Page 36 of Friends with Benefits

‘Even if I shagged one of your best friends?’ She laughs and for some unfathomable reason, I see the humor in her words too.

‘That’s close to the bone.’

‘I’m sorry.’

‘No, you’re not. You think you’re hilarious.’

‘Not true. I know I’m hilarious.’

I shake my head. Then I bring her hand to my mouth again and tell her, ‘Thank you.’

‘For what?’

‘For being able to see that I needed to speak to Emily. For pushing me to do it. We can’t get those years back, and I’m not sure where we go from here, but you were right about us needing to talk. I realize now that I’ve missed her, you know.’

‘Well, you’re welcome. Although, I’m sure you would have gotten there on your own eventually.’

‘Nice to do it before I’m gray though, huh?’

She nods.

‘Now, about this screwing my friends thing… what was going on with you and Marty tonight?’

‘Marty? I spoke to Marty as much as everyone else. Aww, are you worried I’m going to get myself a new friend and replace you, Jakey?’

There it is again, that alien feeling in my gut. I don’t like it.

‘Just watch your back, all right?’

‘I don’t need to watch my back, Jake. I know you have it.’ She leans forward, bites the tip of my nose, then rolls back over. ‘Since I’m boozed, you might as well give me a cuddle.’

I slip the towel from around my waist and slide under the sheet, tugging her back into me.

‘Seriously, Jake, it’s one thing having you spoon me with my knickers on but if that tail gets lost in the night…’

I bury my laughter in her neck. Then I breathe in her natural scent and close my eyes, forgetting everything else.

Her breathing starts to calm, taking mine with it. I wonder whether she’s already asleep until she says, ‘Elvis, huh?’

‘The King,’ I tell her, absentmindedly dropping my lips to her shoulder. Her next breath leaves her like a soft sigh. Then the sound of waves is all I can hear.

* * *

‘Losers buy the first round of drinks tonight. And mine will be expensive,’ Sarah says, from where she’s standing in the middle of the circle the rest of us have formed around her on the beach.

By the time Jess and I got up this morning, it had been decided that we were playing beach games today. She and Brooks had measured sixty yards and marked start and finish lines in the sand. Personally, I’d have been happy staring at Jess half naked by the pool again but I guess the wheelbarrow race works too.

‘What are the teams?’ Drew asks.

‘You choose a partner. Teams of two, obviously,’ Sarah says.

‘How about it, Jess?’

I snap my head to glare at the smug bastard that is Marty.

Jess glances to me and shrugs. ‘Erm, yeah, su—’

‘Jess already has a team,’ I all but growl. Yeah, my inner caveman has showed up. We might just be friends, but she’s not teaming up with a guy like Marty. He’s bedded half the women in New York. And there’s no chance I’m letting him get his filthy popsicle anywhere near the place mine calls home.

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