Sugar Rush (Friend-Zoned 3)

I laugh out loud. “Oh my God, you’re, like, so funny.” As he drives, we talk about work. James explains tomorrow will be a busy day, as Wednesdays usually are. We talk, laugh, and joke, and it feels like only minutes before we’re at my apartment building.

He pulls into one of the free spaces and I free myself from the seatbelt. I smile over at him. “Thank you so much. I had so much fun this afternoon.” I think a moment, and admit reluctantly, “I have a lot of fun with you, James.”

“You’re welcome. Anytime you need help with something or don’t know where something is, let me know. I’m volunteering to show you around.” He pauses a moment before adding, “I have a lot of fun with you too. I didn’t know when I hired you I’d be making a friend.”

My heart swells. Before I have a chance to think on it, I lean forward and throw my arms around him. I hug him hard. “Me too. And you don’t know how much I needed a friend, so thank you.”

I feel him hesitate, but his arms slowly come around me. I rest my chin on his shoulder as he mutters, “You’re welcome.”

And that’s about the time a harsh knock sounds at my door. My heart jumps in time with my body. I squeak and turn around to see Ash staring into the car window. I wave and smile. He doesn’t smile back.

Oh hell. He’s pissed.

The car door opens, and my cupcakes and I are pulled outside. He growls, “Get inside. Now.”

What the hell? Where is this coming from?

James’s eyes fixate on Ash. He glowers at him and utters in false calm, “I wouldn’t do that again if I were you.” I’m so confused right now.

Asher stands just outside of the open car door. “Mind your own fucking business, jerkoff. You make a fucking habit of driving home your employees and getting touchy with ‘em in dark parking lots?”

Oh no. No, no, no, no, no, no, no! My eyes widen. I tug on Asher’s arm. “It wasn’t like that, Ash. God! You don’t even know him!”

But he doesn’t even hear me. He grins cruelly towards James. “I think you just lost your job, boss.” He points upward towards the security camera pointed directly at the car.

Fuck! He would dare!

…would he?

Panic turns me into a crazy woman. I pull Asher back by his arm enough to get him away from the car, and then I push at his chest with all my might. He finally looks down at me with a scowl. I push him again and snarl, “I am not my sister. You don’t have the right to pull shit like this! Get out of here, Ash! Just leave!”

Ash just blinks at me. “You serious? He’s fucking playing you, Lena!”

My body shakes with anger. I hiss through gritted teeth, “Not everyone is like you used to be, Ghost.”

The shot hits its target. His eyes widen a moment. He looks ready to attack me, but then a bored look replaces Asher’s concern. “You know what?” He starts to walk away. “Forget about it.”

I quickly look towards James. “I’m so sorry. He’s not usually like that. He was way off. I promise you you’re not going to lose your job.”

James doesn’t look at me. Jaw steeled, he looks down at the steering wheel and mutters, “He’s right.”

“What?” I’m shocked.

He looks over at me. “I said he’s right. I shouldn’t be treating you the way I am. I shouldn’t have put my arm around you today, and I definitely shouldn’t have put my arms around you just then. If anyone had seen us, I’d have been in deep shit. I’m sorry, Helena, for being so inappropriate with you.”

His change of demeanor is making my heart hurt. Have I just lost my friend? “But I liked it,” I assure him wholeheartedly.

He smiles sadly at me. “That’s the problem.” He starts the car. “I did too.”

He reaches over and closes the car door before driving away, leaving me standing in the middle of the parking lot, wondering if I just lost my job as well as my friend.

I don’t know how much time passes before I hear a car beep behind me. I turn to see Nat smiling and waving at me through her car windshield. As soon as she sees my expression, her face falls. She quickly occupies the parking spot James had used and jumps out of the car. “Okay. Whose ass do I need to kick?”

I’m still in shock. I can’t believe that just happened. Shaking my head, I tell her, “No one’s. Just a shitty day.”

She wraps an arm around me and coos, “Naw, cheer up, glum chum. We’re going to Tina’s for dinner!” She shakes me back and forth in a silly dance, and cheers, “Yay! Free dinner! Poor people love free dinner! You should be ecstatic!”

Stupid sister, making me laugh when I really want to cry. “You’re a dork.”