Wright with Benefits

I blanched. “That’s horrifying.”

“It was,” she said with a sigh. “Truly. Now, what else can I do for you?”

“Honestly, I think that’s all for now. We’re having Wright Construction work on the barn. Hollin is managing the wine production. Julian is hiring. I told him that’s where I drew the line.”

Sophia laughed softly. “Well, if you get my sommelier to come interview, then be there with Julian. You’ll want to meet her. She’s whip-smart, really knows her stuff.”

“Deal.”

We headed back toward the entrance together. The night was beautiful in Lubbock this time of year. We were far enough out in the country that the stars were bright overhead, and the soft swish of the wind carried a tune with it. A chill, too. Sophia tucked her coat tight around her.

“Do you have plans tonight?” Sophia asked once we finally made it back to the cars.

“I…don’t,” I admitted.

“Care to get a drink? La Sirena has the best wine selection or the Funky Door?”

I wanted to say yes. No, actually, I didn’t want to say yes. I wanted to want to say yes, which felt even more ridiculous than the other options.

Truly, I just wished this were Annie and she wasn’t hundreds of miles away, doing who knew what with some blond dude. Unfortunately, I was my father’s son. And that temper led to possessive, jealous tendencies. All I wanted to do was convince Jensen to lend me the jet, so I could fly out there and figure out what the fuck was going on. But I knew that would be psychotic. Or at least, she’d take it that way. If she’d drawn a line in the sand at much simple things, then that would surely be literally flying over it.

“I think that we should keep our relationship related to business,” I said as gently as possible.

Sophia still colored. “Oh. Well, yes, of course. I understand.”

“I’d hate to lose your friendship.”

Which I was sure was the wrong thing to say as her blush darkened.

Then she stuck out her hand, ever the professional. “It was a pleasure doing business with you, Jordan. Let me know if you need anything or if you hear from my sommelier.”

“I will.”

We shook, and then she got into her car and sped off. I leaned back against my truck. What the fuck was I doing? If Annie was really leaving in a matter of months, was any of this worth it? Should we be doing this at all?

It wasn’t like friends with benefits kept either of us from getting hurt in all of this. And I’d broken enough hearts to know that I didn’t want to be the one hurting at the end of it all.

Still, I could have fucked Sophia tonight, and the inclination wasn’t even there. Not even a little. Maybe it was already too late.

18

Annie

Hours passed.

I’d stopped drinking so that I could sober up enough to get home and sleep instead of puke my guts up. Prisha and Virginia had left at some point. I’d waved them off, promising that I’d grab an Uber.

The rest of us stayed out until bar close. Taureen had an arm over Cord’s shoulders. Cord had an arm over my shoulders. We stumbled to the sidewalk to wait for our Uber as we all sang whatever the last song had been in the club. We were ridiculous but happy. The night had been incredible, and even better, Taureen lived in the same neighborhood as Prisha. So, we could all ride together.

We tumbled into the backseat and drove the short distance back to their place. I was sober enough by now to tell our Uber driver was irritated with us, but still drunk enough not to care.

“You can keep driving to Prisha’s,” Taureen said, pointing down the street. He was already stumbling back into his house, leaving Cord and me alone out on the street.

“I could walk you instead,” Cord offered.

“Sounds like a good idea,” I agreed.

The Uber zoomed away without another word.

“Ass,” Cord said, kicking his foot out as if he could kick the car.

I giggled, tugging my jacket tighter around me. “We’re all drunk. I’m sure he hates drunk people in his car.”

“Probably.”

I pulled Prisha’s address up on my phone. Taureen was right. It was only a few blocks away. Cord glanced over my shoulder at the map.

“See, not far,” Cord insisted.

“Will you be okay getting back?” I asked him.

He grinned. “I think I can manage.”

We were silent on the walk to the house. As if the dark night had swept in and sucked all the words out from us. Covering us in shadows and sealing us in with the black of night.

The brisk walk cleared my head. Made me look back at the night we’d had. I blinked and cringed. I saw where this walk was heading before we even reached Prisha’s. Knew what was coming next. And felt my feet slowing down, trying to stretch it out so that this didn’t have to happen.