Page 9 of Friends with Benefits

‘It’s like two-thirty in the afternoon over there. What can I possibly have interrupted?’

‘Nothing, now.’ I finally stuff my salmon in my mouth. ‘What’s going on?’

‘Are you talking with your mouth full? That’s bad manners, dude. Aren’t the Brits teaching you anything?’

‘Hey, your British girlfriend hasn’t stopped you from calling when I’m in the middle of putting the moves on someone.’

‘Ah, that’s why you’re snapping. Listen, I’m calling to say I’m looking forward to next week. I can’t wait to see you, buddy.’

‘Me too. I’m keen to see this new pad of yours in the Hamptons.’

‘Right. So, I want to give you a heads-up. It turns out Emily is going to be in the Hamptons next week too. She’s staying with her parents for their wedding anniversary.’

My stomach sinks so fast, that cherished piece of salmon might make a reappearance.

‘Emily?’ I don’t know why I repeat her name. I heard it well enough. I clear my throat and lower my decibels. ‘Great.’

Emily. My Emily. At least she was. She was mine at lower school, middle school, high school and college, until she wasn’t mine any more. We were best friends, stuck together like a burger and cheese, a donut and frosting.

‘Jake? You there?’

‘Yeah, bad signal. I’m here.’

‘You’re still coming though, right?’

There’s no way I won’t bump into her if I go to the Hamptons. Not when I know her parents live right next door to Drew’s new pad. In fact, it was her dad who told Drew the place was coming up for sale before it even went on the market. Emily’s dad is an attorney, like Drew. He retrained after leaving the forces. I think he and Drew cross paths on the circuit from time to time. And our families know each other well; we spent years living on the same street.

‘Ah, yeah, I’ll be there.’ I say the words with more conviction than I feel. ‘Why would Emily being around change anything?’

Is she still with the dick I once called a friend?

‘Oh, I don’t know, Jake. Maybe because you guys were inseparable practically from birth, then three years ago you took a job in London when you could have worked for any hedge fund in Manhattan. Oh, and that’s right, you haven’t spoken to her since.’

‘You don’t know that I haven’t spoken to her. And for your information, I always wanted to move to London.’

‘Jake, you never wanted to move to London. Why would anyone move from Manhattan to London? Look, I don’t know what happened between the two of you; I just wanted to forewarn you.’

‘Well, consider me forewarned.’ All that happened was one night. One night was all it took to change everything, to obliterate years of friendship.

‘So, I’ll see you next week?’

‘Yes, fine. Christ, are you going senile?’

‘You’re such a dick. I make allowances for you because you were an accident.’

Any other time, I might laugh. ‘Jackass.’

‘Yeah, but I’m a jackass who loves you, kid.’

‘Yeah, love you too.’

We hang up and I stare at the half-eaten bowl of salad in my hand, then throw it in the nearest trash can and leave the park.

FFS.

* * *

Jess isn’t answering her cell when I finish work. It’s still broad daylight. That’s a perk of my job. When I’ve made enough money for the day, I can leave. Out on the sidewalk, I put on my shades, flick my jacket over my shoulder, and start walking home. I could do with stretching my legs after my workout this morning. More than that, I could use the headspace.

---