Page 19 of Friends with Benefits

With my hands braced on either side of the bathroom door, I raise a brow. ‘Jess, I’ve shared a bed with you more times than I can count.’

‘Not sober, and not to actually sleep in. Both of those things are against our rules.’

I shrug. ‘Fine. Are you freshening up or coming back down with me?’

‘I’ll freshen up. But that doesn’t solve anything.’

‘Sure it does. I’m going to pour you a second glass of bubbles. If you’re not sober, we can share the bed. Problem solved.’

Before she can process my words, I stride out of the room toward the smell of the grill in the yard.

We’re sitting around on rattan furniture on the deck above the pool. The sun has dropped and solar lights have turned on around the lawn, the pool and down the pathway to the beach. When Jess comes back downstairs, she’s wearing a thin, hooded sweater and tight, red jeans. She’d look normal if it weren’t for the bright floral Chucks she’s wearing.

I stand and hand her the glass of bubbles I promised. ‘I would have said you’re a six but because of the Chucks, you’re more four to five.’

‘Are you kidding me?’ Sarah asks. ‘You’re calling her a five? She’s a ten.’

Jess laughs. ‘Thanks, Sarah. Jake likes to keep me grounded, don’t you?’ She squeezes my cheeks between her fingers in that way she does. ‘He hates my fashion sense.’

She releases me and I watch her take my seat with a cocky smirk. Shaking my head, I take my beer and head over to where Drew is grilling.

I lean back on the fencing and watch him turn steaks, the fat sizzling as it drips into the hot gas. The smell has my mouth watering.

‘I thought Edmond was coming,’ I say.

‘He is. The restaurant is closed Sunday and Monday so he’s coming out tomorrow with Amelie. Why do you think I’m grilling tonight? I’m not cooking in front of Chef tomorrow.’

‘Keep cremating that steak and you will be an embarrassment.’

He points with his grill tool to the steak. ‘You want one? Then be quiet.’

I take his advice, swigging my beer.

‘So, what’s going on with you and Jess? I thought you said you were just friends.’

I glance over at her, where she’s laughing with Sarah and Madge. They’re all in kinks, the kind that have tears running down Madge’s cheeks. ‘We are just friends.’

‘Really?’

‘Yes, really.’

‘I’m your brother, Jake. I’ve seen the way you’re looking at her. Something’s changed.’

‘No. I mean, not, you know, mentally.’

He whistles. ‘Friends with benefits. Let me tell you from experience, Jake, the next step is putting a ring on it.’

There are a couple of things I want to discuss about that statement but I start with the most pressing. ‘Just because you couldn’t take the heat with Becky, big bro, doesn’t mean I can’t handle it. We’re both adults. We’re great friends. She’s the best. Neither of us wants to be in a relationship. She’s emotionally destroyed, and I’m… doesn’t matter. We’re off point. And the point is, we have a good time together, we live together and she’s my best friend in London. I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize that.’

He holds out his hands. ‘Hey, whatever you say. Just be careful.’

‘Now,’ I say, ‘let’s get back to that point about putting a ring on it.’

He whacks me in the ribs so hard, I fold forward. When I raise my head, I realize why. Becky hands a plate of corn on the cob to Drew. ‘Can’t you two be left alone for five minutes?’

When the after sting dies down, I straighten to full height. Kit comes over with three cold beers. We each take one and start talking NFL.

‘My money’s on Kansas City Chiefs,’ Kit says.

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