Sugar Rush (Friend-Zoned 3)

He tells me, “Well, my family really only consists of two people. It’s just me and my brother, Trent. Both our parents have passed on. Dad, when Trent was a baby, and Mom just last year.” Just as I’m about to offer my condolences, he mutters, “You really weren’t

kidding when you said you guys are like a family.”

Fiddling with my straw, I smile warmly. “I was never really part of the family myself until recently. Very recently. Tina was, and my sister was, so I guess when they told the guys I was going to be living here,” I shrug, “they just sort of included me.”

James responds to me, but looks over at the booth filled with laughing women and their men. “Must be nice.” I look over at the booth myself and smile at the scene they don’t even know they’re making. He adds, “To be included just as you are.”

I turn back to him. “May I be frank?” He nods, lifting his beer to his mouth. I mutter, “It’s fucking awesome.”

He chokes on his beer and I laugh. He bangs on his chest with a closed fist and wheezes out, “Potty mouth.” Then shoots me a thumbs up. “Nice.”

Still laughing, I cringe at myself. Who the heck did I think I was having drinks with? “I’m sorry. I’m not exactly making the best first impression. Especially since I’m supposed to be making a good impression. I just…I guess you just make me feel like I can talk freely with you, you know?” I look down at the table. My cheeks heat as I mumble, “I already feel very comfortable with you.”

A warm hand covers mine. I peek up at him. He confides, “The feeling’s mutual. And as far as I’m concerned, as long as we’re off the clock, you can cuss like a damn sailor and pour rum down your throat. It’s all good.”

Eyes full of awe, I confess, “I think I just fell in love with you a little.”

He suavely leans back in the booth and shoots me with a finger gun. “It happens.”

I couldn’t get the damn smile off of my face if I wanted to. Not that I want to.

I think working with James Whittaker will be a treat.

***

Max

The sound of vibrating wakes me. I squint over at the clock. 1:14 am. What the fuck? I open the message sent from Nik.

Nik: Not that you care or anything.

Attached is a photo. The hairs stand up on the back of my neck. Well, she don’t waste any time, does she? Helena, looking something like an angel, leans over a booth, laughing. Her hand rests on the man’s forearm. He’s smiling down at her, looking at her like she’s the most beautiful girl in the world.

Wait. Is that…?

My gut knots in what I refuse to believe is jealousy. That’s Whit, Ceecee’s PT, and she’s looking up at him like he’s a god. My chest aches. I quickly type a response.

Me: Glad she’s having fun.

I switch off my phone and try to get back to sleep. But sleep doesn’t come. Instead, I wonder what it’ll take to get the green-eyed hothead to smile at me like that.

***

Helena

It’s close to two am, and now that James has left, I’m moving back over to the booth with everyone else. As soon as I get into hearing distance, my sister calls out, “So how big is his cock?”

I shoot her daggers. “Shut your whore mouth. He was a gentleman.”

She smirks. “So you tried and he plead innocence?”

Nik cuts in with a curious, “You tryin’ to bake cookies with Whit?”

I wave a hand in his direction to shut him up, and get back to bickering with my sister. “No, dumbass. He’s my boss. I wouldn’t do anything with my boss. That’s just stupid. He’s my boss.” Her eyes narrow at me in a bullshit gesture. I point a finger at her. “Thinking about it is not the same as doing it!”

She chuckles. “You’re fucked. You got a crush on your boss. And the way he was looking at you all night...” She fans herself. “Holy shit. This is not going to end well. I can see it already.”

I bunch my nose. “Looking at me like what? He was uber-friendly.”