My Best Friend's Boyfriend

“Sounds like a snooze-fest.”

“Hence why you wouldn’t be a good applicant,” I said.

“I think you guys should try something new.”

“And like I said, Ava’s in control of all that. I just show up at the designated place at the designated time.”

“And follow her lead?” he asked as he wiggled his eyebrows.

“Why did I call you again?”

“Because you love me and can’t live your life without me.”

“That’s right. Because you’re a pig I shouldn’t confide in about my love life.”

“I would be hurt, but I love bacon,” he said, grinning.

I chuckled and shook my head as I settled back into the booth.

“Just don’t do it,” Hunter said.

“Don’t do what?”

“Don’t fall for this chick.”

“I’m not falling for Ava.”

“I know you’re not falling for her now, but don’t do it in the future. Do this date thing, use it as a platform to get over Camilla, and then get on with your life. No use in muddying the waters any more than they already are.”

“How can you be such trash when it comes to sex and then give guidance like some drunken oracle on top of a hillside?” I asked.

“On a real note for a second? I could be a drunken oracle.”

We shared a laugh before things fell serious again.

“I joke around a lot, Logan. You know that. I always have. But falling in love with your ex’s best friend isn’t a good idea. There’s girl code and guy code and all sorts of code stopping you from that venture. If the sex is great and it helps you cope with the bullshit Camilla put you through, then go for it. But don’t make excuses for a repeat venture. Do this, get this company their paperwork, and then get on to teaching other pupils or whatever it is you’re doing with your spare time.”

“I know. You’re right.”

“I’m happy for you, man, but I don’t want to see you get hurt or create a situation you can’t get yourself out of.”

“You mean you won’t come bailing me out when I fuck up?” I asked.

“Only if you want someone laughing in your face and reminding you I told you so.”

“Eh, I’ll take it.”

“Then a toast,” Hunter said.

I held my glass in the air, and he clinked his beer bottle against it.

“To getting over shitty exes with their best friends. May we find the line and draw it before the line draws us.”

“What the fuck does that even mean?” I asked.

“I don’t know, but it sounded good. Here, here!” he exclaimed.

“Here, here,” I said, laughing.

But I knew I was in trouble once Hunter started talking about other things and I couldn’t pay attention. The more I tried to focus, the more I thought about Ava, and the more I thought about her, the more anxious I got about Saturday night.

I couldn’t wait to see her, and that was not good.

Ava

I smoothed my hands over another dress I’d purchased for my evening. This time I’d opted for something a little darker, a little more telling of this new step in my life. I’d found a great dark green dress that fit my curves and went high up my neck, no sleeves. It was a fitted style that fell just below my knees, and I wore dark green heels to match. My crystal jewelry sparkled with the colors of the rainbow, lending a lightness to my features that allowed the dark smoky eye I’d taken an hour to perfect seem appropriate. I almost didn’t recognize myself with my hair twisted up on top of my head and my body elongated by the silhouette of the fabric.

Part of me still wasn’t sure why I’d chosen this dress to begin with.

It wasn’t my normal style. My clothes were more fluid, more breathable. I never stuck to one color for an entire ensemble, and I usually tried to vary colors and give my wardrobe variety. I told myself it was for the rules of our encounter: sexy dress, matching heels, nice lingerie. But this time felt different. This time I knew what was coming.

And I was looking forward to it.

That made me nervous. I shouldn’t have been looking forward to screwing around with my best friend’s ex again. Nor should I have found myself happy at the prospect that the company had lost my paperwork. But I didn’t have anything to lose. It wasn’t costing either of us a dime to do it again, it was helping the company—which meant more business for my employer. And I got to explore Logan again, something I’d been thinking about ever since our lunch date.

Had it been a date?

Our lunch meeting.

Still, I kept the business arrangement at the forefront of my mind. Camilla still hadn’t talked to me about her breakup with Logan, and it had been a week since it had happened. I’d gotten her on the phone twice this week, but our conversations had been less than five minutes long. I couldn’t get her to have dinner with me or get drinks. I couldn’t get her to do anything with me. And maybe it was because of what had happened between her and Logan. Maybe she thought that if we hung out, she’d have to spill everything.