The Friend Zone (The Relationship Quo Series Book 2)

by Nicole Strycharz

  I twined my fingers in her hair. “Told you.”

  “Whatever, don’t get cocky. I’d like to see you pole dance.”

  “Not gonna happen. I’ll leave it to you.”

  She combed her fingers through the short hair on my chest, “did you mean what you told Chris? Strippers and pole dancing, they don’t like…turn you on?”

  “Not all guys are the same,” I explained, “contrary to popular belief not every little thing turns us on, and different things turn different guys on. Some guys are like obsessed with pole dancing and strippers but when I go to your events and you dance or the other girls dance, it looks more like a sport to me. Strippers are hot, yeah but it is kind of a pain because you can’t like, take them home.”

  She toyed with my friendship charm, “so you never get turned on when I dance?”

  “Now I do. Way back too. You did that one dance when we were alone at the studio before the event. We hadn’t done anything sexual yet though and I felt like a real perv.”

  She laughed, “what about when I sent that video while you were working? You took me against the wall in my apartment…”

  “Well, yeah, because when I watched it I realized I could touch it if I wanted. Like I said, that’s different. That makes it…a serious turn on. Or like when you did that Blue dance when I broke up with Jenzy…the lap dance part was…hard to get through, I was in severe pain that day. My balls were just as blue.”

  “No way?” She sat up again to see my face, “the blue dance turned you on? I thought you were laughing at us, I didn’t think it would actually do anything.”

  “I told you a long time ago, lap dances are different. You can’t resist a hot woman grinding your cock, that’s touching.”

  She spun a slow circle around my nipple, causing a tiny shock of life to hit my groin, “I am sorry about earlier. On the phone. I was baiting you.”

  Her ability to admit it was unbelievable, “why?”

  She rubbed her fingertip on my nipple then feathered her nails over it, “I don’t know. I guess…I needed to be a typical girl for a few minutes. We haven’t talked about…what we’re doing, we just keep doing it. You said at the studio that, you didn’t want other girl’s bodies, just mine. But what does that mean? I hate sounding so cliché but are we exclusive? Are we open? Are we okay to feel jealous? It goes back to what you said…about unzoned love. The sex took away the, ‘we’re just friends’ label. What zone are we in?”

  All good questions, unfortunately I have no good answers. “I’ve never been the kind to sleep with more than one girl at a time.” I said honestly. “I don’t overlap partners and I’m pretty tunnel vision oriented. So if I’m having sex with you, I won’t be wanting it from others.”

  Chloe’s eyes are dangerous because looking into them cause me chest pains.

  She nodded, “well, I feel that way too. If we’re doing this then I won’t see other guys. Isn’t that bad though? Isn’t that unhealthy, won’t that hold us back?”

  I hate these questions, they’re making me feel annoyed again but I get why she’s bringing them up, we’re unclear.

  “Are you bringing this up because you met some guy?” that was a decoy question. I already know she hasn’t but…

  She took her hand from my chest. “If you want to go into jerk mode I think I’ll go home.” She started to get up but I held her waist and forced her down so I could lay over her.

  She pushed at me a little but when I started talking she stopped, “I’m sorry. Okay I see it. You’re right. This is getting complicated. We’re acting different and feeling things that, make this complicated.” I’m wanting to slam my head in a door, “if we both get jealous and argue about shit that’s relationship like then it’s getting complicated. The sex is…making us go outside the zone.”

  She traced my beard and pinched my chin, “I’m afraid of what this might be doing to us. If this turns into a relationship, then it’s like you said. My track record with men is short and that means losing you. These nothing fights could stack up into a big one and then what?”

  This is depressing the ever-loving fuck out of me. I hate where this is leading, especially after just now and my whole body is vibrating with the word ‘no’.

  I massaged her hip, “I can’t lose you. Nothing is worth that, even great sex.”

  She slipped her hand from my chin to the back of my neck and caressed me there, “I think, we’re playing with fire here. We have each other, and the bookstore now, and your family. If things go sour there’s a lot to risk.”

  I moved my hand from her hip to her side, “I don’t want you to hold on to what I said though. I don’t think you’re some non-committal, flighty girl who can’t keep men past a certain point. You’re just selective, and you should be. You’ll settle when the time and the guy is right and go way past six months. I’m not pegging this on failing because of you.”

  Her shoulder lift made her breasts bounce and the shock to my groin turned into a thunderbolt. She smiled, “bottom line is …we should stop.”

  Fuck! Yes that’s the bottom line. That’s the answer to preserving us but fuck!

  “Okay…” I took her in. On her back, under me, bed ragged hair, blush of sex on her chest, heavy lids… it’s all very good. It’s all a side of Chloe I never knew, and won’t know again after tonight.

  It’s a side that some guy that isn’t me will have.

  She smiled and sat up to kiss my cheek, her scent catching my nose and making me hard. “Can you hold me?”

  Simple request.

  It should be.

  I came down and she rolled to put her back into my chest. With careful moves, I wrapped her up and pulled her closer. She fit into my shape perfectly. We fell asleep like that with Goliath not too far and the quiet of my house.

  I woke up from a dream about three hours later. In it, Chloe was going away. I don’t know where or how far, for how long but she was leaving me for good and it left me cold on the inside.

  When I realized she was sleeping next to me, so peaceful against my chest with me still spooning her, I buried my face in her hair. It smells like some kind of spring girly stuff and it’s intoxicating since that dream left me shook.

  We’d fallen asleep naked so I slowly pushed the blanket down to look at her. Her copper skin is shimmering in the dull light of a lamp in the far corner and her tats are matted. I held her hip and ground my erection into her. The softness of her skin made me harder.

  She slept still so I nuzzled my chin into her neck, “wake up Chloe.”

  She made a sleepy sound but didn’t move. I reached up to fondle her breast and roll the nipple between my fingers. Yes, this is what I want and I need it.

  I kissed at her cheek and jaw then licked and bit at her shoulder and back. After playing with her breasts I worked between her thighs and stroked her to find a wet and wanting pussy.

  I positioned my cock under her to align with her entrance but she held my wrist as I was fingering her. “We said we’d stop.” She mumbled into her pillow. “Moses, don’t.”

  I didn’t stop and soon she opened her thighs to let me in and pressed her hips into what she felt.

  I took out my fingers to hold her hip and set her right, “One more time.” I whispered.

  She tried to push my hand off, “no, we said-.”

  I plunged my cock into her without more words and she cried out. It was the hottest damn sound, like a prayer on her lips. “I know what we said,” I told her as I thrust myself into her heat. “We’ll stop after tonight. We’ll go back to how it was.” I sank deeper then pulled back to sink again, “just give me tonight.”

  She nodded and looked back to kiss me over her shoulder. It was an astronomical kiss. I took her until she had to lay down. She rolled to her stomach and I came up on my knees to plow harder and faster. She tried to come up on her hands and knees but I pressed her back down so only her ass was up. I pressed her chest far down into my floor and took her until she screamed.
My name on her tongue at a height of orgasm is a sound I won’t soon forget. I turned her over and beckoned her so she got on top.

  Now I can see her eyes, as she lowers herself on me I can see the soul that I’ve known almost all my life. She was still saying my name in a pleading hope.

  That’s when I knew I loved her. My name on her lips is what did it, and the explosion in my chest that followed my own climax. I love her. Not just the friend way. I don’t just love her, I’m in love with her.

  What scares me most though is I don’t think it’s a new development. It’s a really, really old one that finally has an unzoned, unchecked, unbound name. I’m not falling or feeling close, I’m in it. I’ve been in it.

  Now what?

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  CHLOE

  July

  My very first Shabbat was magical. I learned so much about my heritage and more about my family. Oh, how I love these people.

  Tuesday brought about their flight home but it was an extraordinary day. They left behind so much of themselves.

  For one, my walls aren’t bare anymore. Not only did they bring pictures of my mother and family members, they took pictures with me too. Pictures from the sightseeing we did, pictures from laughing together at dinner, pictures of us cooking or hugging. My walls and dresser are full of framed memories.

  They left me with the family recipe book, a quilt my Aunt made, and a prayer shawl made in Jerusalem. I have memories and phone numbers and emails. I have love and it’s priceless.

  It’s been two and a half months since Moses and I had sex. We went back to our usual fold of friendship where we’re safe.

  I’ve gotten to know Jenzy so much better and I adore her. She’s like Brianna as far as winning a girlfriend award with all the best qualities. Her husband Chris is so different from her, but he’s a nice guy. He’s also a hot guy. As much a Calvin Klein model as Moses, only he pumps iron to have muscles that impress.

  Moses pumps to stay toned and fit so he’s slighter than Chris and I like that about him. Actually, I prefer that. Ugh, there I go, thinking about him again. That last night we had sex is never far from my mind.

  I was working at the store more, like right now. I’m hand painting a sign that says ‘4th of July Sale.’ I’m doing it up at the counter so when people come in, I can greet them and bring it up.

  I was dipping my brush in the red paint when the door opened and Jenzy’s husband Chris showed up. He’s in one of his work suits that make him look like a Ken doll from a porno. I think he brought a heat wave with him, he certainly is fine.

  “Hey, Mr.” I said as I returned my eyes to my work.

  He came over and leaned on the counter, “I’m here to pick up some kind of…chi cleansing grass thingy that burns and makes my house smell like weed.”

  I laughed and rolled my eyes, “sage?”

  “Yep.”

  “Okay, hang on.” I paused and called out, “Moses!” We waited a second and I heard a muffled, ‘just a sec.’

  Chris sighed and straightened enough to open his suit jacket. “So are you and Moses still…weirdly close friends that had sex only one time and think nothing will come of it or are you together now?”

  I made a big mistake on the letter L in July on my banner. The tale went half way across in my shock. “How did you know about that?” I whispered.

  “Jenzy tells me everything and when it’s about scandal I listen.”

  That’s interesting, so Moses told Jenzy because I didn’t?

  I checked over my shoulder to be sure Moses wasn’t coming. “We’re just friends. We don’t do…that anymore. We realized it was a little high school. Now we’re like we’ve always been.”

  He nodded, “so no feelings eh?”

  I cut my eyes, “no. Why?”

  Chris stood tall and drummed his fingers on the counter. “Well, Jenzy and I have a little gamble going. I have an annoying easy girl in my office named Alba and Jenzy has a co-worker hippie at the doula classes named Rachel.”

  I didn’t want to give anything away but…I’m screaming internally. “Oh…cool…okay. Right. Like dates?”

  “Yeah,” he pulled two numbers from his breast pocket. “Alba is a high fashion type with a needy personality but Jenzy thinks she’s nice.” He rolled his eyes. “I have my money on the granola breath hippie girl she works with. It’s a high bet between us.”

  I arched a brow, “you’re trying to fix up your wife’s ex-boyfriend?”

  “We weren’t really divorced yet so I prefer to call him, ‘experimenting affair.’ Not boyfriend.”

  I laughed. Chris is hilarious when he isn’t trying to hook up a guy I still crush over secretly. “Well, good luck, because between Yoga classes, the gym, this store and stuff, he’s pretty busy. I don’t think he’s looking.”

  Moses showed up to my left with a stack of old newspapers. “Hey Chris,” he said and shook his hand then back at me, “can you wrap the crystals that broke, when that three-year-old was in here?”

  I nodded and he tapped the papers to let me know to use those. Then he gave a chin lift to Chris, “what brought you in here? A rabid hound?” He teased.

  Chris mocked, “Ha. Ha. Ha. Aren’t you a trip. No, I’m here for legalized weed.”

  I laughed, “sage,” I told Moses.

  Moses rolled his eyes and walked Chris to the back. “What’s it for?” he asked him as they stood staring at a wall of sages.

  Chris gave him a look, “I don’t fucking know. She said she needed to clean the chai or the chi or the evil spirits or something. I told her to use the powdered sage in the kitchen but she threw it at my head, so I guess that’s not a thing.”

  Moses took down a wrapped roll of white sage and handed it over. “Don’t let the cops see it. You could get me shut down.”

  Chris strolled back to the counter, “a real comedian today.”

  “Hey, I’m not the one that got high as a kite last year.”

  Chris stopped and pointed at him, “that was an accident. Jenzy’s mom was a product of Woodstock, I didn’t know the brownies were laced.”

  I laughed as he set down the sage, “that’s a story I need to hear.”

  He pulled his wallet. “I’m sure chatty Kathy here will tell you.”

  Moses came around the counter with me and scooted it at Chris. “No charge. It’s all good.”

  Chris looked ready to press but then didn’t, “thanks. Oh, and,” he showed Moses the business cards with those girl’s numbers on them and I tried to pretend painting was just so fun. “take these.”

  Moses took them and flipped them over. “Alba and…Rachel? Who are they?”

  Chris tapped on one, “Alba is a slut, pick Rachel.”

  “For what?”

  Chris hopped his brows and Moses laughed as Chris sang, “Bow chicka wow wow.” He sang.

  Moses was grinning but shook his head and slid the card across the counter back to Chris, “Nah, I’m good.”

  Chris sighed, “listen, I’ve been trying to get Jenzy to try this thing in bed for years. If you pick Rachel, I’d highly appreciate it.”

  Moses grimaced, “can you not talk about your marital sex, please?”

  “You owe me, considering I didn’t snap your neck when I found out you were seeing my wife.”

  I listened to their jokes and talk but my eyes were on the cards.

  Moses laughed at something else Chris said, “I appreciate the concern for my love life, but really, I’m good.”

  Chris slid them back his way, “okay, whatever, I’ll just leave these here and you just do whatever with them.”

  Moses nodded and Chris took his sage and left. I used my side vision to see what Moses might do with the cards. We’re just friends again so he could call those numbers. He could start a relationship and back burner me again.

  Instead, he picked up the waste can under the counter and cupped his hand to slide them in the trash. I made sure not to smile or even act like I notice
d but I’m so happy inside. I don’t have a right to be but I am.

  “How’s the banner going?” He asked.

  I looked up to say good but he’s hovering close, “it’s uh…we have it…it’s coming.”

  “Cool.” He watched over my shoulder and gave me a serious case of the shakes. That feeling when there’s so much sexual tension that if a virgin walked by she’d be deflowered by the electric waves.

  Later that night we went to the park with Brianna and his dad to watch the fireworks. We all settled on a big comforter with wine and snacks upon this grassy hill. The heat was close tonight but with the darkness coming in it was cooling.

  “This is going to be great,” said Brianna. “I love fireworks!”

  We all looked at her even though she can’t see us. “Bri,” I said cautiously. “You won’t be able to see them.”

  Her mouth dropped open followed by, “aww damn it!”

  We all snickered and she smirked before laying back. Moses’ dad contented himself with reading her the highlights of Cosmo Magazine by cell phone light.

  I reached in the picnic basket for a wrapped wine glass, “oh shoot.” I muttered.

  Moses looked over, “what’s up?”

  “You forgot to pack a fourth glass.”

  “We’ll share.”

  I waved it off and brought up my knees, “no I’m not that thirsty and-.”

  “Share with me, it’s fine.” He held out his glass and by his lack of surprise I almost wonder if he did it on purpose.

  When the fireworks started Brianna made us die laughing, “Ooooohhhhh!” She hollered, “that was a nice ass pop sound! Good one!”

  She narrated most, “whoa! Someone call the fire department, this park is ablaze!”

  We cried from her jokes, “that one was so bright it spangled my star!” she clapped.

  Moses sat back and his fingers laid over mine. I lost the silly feeling from Brianna and the fireworks and the wine. He didn’t make any move to stop, he didn’t even look at me.

  I studied his profile and fought the need to straddle his lap and kiss him senseless. He has me so twisted up inside.