Page 73 of Friends with Benefits

‘Ting, ting, ting! Jackpot, Jakey.’

‘She is afraid. Of course she’s afraid.’

‘There you go.’

I jump up from the lounger. ‘She fucking loves me.’

Sarah laughs. ‘Well, what are you doing moping around the pool?’

My excitement dies in an instant as I look at Sarah. ‘I have no idea where she is.’

She leans her head to the side again, as if I’m a dumbass. ‘Your flight is Sunday. She told me she’s never been to New York before. And she’s a traveler. How hard is the math?’

‘You think she’s in the city?’

‘You know her inside and out, Jake.’ She steps up to me and places her hand on my chest. ‘Start thinking with this. Where does your heart tell you she is?’

I wish I knew. Goddamn it, I wish I could find her and say something, anything to make her give us a shot.

‘I don’t kn— Home Alone.’

‘What?’

‘Home Alone. The bird woman. The Plaza.’

‘Are you having some kind of seizure right now?’

‘Sarah, I fucking love you.’ I grab her head and kiss her temple. ‘I’ve got to go.’

‘Ah, you boys are so crazy. I adore it. Well, go, stop staring at me. Go get your girlfriend.’

‘Drew, good luck, bro! I’ll be back!’ I call as I run into the house and upstairs. I consider packing things into a bag but I can’t wait. I need to find her. I grab my wallet and head downstairs.

‘Hey! You might need these!’ Brooks throws me the keys to his truck and I catch them.

Marty comes over, dangling another set of keys. ‘Bullshit, mine’s quicker. I’m glad you pulled your head out of your ass. And if you hurt my car, I’ll hurt you right back, Jake, whether you’re Drew’s brother or not.’

‘I knew there had to be something I like about you, Marty. Thanks, man.’

I take his keys and make for the door.

‘These things never work out. I’m going to enjoy the show, that’s all!’ he calls after me.

‘Save your cynical bachelor shit, Marty. You just haven’t found the right girl,’ I shout back.

Within seconds, I’m hurtling out of the driveway in the direction of the city.

20

JAKE

My buzz dies somewhere along the I-495. Not only do I not have a clue as to where Jess is, beyond a loose idea that she wanted to run like Macaulay Culkin did in Home Alone 2, but even if I see her, she’s running scared and I have no idea what I could do or say to convince her to take a chance on us.

I make it into the city in record time. Marty’s wheels are hot! I park in a garage close to The Plaza, the hotel Macaulay Culkin stays in in Home Alone 2, thinking that I might have lost my mind. But this is the only thing I have to go on.

I take out my cell: nothing from Jess. I send her a message:

I’m in the city. Where are you?

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