. ‘But those pants are horrendous.’

She laughs and resumes her hold on her suitcase. I move in and pick it up, handing her my hand luggage bag in return.

Our cab makes good time to the airport. I listen to Jess moan about how it would have been much cheaper to take the underground but as I told her: first, I couldn’t be bothered with the hassle; second, it’s quicker in a cab at this time in the morning; and third, it’s my money and I’ll spend it how I like.

By the time we get through security, I’m ravenous. I’m a big guy and I work out hard. Plus, I was brought up to have a healthy appetite. ‘You won’t grow big and strong on water,’ Mom would say when we were kids.

I think some of it is her southern upbringing. My grandparents were originally from Tennessee. Mom likes fried food, especially fried peanut butter sandwiches. Killer, in more than one sense!

But I’m definitely not getting food right now. Instead, I’m following Jess around the duty-free store, ‘window-shopping’. I’ve already picked up some gifts to take with us: tea, Harrods biscuits, the usual touristy stuff.

‘Jess, please. You’re killing me. You’ve sampled every moisturizer in here. You’ve sprayed yourself with a thousand perfumes, which are going to drive me nuts sitting next to you on the plane by the way. Can we get breakfast?’

She turns from the shelf of Union Jack souvenirs she’s in front of. She has on enormous Union Jack glasses. She hits something on the arm and red LED lights start to flash as the glasses sing out the national anthem.

‘Is somebody getting hangry?’ she asks, planting her hands on her hips.

Despite being hangry, I laugh. ‘You’re such a goof. Feed me! Now.’

She puts the glasses down. ‘One more minute. I want to look at—’

I pick her up over my shoulder and casually walk out of the store as she squeals, hitting the ass pockets of my jeans. I think she shouts, ‘Put me down.’ But it comes out like, ‘Pu. Pe. Put. E. E. Eee. Down.’

We draw the attention of fellow travelers but I don’t set her back on her feet until we’re outside a restaurant that looks like it will give me a hearty breakfast.

I don’t come up for air until my plate of bacon, sausage and eggs has been devoured.

‘God, I feel better for that,’ I say, leaning back against the booth.

She puts down her coffee cup. ‘I’m pleased you do. I threw up in my mouth over here watching that.’

‘Are you really only having a slice of buttered toast and a latte?’ I ask. The vegan thing lasted less than forty-eight hours, in case you were wondering.

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