Friends to Lovers (Heart of Hope 6)

He laughed. “I love how you make me smile, Petal.”

My heart swelled, thinking that was one of the loveliest things I’d ever heard from anyone. This isn’t love, I reminded myself. Cyrus was a good and kind man, but this wasn’t a love affair. This was friends with benefits.

Over the rest of the week, Cyrus skipped his afternoon cupcake and coffee, and instead came for his after-work orgasm. I was alright with that. Plus, I still gave him a cupcake. Sometimes he ate it off my body.

The only problem was that it only took a few days to realize my attempt to keep my emotions in check was failing. As a friend, Cyrus was sweet and generous. As a lover, he was thorough and considerate. I couldn’t imagine any woman being immune to that combination. I certainly wasn’t. So by the time the weekend came, I knew I was falling in love with him.

I really only had two choices then. I could end our relationship to prevent my heartbreak at his inability to offer me more. Or I could just fall and know that at someone point I’d be hurt.

He flew to Chicago to visit his mother over the weekend, but when he came back, he stopped by my place instead of going straight home. We had sex, talked, and had sex again before he finally headed to his place. The romantic in me wanted that to mean something, which was so dangerous.

As Thanksgiving neared and he planned to return home again, while I was going to spend it with Jude and April, I knew I needed to make a decision about how much heartbreak I was willing to endure.

I was working in the shop when April showed up, this time without children.

“Hey. What’s up?” I asked.

“I just wanted to check in and see how you were doing?”

“I’m good. What can I get you? I have the pumpkin cheesecake cupcake.”

“I wouldn’t say no to that. And a latte.”

I made her coffee and got her cupcake. There were a few customers but they’d been served, so I took a seat with April.

“Where’s Bertie?” I asked.

“Jude took the day off to give me a break and so I thought I’d spend part of that break with you. How are you?”

“Good. Same.”

Her brow arched and I wondered if she knew about me and Cyrus although I wasn’t sure how. Cyrus wasn’t going to tell her.

“I have been thinking of hiring an assistant,” I said thinking I might be able to head her off at the pass of any questions she’d have about me and Cy.

“Oh? The cupcake business is going well?” She asked licking frosting from the side of her cupcake.

“It's going strong and, well…I don’t have a lot of time for myself, as you know. It didn’t matter before because my social life always came to me. Speaking of which, when will I be having Maya spend some time with me?”

April made a sad face. “I feel terrible. I haven’t been a great friend.”

“Hey. I’m not complaining. I know your life is full and busy and I’m happy for you.”

“I’m glad to hear that you’re doing something for you. I know you love this place and you’re doing a great job, but there is more to life than cupcakes.”

I made an exaggerated face. “Bite your tongue. What could be more important than cupcakes?”

“Sex.”

I worked to keep a straight face. “Are you rubbing it in that you’ve got a man keeping your bed warm?”

“No. I’m wondering what’s up with you and Cyrus.”

I watched my finger trace a line in the colorful tabletop, knowing I was probably giving away something. April was a shrewd observer.

“Jude says not long ago, Cyrus was being a complete jerk, which would make sense with everything going on with his mom, but this week, he’s been…how did Jude put it? He’s like a man getting laid a lot.”

Again, I made an attempt to hide my surprise. “Jude studies the sex life of Cyrus? Should you be worried about that?”