More Than Friends Read online

  “I’m going to go shower and then head out again. I’ll catch up with y’all later at BAR. What time does Tom want us there?”

  “He told me six,” Brady replies.

  “All right, I’ll see you then.” I clap my hands together and head to the get ready for my date with Chloe.

  I strip off my clothes in the bathroom and an image of Chloe in her yoga pants invades my mind. God, I wanted to peel them off her curvy hips with my teeth. I couldn’t keep my eyes off her ass when she was jogging; I couldn’t help but notice the way her hips swayed with each step, her breasts bouncing up and down in her tight tank top. Every time I could catch a glimpse without coming off as a creep, I would. Spending that time with her was worth the blue balls.

  I step into the shower and the hot water flows over my shoulder, trailing to my feet. I quickly wash and rinse my hair. I grab the shower gel and work up a rich later, washing off the sweat of today’s run.

  I grip the base of my dick and slowly glide my soapy hand up and down the length of it. Images of a naked Chloe assault my mind. I vividly remember the feel of her legs wrapped around my waist in Tom’s office. How she tasted. Oh, God, the way her pussy would clutch around my finger like a vise when she was close to orgasm. I’m so deep in my fantasy I can almost taste her on my lips again. I tighten my grip and start tugging harder and faster.

  Before I can prepare myself, I shoot off like a firework. I open my eyes and watch the last of my lust wash down the drain. I step out of the shower and quickly dry off, wrapping the towel securely around my waist and crossing the hall to my room.

  Walking to my closet, I decide to put on an old Conway Twitty concert T-shirt that used to belong to my dad and a pair of faded jeans with my Harley Davidson boots. I walk over to the dresser and mirror, add a small dab of gel to my hand, and run my fingers through my hair to make it look messy.

  I grab my wallet and keys and leave my room. The guys are gone. I lock up the apartment and head back to Chloe’s. I pull out my cell phone while walking down the stairs to Chloe’s apartment and find her number in the contacts. I hit send and smile, wondering if she recognizes the lyrics to the song I programmed as my ringtone.

  She picks up after the first ring. “Hello?” Her sweet southern drawl comes through the phone.

  “Hey, you ready?” I ask.

  “Yeah, you here already?”

  All I say is, “yeah.” I’m already standing at her door so I just hang up and knock. Sara comes to the door, opens it, and yells for Chloe, immediately retreating to the couch.

  The look she passes my way makes me nervous. Disappointment is in her eyes. Her body is slouched into the couch, and her feet rest on the cushions under her. She gives me a one-sided smile and begins picking over her nails.

  I smile when Chloe comes from the back of her apartment but I can feel the tension between the girls. Chloe takes another step in the living rooms and turns to Sara.

  “I’m heading out. You know where everything is. Call me if you need me.”

  Both girls are acting strange and tense so I ask Chloe, “You ready?” and reach for the door. Her one word reply bothers me.

  “Everything okay?” Chloe asks, and I can hear the awkwardness in her voice.

  “Yeah,” I lie. “Just trying to decide where to go for lunch. What do you feel like?”

  We decide to go to Claire’s, which is the perfect place for our first date. Outing? Hell, I don’t know what to call it but since that’s the first place I saw her it seems fitting that it be the first place I take her.

  I used to love Claire’s and it was one of our hangouts, so hopefully that will help ease the tension I can feel coming from Chloe.

  Chloe is silent as we begin walking down the street, so I search for something to say. “What time do you have to be at BAR tonight?” I finally ask.

  She glances in my direction and says, “Five. Why?”

  I smile and say, “I was just wondering.” She returns my smile.

  Her hair is down today and glows a brighter red than usual due to the lighting. Her worn denim cut off shorts stop just below her toned ass; her tank top hugs her ribs and breasts tightly. She slides into a booth when we arrive at Claire’s and my eyes follow her. When I slide into the booth next to her, she looks at me with wide eyes and confusion on her face.

  I chuckle. “What, you don’t want me to sit next to you?”

  She blushes and replies, “That’s not it. I just…I don’t know.”

  I can tell she’s struggling with her emotions so I give her an out. “I can sit over there if it’ll make you more comfortable.” I start to move but she grabs my arm to stop me.

  “No, it’s okay.” She moves her hands to her lap and stares at them.

  “Chloe?” I lower my voice so only she can hear me. With my finger, I lift her chin so that our eyes meet. “Talk to me. Something’s wrong and I want to make it right.”

  “Skye,” she huffs.

  “Listen to me. It’s just you and me, okay? You can tell me anything. I won’t judge you. I’ll just listen. Please, Chloe, let me help. What’s wrong?”

  “I’m just a little pissy. I’m sorry. Sara and I had a very small argument after you left and it put me in a foul mood.” She opens her mouth to continue but I interrupt her.

  “Does this have anything to do with me?” I ask, but before she can answer the waitress approaches our table.

  “Hey, y’all. I’m Macy. What can I get ya to drink?” The waitress looks slightly older than us and has an athletic build with blonde hair that I’m guessing comes from a bottle judging by the brown line at her roots.

  Chloe looks up for a brief second and recognition flashes across her face before she schools her features and replies with a one worded answer, “Water.”

  I look from Chloe to the waitress and tell her, “Coke,” in a dismissive tone.

  Macy doesn’t take the hint. “Chloe?” she asks. Chloe gives her a tight smile. “Well, I’ll be damned, girl. It’s been forever. Where have ya been?”

  Chloe gives another one word answer. “Around.”

  “Well, it’s good to see ya, hon. You just missed Todd. He was in here–”

  Chloe snaps. “Would you just get our drinks please?”

  Macy steps back as if she’s been slapped. She crinkles her nose like she smells something foul and leaves

  “Uh, you okay?” I ask.

  “Yeah, I’m fine,” she says, but she’s clearly not.

  “You sure? ‘Cause you just bit that chick's head off.”

  She takes a deep breath. “Yeah, I just don’t like to be reminded of or talk about Todd. Our waitress is one of his groupies and likes to rub in our failed relationship. For some reason she thinks that he will fall in love with her if she warms his bed long enough. I can’t stand her.” She looks in her lap.

  She takes another staggered breath. “Look, let’s not talk about it, okay? I want you to know that I heard you and Sara talking earlier, and even though what you said was flattering, I don’t know what’s going on between us. I really like you, Skye; so much it scares the shit out of me. But I’m not ready for anything more than your friendship. You’ve probably realized I have a hard time letting people in. I’ve been burned so many times in the past, so it takes a while to let people in, and I’m trying, but you have to be patient with me.”

  The more she talks, the more the tension in her body disappears. I wait a beat to make sure she’s done talking and when she sits silent for a minute I pick up where she left off.

  “Babe, if you heard me and Sara, then you already know I have loved you from the moment I laid eyes on you when you walked into this very diner and sat in that booth.” I point behind me to the exact seat she sat in all those years ago. “From then on, you have owned me. I get that you need time, but I want whatever you’re willing to give. So if that means we are just friends, then so be it. Don’t ever feel like you can’t tell me to back off or that I am pushing too hard.”

/>   She keeps looking down at the table; her hair falls in her face, shielding me from her beauty. She fidgets like she’s unsure of what she’s supposed to do. I reach over, placing one hand on top of hers, and the other slides the curtain of strawberry-blond hair behind her ear. My finger traces her jaw line until it reaches her chin. I lift her face in a silent demand that she look at me. When she does, her eyes are misted over and a smile breaks out on her face, giving me the confidence to make it through this conversation.

  “There’s something you need to know, Chloe. I’ve dated in the past, but it’s only ever been you for me, and it will only ever be you. I will never, ever give up on breaking down those walls you shield yourself with. I’m pushy, overprotective, and borderline obsessive. That’s who I am and you bring out the extremes in me. So when you need me to back off you need to tell me flat out, or else I am going to keep pushing, because that’s just me. You feel me?” She pulls her bottom lip between her teeth and nods.

  A different waitress comes to our table with our drinks. She sets them down and says, “I’m Shelia. Y’all ready to order?” Chloe and I both nod.

  Chloe orders first, “Jalapeño burger and fries.” I chuckle and she jabs my arm. “What? They are so good.”

  I look to the server. “I’ll have the same.” She writes our orders on her pad and walks to the kitchen.

  “So, I have a confession,” I blurt. Chloe remains silent but gives me her full attention. “I thought you would like to know that we’re neighbors.” I stop talking and wait for her to freak out.

  She rolls this new information around in her head for a bit before she finally replies, “When did you move in?”

  “Yesterday morning. I was going to tell you but I didn’t want to freak you out. I’m telling you now because I wanted you to know and I didn’t want you to think I was being a stalker or something.” I laugh.

  “Did you know I lived there prior to last night?”

  “No, how could I?” I exclaim.

  She gives me a playful smile and says, “Tom could have told you.”

  “Well, he didn’t. I had no idea. Although, I do like having you close.”

  She ends the topic with a, “hmm.”

  Shelia comes back to the table and sets our food in front of us. Chloe wastes no time digging in. I watch her mouth as the juices from the burger roll down her chin and I have to fight the urge to lick them off.

  “Not hungry?” Chloe asks, still chewing.

  “Oh, I’m starving.” I stare deep into her sea green eyes and the double meaning is not lost on her.

  My lunch date with Skye was wonderful for the most part but my earlier conversation with Sara is still fresh in my head. With her harping at me right before I left, it’s made it kinda hard to keep my focus on anything other than what she was saying.

  “Hey chick, you ready for your hot date?” Sara asks as she plops down on my bed. I’m still not completely over her most recent betrayal, so I glare at her in the mirror as I do my makeup.

  “Oh, don’t be so pissy,” she responds to my glare.

  I turn to face her. “I can’t believe you just put it all out there like that. You didn’t hold shit back, did ya?” She rolls her eyes like I’m being dramatic, and maybe she’s right but damn it, I feel like I’m losing control of myself and I don’t like it.

  “Look, I get where you’re coming from but shit, Chloe, you know I’m only looking out for you. You can’t keep living in your little bubble forever. I know you were listening to us talk, so you heard how he talked about you. Girl, every girl out there prays for a guy like Skye and you got one. I think you should open up and let him in. Skye isn’t Todd and you shouldn’t make him pay for Todd’s mistakes. Let your guard down a little. There’s nothing wrong with seeing where things with him could go.” I look at my hands that are folded into fists, sitting in my lap.

  “What do you think I’m trying to do? It’s hard. I barely know him and I’m just trying to be careful.”

  She climbs off the bed and sits next to me on the floor. “Sweetie, I get that. I really do. But if you don’t try you’ll never know. I’m not saying don’t be careful. I’m just saying it’s okay to let him in.” I nod in agreement.

  We sit in silence as I mull over her words. She’s right, and I want to see where Skye and I could go, but I also don’t think I am ready for anything serious. Sara breaks the silence. “At least take him for a test run. He looks like a good lay.” She leans into me, nudging me with her shoulder and I blush.

  Her eyes become as large as saucers and her jaw goes slack. “OH MY GOD! Chloe! What are you holding back?” she yells.

  “Well,” I begin sheepishly. “We kinda hooked up last night.”

  “WHAT?” Sara looks at me with disbelief in her eyes. Before I can finish my story she says, “I can’t believe you were holding out on me.”

  “It’s not exactly what you’re thinking. We didn’t have sex.”

  “What do you mean?” she interrupts me.

  “He, uh…” I hesitate. “he went down on me in Tom’s office.” I struggle to get the words past my embarrassment.

  “Oh shit.” She stands and starts to pace the room.

  “Sit the hell down, you’re making me nervous,” I say and she sits on my bed. “Look, I need to get ready for lunch. You gonna hang here and go to BAR tonight?” I ask.

  She stares back at me in the mirror. “Hell, yeah I’m coming. I’m not gonna miss all the excitement again.”

  I roll my eyes at her. “There will be no excitement,” I state firmly. There will be no drama tonight if I have anything to do with it.

  She wags her eyebrows. “We’ll see. In case you haven’t noticed, Skye doesn’t look like the type of man to just roll over and give up something he wants, and whether you’ve noticed it or not, my friend, that something is you.”

  “I’m going to tell him I don’t want a relationship while we’re at lunch. I’m just not re-” She jumps to her feet.

  “Shut up. I’m sick of hearing that played out bullshit. Quit trying to protect yourself from nothing. I think that if you push Skye away you’re going to be making a mistake. Just sit back and see how things go for once. Chloe, please, just this one time, don’t run from your feelings,” she begs.

  “I need to get ready for lunch.” I repeat, ignoring her plea, but she doesn’t stop her rant.

  “Chloe, you’re fucking up. I know you heard all that shit he was saying earlier. Please just sit on it for a few more days before you decide to tell him to piss off. PLEASE.”

  “I’m not going to tell him to piss off, Sara! I’m just going to be his friend. I can’t handle all this. He and I went from zero to sixty in ten seconds last night. It’s too much, too fast, and I’m not ready for that. Please just drop it and let me do what I need to do for me.”

  “Fine, but please think about what I’m telling you Chloe. Please.”

  I’m losing patience with this conversation so I snap, “Fine.”

  Did I just make a mistake by telling him we could only be friends right now? Skye and I arrive back at my apartment almost two hours after we left to eat lunch. The sounds of Tim McGraw and an out of tune Sara singing “Southern Girl” can be heard all the way in the stairwell.

  I place my key in the lock, turn it, and Skye and I explode with laughter when the door opens. Sara is singing into the mop. “Glad you found a date for tonight!” I yell over the music and point to the mop. She reaches over to the kitchen counter and turns down the stereo.

  “Ha, you got jokes! I do have standards, you know. I would never trade in your awesome ass Dyson for this raggedy mop.” Skye starts laughing as he moves to the couch.

  “I see you made yourself at home.” I comment and point to her clothing. Sara has showered and changed into a pair of shredded, boot-cut Levis, a black ribbed tank top that has a big skull made of fake jewels on the front, and black biker boots, all compliments of my closet.

  “Yeah, well I figured the
shirt wanted to hang out with someone who actually had tits,” she chuckles.

  “Uh huh. Well, if that was the case it should’ve stayed on the hanger,” I reply, walking to the couch and sitting next to Skye.

  “What time is it?” I call out to Sara.

  She looks at the stove and then over the bar. “A little after four. What time do you have to be at BAR?”

  “I don’t have to be there till five but I will probably go ahead and go in.” Skye squirms next to me and I look at him. Seeing him sitting on the couch in my apartment and looking at me with those mesmerizing green eyes causes a tingle to start at the base of my spine and move its way up.

  Sara clears her throat and I realize that Skye and I have been stuck in a stare off. “Skye, don’t you live upstairs?” She rounds the bar.

  “Yeah, I stay in 5C. Why?”

  She smiles and I have a feeling she’s up to something. “Doesn’t Harley stay with you?” Her voice is sticky sweet, which means she’s up to no good.

  “How do you know Harley?” I ask.

  “Met him at BAR last night. You know, at the after party you didn’t stay for,” she says off-handedly. She turns her attention back to Skye and raises her eyebrows in expectation.

  Skye smiles and says, “Yeah, we all live there.”

  “I’ll be back in a bit. Text me when you’re ready to go and I’ll leave with you. Love ya, C.” She saunters out of the apartment, leaving me confused.

  “What the hell was that about?” Skye asks me.

  “I have a feeling poor Harley is about to get a dose of Sara. Text him and give him a heads up, please. I don’t want her to scare him off.” Skye chuckles and pulls out his phone.

  After a few minutes his phone chimes. He looks at the screen and turns it so I can see the text from Harley: BRING IT ON.

  I must look as confused as I feel because Skye laughs. He leans over and drags me to him with muscular arms, my back to his front. Leaning in he whispers, “He’s good, babe. She can’t scare him off, but she may be biting off more than she can chew.”