Friends with Benefits

by Amy Brent

  I headed up to shower and change and joined them shortly after.

  When I walked into the room, Sadie’s back straightened and her eyes met mine with enough hate that I should have felt it. Halle wore a sly smile as if she had a secret.

  “Ella, dear. I’m so glad you joined us. The girls have something they’d like to say.” Nola gave them a pointed glare, and they both mumbled their apologies as they dragged their forks against their plates.

  I sat and served myself some eggs and a waffle, drowning it in syrup and thinking of Aiden’s perfect lips and his goodbye kiss. I couldn’t see him soon enough again, and I wondered what the twins would say if their mother wasn’t around.

  “I, for one, would appreciate you girls all getting along,” said Scott from the head of the table. Nola glared his way as if she wished he’d go back to perusing through his phone.

  It was hard to look at him now the same way as before. The man was not just Scott Blue, rock legend, but he was my father. I had always known he had stories about my mother, but now I knew there were probably so many more that he’d never share around Nola, that he’d probably not ever share with anyone. Intimate details, private ones about my birth and what he thought about it. I could learn my family history if I wanted, and I tried hard to think of all the things that Millie had told me and how they’d now relate to me.

  “I’d appreciate it, Ella, if you wouldn’t stay out all night again, at least not without telling me where you are.” Nola turned a pleading eye to my father as if to get him to agree. I wondered if she had the same rules for the twins.

  “What time did you ladies get home?” I gave them a warm smile and their father, my father, lifted his head to listen.

  Halle clenched her jaw so hard I could see the muscle twitch, but Sadie kept a blank expression as she answered. “Long before you.”

  Nola gave Sadie a narrowed look and then offered me a smile. “I do hope the jewels the girls borrowed were not in poor condition when they were returned.”

  I wanted to remind her that the jewelry was not borrowed, but stolen. Instead, I played along. “Yes, they are fine. I’ll just be making sure to keep a better eye on them in the future.”

  “You’re welcome to lock them in the main vault. Or, if you’ve changed your mind, perhaps I could buy them from you. I know you could use the money, and I’m always adding to my collection as well. I’d love to keep your mother’s things close rather than you having to sell them to a stranger later.”

  “I’ve no need to sell them, and as I’ve already explained, the pieces mean far too much to me to ever part with them.” I wasn’t sure why she couldn’t get that through her thick skull, but it would be a cold day in hell before she or her sadistic daughters ever got their paws on my things. I wasn’t about to keep the pieces in their house. I’d already decided to purchase a safe deposit box for them instead, but she didn’t need to know that.

  Scott cleared his throat. “If it’s money Ella needs we could always give her the money. We’ve no need for her things.” Nola’s smile was so fake it seemed slapped on as she looked to her husband.

  “That’s very big of you to offer dear, but it’s a little much, isn’t it?” She narrowed her eyes, and her lip curled as if she were challenging him. “It isn’t like she’s family. Perhaps she’d rather earn her keep.”

  I felt a sharp pain as Millie kicked me under the table and I reminded myself not to sit so close to her again. She gave me a glare and nudged toward my father, but he hadn’t reacted to the statement, so, why should I? I supposed Millie thought that would make things better, but I had a feeling it wouldn’t. There was a reason the man hadn’t stood up for me and told Nola the truth, and if she was such a hard player to make him stick to his guns, then I wasn’t going to rock the boat. His secret was safe with me. But then he spoke up.

  “She’s practically family. We’ve known her all her life, and if there’s ever something you need, I’d appreciate it very much if you came to me. No matter if it’s money or anything else.” He offered a warm smile, and Nola plastered on one just the same.

  “I guess you’re right, Scott. She’s practically like a daughter.” Something in Nola’s tone told me she already knew, but Scott didn’t falter. He returned to his phone and swiped the screen as a hush fell over the table.

  I looked across to Halle who was stabbing her waffle with her fork as if she could kill it, and Sadie was slowly ripping hers apart with her fingers, dipping it in the syrup and shoving it into her mouth, not taking her eyes off of me. I wondered what they thought of their father’s offer.

  “Thanks, but I’ll be fine. I appreciate the job, and that’s plenty.”

  Nola straightened in her chair. “I suppose with your new, rich boyfriend. You’ll have everything you need soon enough anyway.”

  “New boyfriend?” Scott said, his brow pinched, and for a moment I wondered if his fatherly instincts were about to kick in. “Who is this new fella?”

  “Aiden Prince. It seems our sweet Ella stole all of his attention last night.” It seemed like Nola wanted to rub it in her girl’s faces.

  “Isn’t he a bit older?” Now Scott really did seem like he was a concerned father.

  “He’s four years older.” I glared at the twins and smiled knowing their father wouldn’t want them with him.

  Millie cleared her throat. “Four years isn’t so bad. Not like six.” She smiled sweetly at her granddaughters who exchanged a look before rolling their eyes. “Besides, Ella has always been a mature young woman, and I have no doubt she’ll make Aiden very happy.”

  “I’m sure she made him happy all night,” said Halle with a giggle, but Scott cleared his throat and changed the subject.

  All things considered, family breakfast with the Blue’s could have been much worse.

  Chapter 20

  Aiden

  I had just stepped out of the shower and put on a robe when Zep strolled into my room wearing a frown.

  “I hope you had a good night,” he said as he lowered himself into my favorite chair and stared at the ceiling as I dug through my closet for something to wear.

  “I did, the best in a long while.” I found a white cotton shirt and slipped it over my head and then dropped the towel to pull on a pair of sweatpants. “From what you told me, it sounded like you got your fantasy fulfilled.”

  “Until your mother stormed in waving her hands like a lunatic and scaring the girls half to death, barely.”

  “What do you mean barely?” That didn’t sound good.

  “Well, it turns out that while they don’t mind sharing men, they do mind hooking up with each other and other than touching, they didn’t do anything remotely sexy with each other, which was half of my fantasy. Not only that, but Halle was in a terrible mood, especially while I was fucking Sadie, who seemed bored the entire time and kept asking me about you. The Blue Twins are not only brats. They’re boring brats. I need a new fantasy.”

  “I’m sure Patricia killed what little action was happening.”

  “We were almost asleep by then, but I was doing a bit of deep penetrating while in spooning position with Halle. So thankfully, I don’t think Patricia caught that I was actually dick deep in her when she barged in. Talk about losing a hard on.”

  I winced thinking about it and hoped he didn’t continue to elaborate on the subject. My cock was shriveling in my pants at the thought.

  “Tell me you had a better time. Did you nail Ella?” Zep turned and spun around in the chair to face me.

  I had always told him everything about the women I’d been with, even the smallest details and he’d done the same, but I wasn’t sure I wanted him picturing those things about Ella. “Yes, and it was hot.” I decided to keep it vague.

  “Hot? That’s all you’re going to give me? You can’t be in love with this girl already. It was one night.” He knew I kept a tight lip when I really liked someone.

  “Come on, man. How was it? And hot doesn’t cut it.”<
br />
  “She’s perfect.”

  “Wait until she does something to piss you off, I’ll remind you that you just said that.” I didn’t care what he said, Ella was perfect. “At least be real with me.”

  “Everything she did turned me on, and she made me come my head off. That’s all you get. I don’t want you gawking at her thinking about all the naughty shit I could tell you.”

  “Well, now I want to know more. I’ll tell you all about the twins, every detail. They did touch each other. That was kind of hot.”

  “Please, spare me.” It seemed even worse knowing that they were Ella’s little sisters. As if I didn’t already think they were too young. “They’re kids.”

  “Ella’s only two years older, man. Halle told me that. You usually don’t even like them her age.” I hadn’t even thought to ask Ella her age, but it wouldn’t have mattered as long as she was legal. I knew she was older than the twins based on maturity alone.

  “She acts much older and isn’t an immature brat like some women her age. She’s perfect like I said.”

  Zep laughed at that again and then suddenly we heard the door open in the other room and my mother’s voice ringing out a warning.

  “I’m coming in and there better not be a matching pair of girls in my son’s bedroom.” Patricia walked in and glared at Zep, then she turned to me and met my stare. “Where have you been all night?”

  “I was at the beach house, Patricia, and I’m hardly a child. You can keep the third degree to yourself.”

  “You were with that maid?” She crossed her arms in front of her and looked down her nose at me.

  I shook my head and sat on the end of my bed to put on a pair of socks. “No, I was with Ella. She’s not the twin’s maid. They might treat her like one, but she’s not.”

  “She’s their employee, so it really doesn’t matter. I’m not going to have you going around with this nobody, whose probably only after you because of your bank account!” Her voice was ringing off the walls and my last nerve.

  I hated that she was so worried about common people and our reputation and even though I hated to let her get to me, I wasn’t going to let her sit around and make assumptions about Ella. My anger got the best of me, and I lashed out. “She’s not their fucking employee. She’s their sister!”

  “What?” Zep’s eyes widened.

  “That’s ridiculous, Scott Blue doesn’t have but two daughters, and it’s those spoiled brats that Zep was in bed with last night.” Mother glared in his direction and looked as if she wanted to spit on him. “Don’t be fooled, dear.”

  “It’s true, but I’m not supposed to say anything.” Shit, I wished I’d kept my big mouth shut. “She’s Layla Ford’s daughter, and Nola Blue doesn’t know, so what I said can’t leave this room!” I was certain the two of them could keep an urgent secret like that, and my mother put me at further ease.

  “Layla’s child? How interesting. Your secret is safe with me. I never did like that uppity Nola Blue or those awful girls of hers. Zep, I do hope you wore protection. Those sluts are probably full of diseases or are liable to trap you for your money.”

  “What do you know about Nola Blue, anyway, mother?”

  “Oh, now you call me mother?” She sat on the end of my bed next to me and leaned back on one elbow. “Well, for one, she’s been known to skim from the musicians that worked for her husband and even slept with a few. She’s a hard-nosed business woman and a real pain in my ass back in the day. She’s the sole reason that Scott didn’t want to work with my team on his last album, but she’d never admit it.”

  “So, the two of you hate each other?” I wondered what my mother would think about Layla Ford’s fortune being dwindled to nothing, but I didn’t want her to hate Ella or think her unworthy.

  “Not that we act like it. This is a small town, you keep your friends close and your enemies closer. We pretend, like everyone else.”

  “Well, then you won’t mind pretending a little longer for my sake. She can’t find out about Ella. Ella only found out, and I’m pissed I even shared the news. She’s heartbroken.”

  “I’d be heartbroken too if I had those people as my family. Layla Ford’s daughter, huh? You know, her mother was my friend. We weren’t too close, but we always got along.” She reached up and stroked my hair, and I let her. “Do you like this girl?”

  “I really do. So far, anyway. It’s still new, and I don’t want to jinx it.” I gave her a wink, and she shook her head.

  “I want to meet her.” Patricia met my eyes and gave me a look that told me that wasn’t negotiable.

  “Fine, I’ll ask her to lunch. I’m sure she’d love to meet you. She has her own jewelry line she’s trying to start up. She's very talented like her mother.”

  “Then I can’t wait to meet her.” She turned and looked at Zep who looked away. “And you, do you think we’ll ever be able to look each other in the eye again?”

  Zep looked at my mother and shrugged. “I’m sorry about last night.”

  “I should have knocked. I suppose it’s what I get for barging in, but promise me you’ll leave those dreadful girls alone.”

  Zep shook his head. “I can’t promise that. I’ve kind of got a date with Halle.”

  Patricia got to her feet and headed for the door. “Please tell me she’s the one who at least has the personality.”

  Zep and I exchanged a glance as she left the room, not quite certain which twin she thought had a personality, and knowing full well neither of them really did.”

  “You’re seeing Halle again?” I gave him a look of disapproval.

  “The sex is good, and she lets me do whatever I want.” He wagged his brows and I knew what he was meaning was she lets him put it wherever he wants.

  “Don’t tell her about Ella being her sister.”

  “I promise. If you tell me at least one, juicy detail.” His blackmailing skills had always been pretty good.

  “How about you don’t say anything, and I won’t kick you out on your ass after I kick it?” We both shared a laugh, and I knew he would see things my way.

  “Okay, okay, fine. But I do think it’s kind of hot we’re seeing sisters, even if they aren’t a matching pair.”

  “I agree with what you said earlier.” I waited knowing he’d ask.

  “What did I say?” He narrowed his eyes as if thinking about it.

  “That part about you needing to find a new fantasy.” I picked up a pillow from my bed and hurled it at him. “Preferably one that doesn’t include sisters. You know, since it was so terrible.”

  A slow, sly smile spread his lips. “It wasn’t that bad.”

  I shook my head as laughter filled the room. “Asshole.”

  Chapter 21

  Ella

  I tried to put aside my differences with the twins so that I’d be able to continue working for them without a grudge making things more difficult. If I had known what a challenge it would be for them to civil themselves, I might have reconsidered.

  I was up in their room with them as they waited for word from their mother who was busy negotiating their latest contract for the reality show. It seems the renewal depended on the girls taking a cut because of their bad behavior, but Nola wasn’t having it.

  Halle’s phone rang, and she and her sister huddled close to listen to Nola on speaker phone. “We’re going to be busy doing promos, so you two should be ready to work and in prime condition. I don’t want anything getting in the way of your work this season.”

  “So, we’re in? And with the same contract amount as before?” I’d never seen Halle or Sadie nervous, but it seemed that the two were capable of human emotions. Who knew?

  “Yes, and I fought tooth and nail for that, so don’t ruin it. Keep your noses clean, and we’ll be good for another two years at least.” Nola’s voice was stern, and I could imagine the look on her face was much the same. She’d worked hard for her girls, and even though I didn’t care for her, I couldn’t deny tha
t she loved her children and would walk through fire for them.

  Sadie’s chest swelled up as she huffed. “We should have gotten more this contract.”

  “Yeah, well that little stunt of yours didn’t do us any favors.” Halle gave her sister a wide-eyed look, and from the look on Sadie’s face, she didn’t appreciate it.

  Neither did her words. “You’re the one to talk! Why don’t you try keeping your legs together this season and maybe we won’t have as much scandal following us around.” It was almost comical when the two went after each other, and as long as I was out of the line of fire, I didn’t mind their constant bickering.

  “You two stop it. I’d like you both to settle down this season, which leads me to my next request. I’ve promised the producers that we’ll see a different side of you. They’ve wanted to see romance with Halle and a love interest and for you, Sadie, they’d like you to either settle in a relationship or focus on a talent. The audience is turning on you, and they don’t know how long they can survive with your bullshit.” Both girls rolled their eyes at their mother’s voice, but I knew if she was in the room with them, they wouldn’t be.

  Minutes later, Nola ended her call. Halle and Sadie were left to discuss the details alone.