Sugar Rush (Friend-Zoned 3)

Ash takes two steps forward to stand by his wife. He looks down at her and says, “I’ll handle this.” He lifts his face to mine and narrows his brows. “What are your intentions with my sister?”

Asher can be a scary guy, if you haven’t grown up with him. I place my coffee cup on the edge of my desk and respond on a smile, “I like her.”

Nat’s harsh face crumbles to reveal her beautiful smile. “You do?”

I smile harder and sigh dreamily. “She’s incredible.” I really mean it.

But Ash isn’t having any of it. His jaw stiffens and I know he wants to punch me in the gut. Nat throws her hands up in the air a moment before jumping at me. I catch her at the last second. Her soft laugher tinkles in my ear. “Oh my God, this is so great! You’ll come to California with us for vacation and stay at my parents’ house, and when you get married, we’ll be family! Not like the family we are now, but real family!” Nat pulls back, fixing my collar and grinning. “She’ll be a great mom. She always wanted kids.” She gasps dramatically then turns to Ash. “Can you imagine little MaLena babies running around?”

A look of confusion crossed Ash’s face. “MaLena?”

Nat rolls her eyes at him as though he’s stupid. “Max and Helena. Get with the program, babe.”

Helena and me married? Little baby Helena’s and Max Juniors? My heart starts to race. Hell to the no. Just as I lift my hand to argue the point, Nik arrives at my office door and jerks his chin towards Nat. “What’s the crazy lady gasping about?”

I open my mouth to answer, but Nat cuts me off with a happy, “Max and Helena are getting married and having babies!”

Nik’s eyes widen comically. “She’s pregnant? Already?” He shakes his head. “Jesus, man. You sure don’t fuck around.”

That’s it. I raise a hand and begin, “Whoa, man. She isn’t pregnant.” I turn to Nat. “And we aren’t getting married.” I face Ash. “But I like her, and we’re taking it slow. All we’re doing is dating. Everyone needs to relax.”

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; I hate myself for thinking of Maddy right now. I remember how I felt when she left us. We never heard from her again, but I dug. I sincerely wished I hadn’t when I found out she remarried and had two little boys of her own.

How can she do that? How can she live her life like we don’t exist? Like we never existed?

This is why I don’t normally date. I can’t go through that again. It near killed me the first time around. I wonder how long it’ll take Helena to realize a man with a disabled teenage child isn’t what she’s looking for.

Lucky this thing with Helena isn’t serious.

Yeah, right.

Lucky we’re keeping emotions out of this relationship.

Keep telling yourself that.

Lucky there’s no risk of losing my heart again.

She’s already in there, man.

Nat’s face falls. She opens her mouth to speak, but closes it quickly. She takes a moment then tries again. When she speaks, it’s quiet and cautious. “The last real boyfriend Helena had was senior year, and he hurt her, Max. He hurt her in a way that she was scared off dating.” Hearing some douche hurt Helena makes me want to punch a hole in the wall. “‘Til now. She really likes you, Max. She might deny how much she does, but I can see it. She likes you a lot.” She breathes deep then replies on a whispered exhale, “Please don’t hurt her.”

Hurt her? Why can’t anyone see it? She has the power to hurt me. And she will, when she’s had enough of me. And even knowing that, I can’t let her go. I’ll be around for as long as she wants me. Helena can’t love a guy like me.

Who wants a person with half a heart?

I wrap my hand around Nat and hug her. “I won’t hurt her. I promise.”

Smiling softly as she pulls away, she utters, “That’s all I ask.” She straightens. “Right. I have to get to work, but I’ll see you all later.”

She kisses Ash on the mouth, and kisses my cheek then Nik’s as she leaves.

Ash turns to me. “I swear to God, man. I love that woman more than my own life, and she loves Helena more than her own. You hurt her,” he looks me in the eye to show me how serious he is, “I will fuck you up.”

Without a backward glance, he leaves me office, and I call out, “Noted.”

Nik stands by the door, leaning against the frame. “Gotta admit I was surprised about Helena, but not that surprised.”