Sugar Rush (Friend-Zoned 3)

A sweet smile crossed Willa’s face. “I’m going to kiss Whit tonight.”

My jaw dropped. I shook my head to clear it. “Have you been drinking?”

She giggled, and I hadn’t heard anything so sweet in my life. Covering her face with her hands, she uttered, “No, but he’s giving me all the signs, like you said. And I’m done with waiting for him to make a move.” She stood taller. “Tonight is the night.”

Felicity took her hands in her own and beamed, “You’ll have to find us and tell us how it went.”

I scoffed and touched her arm. “Girl, if he kisses you right, we won’t see you ‘til Monday. And you’ll be walking bowlegged.”

We made our way upstairs and found Nat, Lola, and Tina sitting at the usual booth. Tina lifted her swollen feet onto a stool, while Nat rubbed them. As I approached, I smiled down at her and patted her belly lovingly. “You taking care of my nieces or nephews?”

She smiled sweetly. “I am, but they’re not taking care of me. My back is killing me.”

“Why didn’t you stay home?”

Suddenly, Tina blurted out, “I needed to get away from my heathen children!” My brows hit my hairline. I’d never heard Tina say anything but good things about being a parent. She laughed. “Don’t misunderstand me. I love my babies to bits, but I need time away from them. You know? To talk to adults.”

Nat muttered, “And to get your fat feet rubbed,” then winked at Tina.

I looked down at her belly and asked, “How much longer?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. The doctors say from next week it could be any day.” A serene look crossed Nat’s face and I knew deep inside me that she’d be a great mother. She couldn’t wait to hold her babies.

Lola looked up at me, squinting. “Aren’t you supposed to be in California?”

I bunched my nose. What kind of crack was Lola taking? “No. Why would I be?”

She shook her head, distracted. “I could’ve sworn I heard Trick say Max was taking you home for the day. Something about missing the beach.”

It was then that I remembered.

“I sort of…had something planned for you. A surprise.”

He wanted to take me home, to California, f

or the day, because I missed the beach? Sweet baby Jesus.

I muttered absently, “Excuse me,” as I walk towards the edge of the staircase.

I had to find him. And I had to find him now.

Gripping my ass tight, he groans into my mouth as he leads me away from the bar. Taking my hand, he pulls me up a flight of stairs I haven’t seen before. When we reach the top, he swipes his keycard at the side of a door and it unlocks. I’ve never been here before. “Where are we?”

Gripping my hand so tight I think it might fall off, he mutters a short, “The office.”

He opens an office door and turns on the light, pulling me inside and shutting the door behind us. I stand in the middle of the room, eyes darting left to right. I spot the photo of Ceecee and I realize we’re not just in any office. We’re in Max’s office. My heart stutters when I notice the photo next to Ceecee’s.

It’s me. Fast asleep. And I’m snuggled deep into Max’s throat as his eyes smile into the camera, kissing my forehead. When the heck did he take that? Drawn to the photo, I move towards it and ask a small, “When did you take this?”

He locks the door and states, “The first night we slept together.” My gut coils. Why would he do that? I look over at him questioningly, and he says reluctantly, “Knew you were special.”

My throat thickens with emotion. “But…”

“You told me the last guy you slept with was four years ago.” He blinks up at me. “Know how long it’s been since I last fucked a woman?” I shake my head slowly. He steps closer to me, accentuating every word with a step. “Nine. Long. Years.”

How is that possible?

“How is that possible?” I ask, perplexed.