Love in the Friend Zone

by Molly E. Lee

  Because you’ve never wanted to hook up with Braylen.

  Well, unless you counted that one time freshman year, which I was trying desperately not to think about. Except for the times it assaulted my memory, which was more than I’d ever admit. But she was Braylen, and I’d decided that night I would never cross that line again—I couldn’t risk losing her friendship like that.

  “Fynn?”

  Shit. What did she say?

  “What’s up?”

  “Is something going on? You seem…distracted.” Katy stuck her chest out just enough that I couldn’t not look.

  “Of course not,” I said.

  “Well, then, where are you going to school?”

  I tried to think back to what we’d been talking about before my mind had overrun with all things Braylen. Why couldn’t I get her out of my head tonight?

  UCLA. College. Right.

  “I’m undecided,” I finally answered.

  Katy nodded. “That’s cool. Thinking about working instead of going for a degree?” She trailed her pink-polished finger around the rim of her cup, a small smirk on her lips like she knew a secret I didn’t.

  “Not sure?” I answered like it was a question. This girl had my head spinning and not just because of the pink bikini that barely covered her perfectly shaped breasts. There was something going on between us, but I couldn’t figure out why I felt like I was left out of the equation.

  “What are you going to study?” I asked, enjoying the opportunity to finally peel back the layers of fantasy and match it with the real Katy.

  “I’m not one-hundred percent sure. I was thinking of fashion design, though I’m sure that isn’t a shock.”

  “Not at all,” I said. “Your Scarves for Saviors charity last year went over so well.”

  “You remember that?” She tucked some of her damp blonde hair behind her ear.

  I nodded. “My grandfather was in the army when he was alive, so I’m a fan of anything that helps our retired vets.”

  “Oh,” she reached over and lightly touched my shoulder. “I’m sorry about your grandfather.”

  “It’s all right,” I said, trying not to swallow too hard. “It was a few years ago.” Braylen didn’t leave my side for a month afterward—I’d been that torn up—and she was the one who coaxed me into marathon show sessions when I couldn’t find the energy to talk. I was better now for it, and she never let it slip into the rumor mill that I’d gone off my rocker for too long. God, she really was the best friend I’d ever had. “Anyway,” I said, getting back to the topic. “I remember how detailed those scarves were. You definitely have talent. Earning your degree for it will only amplify your mad skills.”

  “Thanks.” She drew her hand back to her cup but remained the few inches closer to me it had taken to reach out. “It took me six months to make all of them, but I’m so glad I did. We sold out in only two days.”

  And she’d given all those proceeds to the Victory Village—a military backed charity that helps veterans across every facet of need. I couldn’t believe that people found her skirt choice or who she was dating more interesting than her charitable work.

  “So, if you take your own advice, you should go to a school that’s really good for photography. Or would it be better to dive right into the field and start working?”

  “Oh, no doubt. Photojournalism is what I want to do…I just haven’t figured out which college offers the best program.” Which was a lie. I knew Northwestern had all the perks—except for the distance from home factor—but Katy wouldn’t be there. And while I’d crushed on her for years, now was the longest conversation we’d ever had. If something happened tonight, something to show we had a connection like I’d always assumed we would, then UCLA would look a hell of a lot better to me, too.

  “I’m sure it’ll come to you,” she said.

  I grinned, enjoying the fact that I hadn’t stumbled over my own tongue for the last few sentences. The nice, easy conversation had made the tension in my chest loosen a fraction, and hope swelled in its place.

  I was about to ask her about the kitten I’d seen her pick up off the side of the road last year—the next topic that popped into my head—but a loud voice boomed from above us.

  “Challenge accepted!” a blond dude screamed from the second story balcony that overlooked the pool. He scanned the faces below him, pointing a finger at Braylen who was still talking to the redhead at the other end of the pool. “In Braylen’s honor.”

  How the hell does he know her?

  He gripped the wooden ledge, hoisting himself up until he stood on the railing, his black and white Chucks practically glowing in the moonlight that lit up the night sky. Raising his arms over his head, he wobbled back and forth slightly until he gained his balance.

  I looked behind him, wishing one of his friends would pull him off the ledge before he killed himself in a drunken accident. I didn’t have a clue who he was, but I really didn’t want to watch him crack his skull open on Lennon’s concrete patio that surrounded the pool.

  “Ohmyeffingod!” Katy gasped beside me, clutching my arm. “Do it!” she screamed and I gaped at her. Seriously? I glanced over at Braylen, who was rapidly shaking her head and shouting at him to not jump. I tried to shrug it off, knowing I sided with Braylen’s thinking more, but not keen to let Katy know that.

  Before I could shout with Braylen don’t or someone help that asshole the pool erupted into chants of encouragement until the guy wore an I’m about to eat the canary grin. Two blinks and he’d launched himself off the balcony, his arms and legs flailing through the air as he fell toward the water. Another guy on the patio filmed the jump with his cell, cheering along with the crowd.

  Our fellow pool-goers darted out of the way as if a boulder would crush them any second. They weren’t all wrong, because the dude crashed into the water with such force his splash sprayed Gordon and Zoey, who had been walking by at the exact wrong moment. I would’ve laughed at the sight of them, sprinkled with pool-water and apparently pissed as hell, but I was too worried, hoping for the guy to surface.

  He’d barely missed the hard edge of the pool. Dumbass.

  When thirty seconds had gone by and he still hadn’t come up for air, I moved toward where he landed while everyone else stood still as statues. Diving under, I swam toward him, reaching out and grabbing an arm that limply moved back and forth under the water. He jolted from my touch and shot toward the surface. I followed, only to get a meaty fist straight to my chin as he attempted to fist bump the sky in celebration.

  A ringing buzzed in my ears as everyone around us erupted in another round of cheers.

  “YOLO baby!” he screamed as I gripped my chin. “Sorry about that, bro,” he said when he glanced at me.

  “No worries.” I shrugged it off and floated back to Katy.

  “Fynn!” she squealed. “Are you okay? I saw you try to save him. You’re such a white knight!” She worried over my chin but I shook off her concern.

  “Instinct,” I managed to say through her assault. “Not a big deal.”

  “Totally a big deal.”

  I swallowed hard, glancing at Bray, who was rooted to her spot at the edge of the pool.

  “Dude!” The daredevil shoved my shoulder, the water around us rippling from his movements. “Are you all right? I feel so shitty for clocking you!”

  “All good.” I stepped away from Katy, distancing myself enough to talk to him.

  “Let me at least get you a drink,” he said before glancing at Katy. “And your girlfriend, too.”

  Katy grinned, biting the corner of her lip again. “Cosmo,” she said with a wink at me like we shared an inside joke.

  “Don’t worry about it,” I told the guy. “I’ll get it.”

  “All right,” he said, swimming toward Braylen and looking up at her. She laughed at whatever he said, and something inside my gut twisted. It was her real, too-loud and borderline snorting laugh. One usually reserved for jokes of my cali
ber.

  Trying like hell to ignore the sizzling in my gut, I worked my way out of the pool, grabbed a towel from the stack next to the patio chairs, dried off, and headed toward the house to change back into real clothes.

  “Wait up!” Katy yelled, parading effortlessly out of the water, fully exposing the tininess of the pink sparkling bikini. It was no Harley Quinn suit, but I liked pink just fine. “I want to come inside, too.”

  “Daay-um.” Thrill-seeker guy was by my side, and I immediately scanned the area for Bray but came up empty. “You’re one lucky dude,” he said, toweling his hair.

  “Thanks,” I said, though I didn’t feel like I was able to lay claim to Katy as mine, just yet.

  “Randy,” he said, smacking his hand against my chest again. “See you inside, hero.”

  “I’m not a—”

  “Fynn?” Katy cut me off as Randy walked back toward the house. “I’m thirsty.” She waved her hands in a hurry up motion and I practically leaped into action.

  “On it,” I said, extending my arm out toward her. I was going to have to step up my game, or watch as whatever Braylen had told her lost its magical appeal and my dreams of slowly falling in love and going away to UCLA with Katy Evans burst all over the place.

  Chapter Five

  Braylen

  After changing back into dry clothes and taking my hair out of its top-knot, I sat on the kitchen counter—once again invisible to the keg-seeking students and the beer-can-building crew across the room, constructing a line of aluminum weapons with empties and superglue.

  Funny how a sultry Harley Quinn bikini made people take notice outside.

  Even Fynn had looked at me—really looked at me, like he saw me as an actual girl and everything. Then there had been that moment in the pool. The charged second where nothing separated our skin but water. My heart had filled my throat to the point I wasn’t sure I’d ever breathe again, and I had three little words on the tip of my tongue. Thinking I had already lost him as a friend to the brilliant concept that was Katy as his girlfriend had made me feel daring enough to tell him. That and Zoey’s insistence I at least flirt. I mean, why the hell not? If he was going to lose himself in her and forget the history we had and the friends we were, then I could lay my cards on the table and see if it made a difference. See if he chose me instead.

  A pipe dream, but still…what did I have to lose now?

  The furry beast who gazed longingly up at me like I was the love of his life had me laughing out loud. Much like Randy had a few minutes ago after he’d pulled that ridiculous stunt. I tossed bits of a croissant to Hendrix, who was my first choice to hang with at any of Lennon’s parties, if Fynn wasn’t around of course. Which he wasn’t.

  I tried not to think about how he had gone all moony-eyed when Katy interrupted our moment. Tried not to think about how his black swim trunks had sat perfectly on his drool-worthy hips, showing off his rippling abs that had felt so incredibly good as he’d cradled me to his chest. It was a game, one we’d played before, but it had been different. Maybe it was because for the first time ever, I actually wanted to tell him.

  Of course, that was before he’d literally thrown me away to talk to Katy, who looked so spectacular in her swimsuit that she made me want to simultaneously eat cake and salad at the same time. My fluttering fantasies of admitting my love and him choosing me died while I was launching through the air to crash land in the water as far away from Fynn as possible.

  Tossing another piece of bread to Hendrix, I smiled at his undivided attention. The big black dog couldn’t take his eyes off me or my snack. Maybe all I needed to do was bribe Fynn with the right item and he’d see me the way he saw Katy—desirable. I gave Hendrix the last bite and chuckled to myself. It’d been three years since the forced kiss between us and he hadn’t shown an inkling of interest—it was never going to happen.

  The weight of that reality, perhaps spurred on farther by his actual shot with Katy—if he hadn’t already swept her off her feet and to the nearest room by now—sat heavy on my chest and settled angrily in my gut. I mourned our friendship and the relationship I’d always wanted.

  I think in some way, Fynn had to realize choosing one girl would lose him the other, and he either didn’t want to admit it or didn’t care. He hadn’t even chosen a college yet. He acted like it was the hardest decision in the world.

  Maybe it was. Maybe he was holding out hope Katy would give him a green light and he’d take his chances at UCLA. We’d be over two thousand miles apart if he made that choice…

  But maybe that would be best. Give me the space to move on—though I wasn’t sure there was enough distance in the world to erase the love in my heart.

  I hopped off the counter and grabbed another drink—this one a fruity, pink concoction in an ice-cold bottle—quickly swigging it back in an attempt to drown the gritty feeling pulsing through my veins. If I would’ve known that this would be my last night with Fynn before Katy naturally fell for him, I might’ve talked to him more during our private dinner, and worked up the courage to tell him how I really felt before all this Katy mess.

  Taking another quick drink, I realized I had zero excuses left. I was already torturing myself—had been torturing myself over this boy for years. It was time to fess up.

  A flutter of nerves shot through me and I drained the bottle and popped the top of another. I was normally the designated driver at parties like these, but Fynn had driven the two of us and I knew he wouldn’t be slamming them back as hard as me. He’d want to take it slow in order to stay sharp for his big move with Katy.

  Holding the bottle by my side, I walked through the kitchen and around the corner, where another hallway full of rooms led to yet another sitting area—this one filled with an entertainment center so large it could’ve been a movie theater. I halted at an opened door just across from it, my eyes widening when I saw Blondie-Bear in nothing but a pair of hunter-green boxers.

  I gasped, my mouth dropping as I watched a trail of water droplets slide down every cut of his six-pack, all the way to some ridiculously defined V-lines.

  Who the hell doesn’t close the door?

  “Ah, fair Braylen,” he said, and I clamped my mouth shut. God, why can’t my heart respond to him like it did to Fynn? “Could you hand me that?” He motioned to the edge of the bed, where a dry white T-shirt laid next to a crumpled pair of shorts.

  There he was, all incredibly in shape and flirting with me, and still…not even a stomach flip. I cursed my whacked sense of attraction and silently stepped into the room, tossing him the shirt as he dropped the towel he’d been drying off with on the floor.

  “Thanks,” he said, slipping his arms through the shirt.

  “I’m glad you didn’t crack your skull open,” I blurted out, thinking of how stupid that jumping off the balcony stunt had been.

  He chuckled, holding the neck hole before him. “Me too.” He finished pulling the shirt over his head, his green eyes pinning mine as he stood there in his boxers. Moving closer to me, he never lost my gaze. My cheeks flared, the heat flushing over every inch of my body as he reached around me and grabbed his shorts off the bed. “But hey, it made you look, right?”

  I laughed. Sure, I could appreciate how attractive he was, but he didn’t make me weak at the knees like Fynn. “Everyone was watching,” I finally said. “You do that wherever you go?”

  “Yeah. Stunts are my thing.” He grinned down at me. “But I’d really rather know about you.”

  I chuckled awkwardly, recognizing the flirt but not registering it internally. He was such a nice guy, too. Why couldn’t I be friends with him and date Fynn? “I don’t have any interesting stories to tell. Not like leaping stairs or jumping from balconies.”

  He slipped one leg through his shorts, then the other. “Are you seeing anyone?” he asked after finally, thankfully getting dressed.

  My stomach twisted. The truth was no, but it wouldn’t make a difference. My heart belonged to someone el
se. Even if he didn’t have a clue, which I had been about to remedy before Randy called me in here. I brought the bottle I held to my lips and took three long gulps to avoid answering.

  “Thirsty?” Fynn’s voice sounded from the doorway and I jolted, sloshing half of the sticky pink drink down my v-cut top. My eyes darted from Fynn’s to Randy’s and back again.

  “It’s not…we weren’t…I was just…” I stumbled over my own tongue, somehow feeling like I’d betrayed Fynn just by standing in the room with a hot, only recently dressed guy. I hissed from the cold drink still dripping down my chest, and clumsily swiped at the mess with my fingers.

  I froze with my hand on my chest when my eyes dropped to his hand, which was interlocked with Katy’s, who stood right behind him, her eyes full of pity as she stared at my soaked top.

  Well this is fucking fantastic.

  I resisted the urge to crawl in a hole and die and quickly pushed past them, darting back to the kitchen in search of napkins. One floated into my vision, and I trailed my eyes up the large forearm and muscled bicep that held it in front of my face. Randy had followed me.

  “If you wanted to get wet again you can jump in the pool with me,” Randy said, an irresistible smirk on his face. “From only the first-story balcony. Sure it’d be easy for you.”

  I snatched the napkin out of his hand and blotted my chest and shirt. “I like to keep my feet on the ground, whereas you always seem to have yours in the air.”

  “You two know each other?” Fynn stepped closer to me, his blue eyes darting between Randy and me. Damn, he’d followed me, too, and dragged Katy with him. Great.

  I cracked a grin, arching an eyebrow at Randy.

  “Sure,” he said. “Braylen and I go way back. She practically assaulted me on the stairs.”

  My mouth dropped open. “Me? You made me a third-wheel to the Jenny and Todd make-out-fest!”