Page 40 of Friends with Benefits

And I will not lose my best friend again.

11

JAKE

We walk back along the beach. Once our eyes adjust to the darkness after the lights of the bar, the moon is enough to show us the way home. I can tell you something for nothing: it’s not only the soft sand that’s making our footsteps a little wobbly. No, some of the miscoordination definitely has to do with the lethal combination of Tequila Sunrise, margaritas, mojitos, daiquiris and… God knows what else, I can’t think beyond that.

Whatever we had, we’re all happily drunk. Jess eventually chilled out and we brushed over that kiss. Now, she’s walking under my arm as we slur and laugh our way back. But I can comprehend enough to know I’m holding her up, not the other way around, and that kiss is still lingering on my lips, like a fire that smolders long after the flames have gone out. And the alcohol fog is doing nothing to stop my thoughts roaming. In fact, it’s making my need to take Jess all night long worse than ever.

Unfortunately for me, I’m certain the brunette beauty under my arm is going to pass out as soon as I help her out of her denim shorts and into those sexy silks.

Unless… maybe she doesn’t pass out. Maybe I get her home quickly and…

I drop my arm to her stomach and lift her over my shoulder. She squeals as I run from the others. When I think they’re out of ear shot, I spank her ass so hard, she screams again.

‘I’ve waited days for this fine ass, Jess. I’m taking you to my bed and I’m going to make you—’

Running onto the decking in front of the pool, I almost crash into Emily. She sits on the steps coming down from the pool side, still in her clothes from the bar, her arms wrapped around her knees.

I bring Jess down to the decking, my thoughts suddenly jumping from taking Jess to bed to wondering what on earth Emily is doing here.

‘I, erm, I’m drunk. I’m just going to…’ Jess waves a hand in the general direction of the house and offers Emily a soft smile as she slides past her and heads up the stairs. She glances back to me and I feel like I’m at another crossroads. I want nothing more than to follow Jess to bed. To go at her all night, then hold her in my arms until the sun comes up.

But here’s Emily. My past. My lifelong best friend.

‘Can we talk?’ she asks, stealing my attention.

Jess steps toward the house. I watch her go.

‘You know, Emily, I don’t think we can. There’s a great girl up there, who I fucking love being around. Who’s never lied to me and who doesn’t deserve to be caught up in our shit. And, frankly, I’m over it. I’m over our past and our whole damn story.’

‘Jake, please.’ She steps toward me, placing her hand over my forearm. ‘Two minutes.’

‘Why, Ems? So you can lie to me some more?’

‘No, I just…’ She pauses as the others come around the bushes and into view. Their boisterous conversation stops. This is their vacation too and I’m not about to ruin it.

‘Fine. Two minutes.’ I nod to the beach and Emily follows me.

We stand at the water’s edge, water lapping our feet, the way it was when she kissed me last night.

‘Go ahead. Talk. Tell me why you didn’t tell me that you’re still seeing that dick.’

‘Quit it, Jake. You’re better than this.’

‘Am I? I don’t feel better. When he walked into that bar with you tonight, I wanted to rip to his head off.’

‘Jake, we can’t help that we fell for each other!’

‘Fell for each other? You kissed me last night!’

‘Yeah, I did, Jake. But you kissed me back. And tonight, you’re kissing Jess!’

‘Leave Jess the hell out of this.’

‘Why? Because you’ve fallen for your best friend, again?’

‘What Jess and I have is not what you and I had.’

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