by Piper Rayne
I turn around with a huff and grab my things.
He waves his hand out in some grand gesture. “After you, work BFF.”
My shoulders slump but I go first. Halfway down the hall, he passes me. “Sorry, I can’t look at your ass anymore,” he whispers as he passes. He opens up the conference room door and it dawns on me how secluded we really are in here. He closes the door after I sit down.
“I think we can leave the door open,” I say.
“No, we have top secret stuff to talk about.”
Taking what would usually be Mr. Copeland’s chair, Ethan’s leg touches mine and I retract from the contact. “What are you doing?”
“Nothing. Sorry.” He peeks under the table. “Thought it was the table leg.”
“Ethan.”
“Blanca.”
“She was my friend.”
“Was?” He raises both his eyebrows.
“We were close and yes we parted ways, but she brought me here. Gave me a place to live. A place to start over. We’re just getting our friendship back on track and I missed it, okay? I don’t have a ton of girlfriends and I can’t go against girl code the first month of a friendship. It’s wrong. Especially since…”
It doesn’t matter what he thinks. He doesn’t have to know all the reasons I made my decision.
“Especially?” He leans back, crossing his arms. Cocky and arrogant like usual.
“You weren’t exactly doing cartwheels to get me to go out with you. I’m not going to throw away a friendship for what could be a few more dates and then you’re sick of me.”
“Huh,” he says and sits up straighter in the chair, grabbing his coffee and sipping it.
“What?” I ask with a whine in my voice.
“It’s just that a few nights ago, we agreed we shared something special. Something neither of us has felt with someone else, but now you’re so quick to give it up.”
My hands land on the table with a thud. “She’s my friend.”
“Okay.” He shrugs.
“Okay as in you’ll stop all this ridiculous behavior?”
“I was acting ridiculous? I was just being what you wanted me to be. Your work BFF, right?”
“We can be friends.”
“Okay. We’ll be friends. Let’s talk about the articles then.”
“Perfect.” I smile. Maybe we can overcome what’s happened between us, as difficult as that seems.
“I say we pick Are Bestie’s Ex’s Off The Table?” I slam my pen down and Ethan laughs. “I’m kidding.”
I doubt he was.
“We can do how to be a good friend. I’m sure you have a lot of tips for that.” He winks at me.
I stare at him until he holds up his hands laughing. “You’re so serious now. Is that the work BFF side of Blanca Mancini? She’s all serious and I’m her funny sidekick?”
“You know what, let’s just go to Mr. Copeland and tell him we can’t do this opposing article thing anymore because you’re acting like an immature jerk.” I stand up and gather my stuff but his hand lands on my wrist.
“I’m kidding. I mean I’m mad and I’m not in agreement about this new classification of our relationship, but we’re not going to risk our jobs over this. This opposing articles thing has the capacity to give us some credit and hopefully boost us to where we want to be.”
“Are you telling me you’re going to play nice?” I really wish his hand on my wrist wasn’t making my skin burn with want.
“Yes, Mom, I’ll play nice.”
I sit back down. “I did come up with some topics.”
Ethan claps his hands and runs them along one another. “Let’s hear ‘em.”
“Can men and women just be friends?”
He quirks his eyebrow.
“Yeah, that’s stupid.” I cross it off my list. “Are flowers cliché?”
He shrugs.
“Great first dates?”
“I think Copeland wants us to pick points we can each argue. Go back to the first one. I know it might not be the wisest what with the current state of our relationship, but do you believe women and men can be friends?”
I lean back in my chair. “Yeah. I mean, I’ve had guy friends.”
“Perfect. I don’t see it. The physical attraction will always be there.”
“Maybe they aren’t physically attracted to one another. Take Dylan. He’s attractive, but I don’t want him.”
“But Rian does. And imagine one night, just you and Dylan up on the rooftop. Heavy conversation about childhood traumas and you start crying. He puts his arm around you and soothes your worries. The two of you grow closer and bam, you kiss.”
“That’s absurd. You’re setting the whole thing up.”
“I’m giving you a real example of what it could be.” He links his fingers and rests his forearms on the arms of the chair.
“No. He could hug me and it would mean nothing.”
“Okay, what about us?”
“That’s different.”
“We’re here late one night. Everyone is gone and it’s just us. I find you in the break room getting a drink of water. My intent is to talk about the articles, but when I find you, you’re drying a wet spot off your blouse. Your white blouse that is now transparent and gives me a great glimpse of your very erect nipple. Our eyes meet and bam, we end up screwing on the table.”
I don’t say anything but stare at him. He laughs. “I think men have sexual fantasies about their female friends, but it’s not the same for women.”
“Great. That’s why I take the male perspective and you take the female. I’ll tell Copeland we’ve decided on the article.”
“I’m not so sure.”
“What’s not to be sure of? We’re friends. You have no intention of sleeping with me again, so you should have no problem proving your point.”
I tap my pen on my notebook. There’s a hidden agenda for him, I’m sure of it, but I’m going to prove him wrong. No way am I losing to him again.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Ethan
“She’s more evil than I thought.” I pick up my coffee and shake my head, staring out the window.
“Are you really surprised?” Seth asks, sitting down at our corner table in his parent’s bagel shop.
“That she’s purposely telling someone not to date me. I am.”
“Technically, she’s not telling Blanca not to. She actually told her she could date you,” Dylan chimes in, eating his second bagel. How does this man stay so in shape?
“It’s clearly passive-aggressive,” I remind them.
Knox says nothing because he rarely talks about anyone. Gets too much confrontation with his job as a cop, I suppose.
“Give it time,” Dylan says.
“Fuck time.”
They all stare at me and slowly put their bagels or coffees down like they’re ready to give me an intervention.
“I know you like Blanca. She’s cool and all, but do you really want to have to deal with Sierra for the rest of your life if the two of you work out? I mean she’s constantly going to be saying things,” Seth says.
It probably doesn’t come across, but I do have a soft spot for Sierra. They probably don’t realize it, but I think I know why she’s doing this to Blanca and me. She harbors a lot of ‘not good enough for anyone issues’ with the death of her mom. Her dad lives in a fantasy world where he thinks his daughter has it all together. Half the reason we’d fight was because she thought I didn’t like her enough or that I was already half out the door. Although I had no clue that Blanca was her friend, I’m sure she sees this as direct proof that she’s not good enough.
“I really like Blanca and I don’t care for someone telling me whether or not I can date a certain person or not.”
They all sit there silent like there’s nothing I can do to stop this.
“How are my boys doing?” Mrs. Andrews wipes down the table next to me.
“We’re good,” Dylan says.
“Hey Mom, have you met Blanca yet?” Seth asks.
“No. I heard you mention Sierra and Rian’s new roommate, but you haven’t brought her around.” She stops wiping and gives her full attention to her son.
I refrain from mentioning that Blanca goes to their competitor.
“Ethan and Blanca work together,” Seth says.
His mom’s blue eyes light up. “Oh? You found a place to land, did you? Where are you now? Bring her by. I have some great topics. You know there isn’t enough about menopause and how that affects the bedroom.”
We all laugh while Seth pounds his forehead on the table. “Mom, no one wants to hear about your sex life with Dad.”
She rolls her eyes like her son is being dramatic.
“It’s nothing these boys haven’t heard before.” Her hand runs along Knox’s shoulder. “Right boys?”
We all agree just to piss Seth off. Then his narrowed eyes set on me and I shake my head.
“Blanca and Ethan are more than co-workers. They were dating and now Sierra is mad. What do you think they should do?”
Just like that Seth throws me under the double-decker bus.
“Just so you know, next time your mom wants to talk about sex toys, I’m setting it up where you bump into her at a sex shop,” I whisper.
Dylan chokes on his coffee and Knox shakes his head, telling Seth that was uncool.
Mrs. Andrews sits down at the table next to us. “You like her?”
I’m polite so of course I answer. “I do.”
“And what does Blanca think?” she asks.
“She thinks her friendship with Sierra is more permanent than us. That she doesn’t want to mess that up because we could be over after one more date.”
Mrs. Andrews nods. “You know, there was this time when me and Mr. Andrews—”
“Shit, nothing good comes from that start to a story.” Seth stands up and disappears into the kitchen.
She shoos him away with her hand. “All I was going to say was there was a time I thought Mr. Andrews’ intentions weren’t pure. That he only wanted to get me up to Lover’s Point in the backseat of his Trans Am to do the deed. He started seeing Gwen Bakersfield too and she had no problem hopping in the back seat. She was loose.”
I nod, not sure how this relates to my situation.
“Where’s Gwen now?” Dylan asks.
“She’s in New York. Married some man twenty-years older than her. I’m sure she’s making use of those toys, so her husband doesn’t break his hip.”
I bite my lip with the hope that we can get through this conversation without any specifics of how great of a hip Mr. Andrews has.
“I told him I was done. That if he wanted Gwen then fine, but all she was, was a pair of tits and ass. That if he wanted a real woman, one who would love him for his faults, one who would be a partner by his side, then he had to prove it to me.”
I scrunch my eyebrows at Dylan and Knox. Both are on the same page as me. This has nothing to do with my situation.
“I know it’s different. But you and Sierra weren’t meant to be together. She was your Gwen and if it’s bothering you this much that Sierra has put down her iron fist than maybe Blanca is me.”
I tilt my head trying to figure out the puzzle she’s talking about.
Dylan laughs but covers it up by spilling his coffee. He tries to stand but Mrs. Andrews uses the rag in her hands.
“All I’m saying is if Blanca is so important, shouldn’t you be fighting for her instead of complaining in a bagel shop with your friends? Mr. Andrews fought and look at us.”
Seth walks out of the back and Mrs. Andrews’ smile shines as bright as a full moon. “I’d change nothing. Gwen had to be in our life for us to get here. Otherwise he’d take me for granted.” She pats me on the back. “If you really want her, why would you allow her to just walk away from you?”
Mrs. Andrews moves to another table asking how their orders were and I just stare after her.
“So?” Dylan asks.
“She’s right. I already want to fight for her, but I have no idea how.”
“Seriously? That’s easy. Everywhere she goes, you go,” Dylan says, balling his paper from the bagel and tossing it into the bag.
“Please don’t make me file a restraining order against you,” Knox adds.
“Nah. But we have a photo shoot tomorrow and I plan on using our close proximity to my advantage.” Ideas float around in my head.
“Jesus, don’t get arrested. I can’t stand it when you dipshits do stupid shit.” Knox stands up and throws a ten on the table. “I’m off break.” He squawks into his radio that he’s back in service and with a wave he’s out of the bagel store and back in his squad car.
“I have one place I can help you. For my birthday we’re doing a scavenger hunt in the city,” Dylan says.
“Awesome, but you know Sierra is gonna have a problem with that.”
He nods. “She has to get used to it. You were my friend first and I should’ve stuck up for you sooner. I’m on your side with this.”
“Thanks, man.”
“No problem. Now you better get to work too.” I eye my phone and stand, leaving a nice tip for Mrs. Andrews.
“See you Seth!” We wave to him and he tries to wave back but Mrs. Andrews is currently pinching his cheeks and telling him what a great son he is.
I try not to be envious.
Walking to the river’s edge, I spot Blanca sitting on a park bench. She’s wearing one of those jumpsuit kind of outfits. It has spaghetti straps and gives me a glimpse of her shoulders and tan arms.
I opted for a pair of linen shorts and a button-down to remain casual because that’s what Mars And Venus is. We’re not the stuffy suits. We’re the young graduates who write about hooking up with co-workers and the best happy hour spots in Cliffton Heights.
“Hey,” I say and sit down next to her.
She looks up and I realize she’s wearing a lot more make-up than usual. “Hi. The truck is right there.” She points to a trailer that must be where she was.
“I have to get done up?”
“They said they want powder on your face and some eyeliner at least.”
I roll my eyes and stand, heading in the direction of the trailer.
Twenty minutes later, I’m out with what feels like five pounds of crud on my face.
“Is this really necessary?” I stand in front of Blanca and she laughs.
“You look very beautiful,” she says.
I shake my head. “This is why I’m in print journalism and not television.”
She laughs and I take it in, absorb it into my bones. I love that sound. I haven’t heard it often enough since everything went down. It’s clear she’s bothered by this, but she’s the one who has to tell Sierra to stand down.
“Are you two ready?” A guy holding a camera comes up to us.
Blanca stands and I have to backstep in order not to touch her. She lowers her head and follows the photographer’s assistant over to where they want us.
“Phil said he wants this to be casual and to capture the two of you having fun. So this is a little unorthodox but can the two of you walk down the path and just talk?”
Blanca looks at me over her shoulder. “What do you want us to talk about?”
The photographer looks to me and then back to Blanca. “Phil said you guys were good friends. That you have fun in the office, and he didn’t think it would be a problem to get some candid shots. Is that not the case?”
I squeeze through the small opening of the assistant and the photographer. “No, it is. It’s just the pressure of the camera following us. How about you give us a few minutes to warm up?”
“This isn’t a porno,” Blanca says behind me. “I don’t need to be fluffed.”
I raise my eyebrows at her, and she throws her hands up in the air and walks away.
I hold up my finger to the photographer who sucks at keeping a straight face. “Give us one minute.”
I run after her and we end up at the river’s edge. “So, that was interesting.”
She whips around and shoots me a death glare. I’ve never been on this side of Blanca’s ire before. “I don’t care. I’m done caring. They’re not happy. Oh well, I’m not very happy either.”
“Hey, I’m all for running away. Want to disappear for a while? My car is parked in the public parking lot and I can drive us up to Vermont and spend a few days in a cabin. Just you and me. But I will warn you, there are no clothes allowed.”
Her lips uptick a little because she knows I’m joking. Not that I wouldn’t do it if she said yes.
She knocks her shoulder into my chest, and I put my arm around her, kissing the top of her head. God, how can you miss someone you only had for such a short time? But my heart aches having her, knowing she can’t fully be mine.
“Let’s get this over with. A few hours with me isn’t going to be so bad, is it? I showered and put on deodorant this morning.” I pretend to sniff my armpits and her hand swats my stomach. “There’s the violent Blanca Mancini I’ve missed.”
She laughs and we both stop when the shutter of a camera sounds behind us.
“Come on. It’s just us. Nothing to stress about.”
For the rest of the afternoon, I’m gifted with a smiling Blanca. We sit on park benches with ice cream cones, kids walking around with balloons down the pier. A million seagulls flock around us as I stand like a statue in their midst and Blanca runs away. We ride bikes and laugh. We laugh about everything, mostly at the photographer’s assistant because the guy was put through torture having to round up two bicycles and props for our “candid” photoshoot.
Spending an afternoon with Blanca only solidifies how perfect we are together and that I need to figure out how I’m going to checkmate her.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Blanca
Two weeks into this friendship with Ethan and I have to admit, he’s made it bearable. Sure, his flirtatious glances and sexual remarks make it tempting to cross that line, but Sierra and I are in a good place again.
