Love to Hate You

by Liliana Rhodes

  Shade smiled in the picture with his tongue dangling out of his mouth. His warm brown eyes looked happy like always. I had no idea what I was supposed to be looking at.

  “Did you take this?” I asked. “This isn’t your number.”

  Brent sighed impatiently.

  “Wait a minute,” I mumbled before enlarging the picture. “Is there something on his bandana?”

  Brent’s face was blank, but as I looked at him the edges of his mouth tugged into a grin.

  “It’s been there all day,” he said. “I thought for sure you were going to see it when you were petting him earlier.”

  “There’s something on his bandana? You put something on there?”

  I tried to make out what it was in the picture, but it was too blurry. All I could see was something blue that reflected the light.

  “Come here, Shade,” I said, holding my arms out to him. “Turn around, buddy.”

  He wagged his tail again but didn’t budge.

  “Let’s go, come on, come just a little closer,” I said, reaching for his bandana.

  Shade wiggled as his tail beat faster against my leg. He touched his nose against my hand and I reached out for the bandana and lifted it off his head.

  I spun the bandana around, looking for whatever was attached to it. Out of the corner of my eye, Brent waited impatiently.

  Nearby, a large seagull dove towards a table the couple had set up with food. It cackled loudly until it got a response in the distance. As the bird waddled along the pier, he was joined by a smaller one.

  “Why are you looking at me like that?” I asked, tilting my head to the side.

  “You’re killing me, you know that?” Brent grabbed the bandana and held up a deep blue sapphire ring with channel set diamonds.

  I knew what it was as soon as I recognized something was glittering in the picture, but sometimes I just enjoyed driving Brent crazy.

  I smiled as I took the ring from him, then reached down to pet Shade.

  “It’s beautiful, Shade. I love it.”

  Brent shook his head as he laughed.

  “Jackie, even with the ups and downs of this past year, I wouldn’t change anything. Well, maybe I’d change the whole Dennis thing,” he teased.

  “That was definitely the down part. You’re going to hold that against me, aren’t you?”

  “Maybe,” he said, smirking. “But only if it means you owe me.”

  “Oh boy, here we go again,” I said. “What’s your proposition this time?”

  “This time, I’m proposing. But before you say anything, let me say something.”

  I nodded hesitantly. Brent and I had talked about marriage before. Brent was excited to get married, but I was worried things would change between us. I loved him and I wanted to marry him one day, but things had been so great between us I didn’t want to mess that up.

  “We’ve been together for six months,” he said. “And instead of calling that an engagement ring, I want to call that a promise ring. I promise to love you, appreciate you, and do whatever I can to always make you happy. You know I can be impulsive, but I’ve been really thinking about this a lot.”

  “So you’re just going to wait until I say I’m ready?”

  “I know you’re mine. Nothing is going to change that,” he said.

  He leaned closer and touched his forehead to mine before gently kissing my lips.

  I put the ring on and looked into Brent’s grey eyes.

  I thought back to the day of Samantha and Drake’s wedding when Brent said life was too short to be serious. He was right, life was too short.

  There was nothing I was more confident about in my life than being with Brent. Everything was so easy with him. He made me laugh, he dried my tears, he made me realize that I was worthy of a good relationship. And that was what I had with him.

  “I remember when I thought you hated me,” I said.

  “I never hated you,” he said. “Admit it, you still hate me.”

  My mouth curved into a smile.

  “I do,” I said. “I think I hate you more every day.”

  Nearby, the newly married couple clinked glasses of champagne with their guests. They looked so happy that it reminded me of Samantha and Drake.

  Samantha’s words flitted through my mind--

  It’s made me realize how Drake and I could’ve been together even longer. I wasted time away from him when I could have been happy instead. I want that happiness for you.

  I wanted that happiness too. And I wanted it for a lifetime. I knew I had that with Brent and nothing would ever change that.

  “What are you thinking about?” Brent asked.

  I pointed at the small wedding and the minister quietly leaving.

  “What do you think?” I asked.

  “Are you serious?”

  “Ask me,” I said.

  “Will you marry me?”

  “Yes,” I said.

  “Now?”

  “Yes!”

  Brent wrapped his arms around me and hugged me tight. Then he stood and took my hand as we raced over to the minister.

  We caught up to him and asked if he could marry us right there and then. He scrunched his face as he looked at us, and I was sure he was going to say no, but then he nodded with understanding.

  “I don’t know how legal this is, but why not?” he said. “I can see the love you have for one another.”

  With the sun making orange streaks in the sky as it sank into the Pacific, Brent and I exchanged our vows. It was just the two of us in shorts, with Shade as our witness and it was perfect.

  The End

  Thank you for reading Love to Hate You!

  I hope you enjoyed it.

  Get Becca & Gideon’s story in

  BETTER AS FRIENDS.

  Continue reading for an excerpt.

  About Better as Friends

  “Have you ever thought about being more than friends?”

  Becca Draven’s life has changed in ways she never imagined. She has a job she loves and a wonderful group of friends, even if they keep telling her she needs a boyfriend. The last thing Becca wants is a man in her life. All they do is complicate things. Besides, she already has one – her best friend Gideon.

  Gideon Kohl is an architect on the rise and after several high-profile projects, everyone wants a piece of him. He’s always loved being the center of attention, but lately there’s only one person he cares to be around – his best friend Becca. And with his brother Gabriel telling him they’re perfect together, Gideon can’t help but see Becca in a different light.

  Can friends turn into lovers?

  Part One

  Chapter One

  Gideon

  September

  "Gideon Kohl, architect extraordinaire," I said as I took the sharp curve out of the glass tower of my penthouse apartment.

  "It's Gabriel," my brother said. In the background, I heard a gruff voice yell something about a speed bag. "Are you nearby? I'm at the gym meeting some new fighters. I need to talk to you about the South End project."

  The South End project was a grant created by my brother, Mr. Mixed Martial Arts, Gabriel Kohl. The intent behind it was to fix up the shitty neighborhood he and I grew up in and make it safe again. I was working as the project architect with my friend Becca Draven, who was managing the project.

  "I'm almost to City Hall," I said. "Can this wait?"

  "No, the Mayor called."

  Shit, I thought. He was supposed to keep his mouth shut.

  "I thought you were only staying on the project until you completed your licensing hours," Gabriel said. "He told me you're still showing up there at least once a day."

  "I don't see what the big deal is. I'm working pro bono and he knows that."

  "I don't know, Gideon. He said something about insurance. I'm too busy to get involved with this crap. If you're done with your hours, then you don't need to be there anymore."

  "Becca is shorthanded. I'm helping
her out."

  Gabriel laughed. "Is that what this is about? Let me guess, you love her and can't live without her. I've heard this way too many times before."

  "Gimme a break, we're just friends. That's all. You know I've got my sights set on Cassie. Any day now she'll get tired of your old ass and upgrade to the newer model," I joked.

  "Keep your eyes off my wife," he said.

  "It's not my eyes you should be worried about."

  "I've told you, Gideon, she's off limits. I'm not joking. You know I can still kick your ass."

  "Okay, okay. Jeez, lighten up! I was just kidding."

  "Back to Becca," Gabriel said. "She doesn't need your help. Maybe you should think about why you're still going to City Hall every day."

  "We're friends, bro, nothing more."

  "I don't know. I know you, Gideon. I don't think you can really be friends with a woman."

  "What makes you say that?" I asked.

  "Because we're men. Say what you want, but eventually the sex always gets in the way."

  He hung up before I could argue. He didn't know what he was talking about. Becca and I had been great friends for a while now. Nothing would change that.

  I pulled into the small parking lot behind City Hall and found a spot next to Becca's red pickup truck. I pushed my sunglasses up the bridge of my nose to shield my eyes from the bright sky as I stepped out of my car. As I glanced at the wide brick building in front of me, I couldn't help but grimace. It was one of those places where people groaned when they talked about going to work, and I definitely saw why.

  City Hall was located downtown in Canyon Cove. It was an old brick building with a tall clock tower in the center. Surrounding City Hall were tall skyscrapers that would lead some people to believe they were in a big city, but it really wasn't. Canyon Cove was large in terms of size, but most people who lived there were connected to each other somehow.

  The stench of stale coffee struck me as I entered through the side door. Above, the fluorescent lights buzzed as they reflected off the pale green floors. The building reminded me of the hospital my mother was admitted to before she left us. It was part of the past that I wanted to forget.

  I pushed away the memory as I entered the office I shared with Becca. She was the only reason I tolerated this place. I didn't have to show up anymore, but I looked forward to spending the day with her.

  Becca's light brown hair was pulled back into the same sleek ponytail she wore every day in the office. Each strand of her hair was carefully in place. Even her bangs, which grazed the top of her eyebrows, knew where and how they should lay.

  She drummed her fingers on the old metal desk as she stared at her computer. A pair of oversized plum-colored glasses rested on her nose. Becca wore them because she thought they hid her freckles. She never said that, it was just something I knew about her. I thought the oversized frames accentuated her freckles even more, but I'd never admit that to her.

  The combination of her freckles and her rarely wearing makeup made her look much younger than she really was. People always gave me crap about not looking my age, but Becca looked even younger and she was three years older than me. Even though she was twenty-eight, she could easily pass for my little sister.

  Becca was cute in a girl-next-door kind of way and the furthest thing from my type. It was probably why we became such good friends.

  "Hey there, beautiful," I said.

  I leaned against her desk, whipped off my sunglasses, and gave her my best seductive stare as I eyed her conservative pale blue cotton button-down shirt and slacks.

  "There you are," she said, her eyes glued to the computer. "I know that look." She wagged her finger at me but kept her eyes on the screen. "I don't even need to look at you." She shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "Now stop it. You know I'm immune to that crap."

  I shrugged. "It's how I greet all the beautiful ladies. Works every time."

  She rolled her eyes and grabbed her pen then proceeded to jab my ass with the push button end. The pen clicked repeatedly as she kept poking my jeans.

  "Off my desk," she said, trying not to laugh. "God only knows where your ass has been."

  "You think I'm going to give your desk cooties?"

  "Knowing you, you probably already have," she said with an evil grin. "How was your weekend?"

  I dropped into the squeaky chair behind my desk, directly across from hers, and ran my fingers through my hair. Call it vain, but my hair needed to be the perfect combination of messy and fixed. Women always said they loved my hair.

  "Quit it with the hair, Gideon. It's just you and me here. No one to impress."

  "You just can't handle how good I look," I said playfully. "You wish you could rock the organized chaos look."

  She rolled her eyes again as she laughed.

  "So you want to know about my weekend. You mean besides all the stuff you already know?" I asked.

  "I'm sure you don't tell me everything."

  "Oh, but I do. The escapades of Gideon Kohl are all yours for the asking. Who else would put up with me?"

  "Sorry, I know." She took her glasses off and placed them on the desk before rubbing her eyes. "I'm a little out of sorts today. I'm feeling overwhelmed with this whole fundraiser thing."

  "Yes, the Boone fundraiser in two days. It's all you talked about this weekend."

  I leaned back and yawned dramatically to remind her how dull I found the fundraiser. The chair let out a low groan as I put my feet up on the desk.

  "I know, I'm sorry. I don't mean to be so boring, but do you have any idea how much we need to raise?"

  "Well, you know raising is my specialty. I can always get it up."

  I waggled my brows at her lasciviously. She shook her head with a look of disgust.

  "You can turn every conversation into sex, can't you?"

  "Who said anything about sex?" The corners of my mouth tugged upwards as I tried in vain to look innocent. "Obviously you're the one with sex on her mind."

  "Me??? You always have sex on the brain. Even just now you said you can always get it up."

  "Yes, Becca, the funds. I can raise the funds. Get your mind out of the gutter. Jeez."

  She scrunched her nose at me, and I wondered what was going on in her head. I loved teasing her and she could give it as good as she got it, but I always won when it came to talking about sex. That was the one topic she always got flustered about.

  "Then what about the other night? I know you were thinking about sex then," she said, her face reddening.

  "What other night?" I asked innocently. I knew she was talking about Saturday night, but seeing the flush creep across her cheeks spurred me on even more.

  "Saturday night. You went out with the guys and when you got back, you texted me."

  "I text you every night." I shrugged. "You know we always chat before bed."

  "You know what I'm talking about," she said as she wagged her finger at me.

  "Nope, no idea," I said with another shrug.

  "You offered to send me a picture of…of…" her eyes widened before she dropped them down towards my lap.

  "My cock?" As I said the word, I imagined trumpets saluting in the background. She was almost too easy to tease at times. Seeing her face glow brightly, I smiled, seeing the reaction I was looking for. "Of course I offered to send you a picture of my cock. That's what friends are for. You were getting so wrapped up with the budget and the fundraiser, I thought you needed a little distraction. Of course, in my case I mean a big distraction. And maybe then you'd relax a little."

  I winked at her, and she launched her pen towards my head but missed.

  "You're such a perv," she said, laughing.

  "Me? No, I'm a realist." I pulled my cell phone out of my pocket. "Go ahead. Send me a picture of yourself and I'll show you how quickly I can relax." I closed my eyes and put my hand up in her direction. "Never mind, I can imagine it." I lowered my hands to my belt. "Want to watch?"

  "You're disgusting," s
he said as she continued laughing.

  "But you forgot all about the fundraiser, didn't you? That's why you love me." I laughed. "Remember, if you ever need a good dick joke or just a picture of one, I'm your man. That's what friends are for."

  * * *

  The spotlights danced in the clear summer night sky. As I approached the Boone Art Gallery, the line of impressive cars waiting for the valet caught my eye. I slowed my red Bugatti down to take them all in.

  Even after all these years of living in wealth with my brother, Gabriel Kohl, this display of money still impressed me. It didn’t matter how much money I had on my own or that I was surrounded by so many billionaires in Canyon Cove, deep down I would always feel like that poor kid who grew up on the wrong side of town.

  I pulled the car around to the back of the building to the entrance for the underground garage. There was no way I was going to let some valet touch my car. I spent a summer in college as a valet and knew how shitty they treated the cars. I wasn’t going to let some douchebag take my baby for a joyride.

  Tonight was a big night for the South End. Just six months ago, my brother Gabriel Kohl created a grant to initiate its revitalization. Becca and I had been working nonstop since day one. We made a lot of progress by focusing on the old retail and restaurant spaces, but so much had been neglected for so many years that the project needed more capital. As the project manager, Becca didn't want to ask my brother for an additional grant. She felt that with all the wealth in Canyon Cove, everyone could pull together to help. She got her wish when Xander Boone chipped in by hosting a fundraiser at his art gallery.

  Becca had been insistent on getting there early. She was one of those crazy people who needed to arrive before anyone else. In this case though, she felt that as the two people who were managing the majority of the revitalization, we should be there to schmooze for the entirety of the event.

  Kissing ass and sucking up to people just because they had money was the last thing I wanted to do. I knew it was for a good cause, and I wanted the South End to flourish for my own personal reasons. But the people coming to the Boone all knew why they were invited. Nothing I said or did would make them spend more than they wanted to.