Page 8 of Friends with Benefits

I signal for her to move aside so I can get my chopsticks. ‘Then you mustn’t have been around because I’m down here almost every day at the same time.’

She giggles, despite the fact I wasn’t joking. ‘Right. Listen, I’m having a girls’ night with a few friends this Saturday. We’re going out on King’s Road. You’d be welcome to come say hi.’

I pull off the white paper packet from my chopsticks, bending around her to use the trash can. ‘Wouldn’t that defeat the point of having a girls’ night?’

She giggles again. There’s not much between the ears with this one. ‘Right. Well, maybe you could bring some friends. We could make it a mixed group.’

‘Sounds great but I’m in New York this weekend.’ I start to walk away.

‘New York? New York with who? I love New York.’

I lose the sound of her voice as I step onto the marble floor of the lobby and out through the revolving door to Pall Mall. The sun is out, lighting up the beige stone buildings. Pall Mall is my favorite street in London. You would think I’d dislike it maybe, because I work here, but it reminds me of Wall Street, Lower Manhattan. Home.

Maneuvering through suits running to meetings and talking into cell phones, then navigating the traffic, I head down Marlborough Street and cross the road to wander into St James’s Park. I find a free bench and take a pew, leaning forward across my knees to finally dive into my bowl of protein. This is a lunch that would win the approval of Brooks, who is a fitness trainer and nutritionist to the rich and famous in NYC.

As I have that thought, I remind myself to transfer the bonus I got this morning to my mom’s bank account.

My parents think I don’t know that my brother paid for my college tuition.

I’m not saying I’m unloved. I was definitely loved. But it’s no secret I was also a mistake. I’m the youngest of three. Drew is almost ten years older than me. My sister, Millie, is eight years older.

Anyway, they had me and they gave me everything I needed, but definitely not everything I wanted. I was far from spoiled. But they gave me all they could. When it came to college, though, it would have cost them their retirement fund to send me. So, I know Drew paid for my tuition and that they have some kind of pact to keep it secret. I think it’s a pride thing.

I’ll thank Drew one day. For now, I transfer money to Mom’s account to ‘pay my parents back.’ Knowing them, they’ll pass the money right on to Drew. Drew won’t want it. They’ll argue. Eventually, my mom will win because she always wins. She’s Mom. Heart of gold, determination of a gladiator.

‘Excuse me, do you mind if I sit?’

I take my eyes from the salmon nipped between my chopsticks and follow the bare legs of what I can only describe as a MILF.

I do a quick assessment. No ring on the fourth finger of her left hand but a beast of a rock on the fourth finger of her right hand. I’d stake money on her being a divorcee. And since I gamble for a living…

‘Please, take a seat. I’d enjoy the company.’

She nods, shyly, but flashes me a small smirk. Cheeky. Foxy.

‘American?’ she asks, as she sits, crossing one of those fine legs over the other beneath her tailored dress.

‘New York. You don’t sound like a Londoner.’

‘Ah, no. I’m from Manchester originally.’ She tucks a loose tendril that’s fallen from the clip holding up her hair behind her ear. ‘I moved to London almost six years ago for… well, with someone. But it didn’t work out.’

Bingo.

‘Forgive me, I know we’ve just met, but any man who walked away from you must be crazy.’

She raises a brow and sips from her takeout coffee cup. ‘You assume it was a man.’

I feel my eyes narrow, playing along, but I know she’s toying with me. She’s sending pheromones all through my body.

She laughs before I have to respond. ‘Okay, it was a man. An arsehole, actually.’

‘There are a number of strains within our species.’

She smiles. ‘And which strain are you?’

I’m about to answer when my cell phone rings. ‘Sorry, I need to…’ I lift the phone from my pocket to find Drew’s face lighting up the screen. ‘Drew, what’s up?’ I say, the words grinding through my teeth. Cock blocker.

The MILF, whose name I didn’t even get to, holds up a hand and leaves with a smile. ‘Master of time as ever, big bro.’

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