Best Man with Benefits

by Wright, Aubrey

  She wasn’t seriously thinking of getting back together with this guy, was she?

  “Who are you?” Ned asked.

  “Your worst fucking nightmare, Deeznuts.”

  “Jacob, don’t.” Chloe said. “I’m fine handling this on my own.”

  “Chloe, you are not seriously getting back with this goober. He’s a piece of shit. He stole from you, for fuck’s sake.”

  Her heels clicked on stone. Christ, she was perfect. Her curls tucked up against her head, wearing that same pink dress as the last time, in Paris. That night we’d held each other and talked real shit.

  “Are you kidding me with this?” she asked. “My life is my life. I certainly don’t need you out here telling me who I should or should not date. Those in glass houses and all that.”

  “You stay away from her,” I said, pointing at Ned. “You stay the fuck away from her, or I will end you.”

  “Oh my god.” Chloe gripped her forehead. “Oh my god, this is a nightmare.”

  “You wanna go?” Ned asked, sauntering up toward me.

  I reached out for him, but Chloe’s hand chopped down out of nowhere and hit my forearms. “No! Time out. You two are not going to fight on the steps of a fucking church.”

  “You just said ‘fucking’ on the steps of a church,” I said, more to break the tension with her than anything else.

  Chloe didn’t laugh. “I am not going to play referee to you two assholes.”

  “Well, you’re going to have to if you’re getting back with him. I won’t allow it. You deserve so much better than him, Chloe.” You deserve me. Us.

  “Because you know what I deserve?” Chloe sighed and drew her hands through the air a second time. Thunder rolled overhead. The dark clouds had covered the night sky, blotting out the stars. “That’s enough from both of you. I am not getting back together with Ned, not that it’s any of your business, Jacob. And Ned, you’re a thief. That’s all I have to say regarding that.”

  “That’s a harsh phrase. You should have signed a contract with me if you wanted to earn royalties from sales, but you didn’t. That was your bad, not mine.”

  “You asshole.” She struggled forward, but I caught her arm, held her back.

  “Let me handle this,” I said, silently relieved that she wasn’t planning on dating this asshat again.

  The guy stumbled back. The bravado from moments before had disappeared. He might have been the hyena, but I was the motherfucking lion, and I would rip him limb from limb for what he’d done to her. This is not your battle. She’s not your woman.

  Wasn’t she, though? How the hell was I supposed to continue like this? Being around her without touching her, speaking to her, was like having a bleeding sore in my stomach. I was handicapped.

  “Come here,” I said. “I just want to talk to you.”

  “You know what? Forget it.” And the Ned bastard fled back down the church steps. He started up a brisk jog the minute he hit the sidewalk. I made to go after him, but Chloe’s hand on my arm stopped me.

  “What are you doing?” she asked.

  “Helping you.”

  “Yeah, well, don’t. I don’t need your help, Jacob. I’m fine handling that kind of stuff on my own.” The challenge in her stare was there as usual, as was the defiance that made her who she was.

  The past few weeks had been miserable. What about Charlie? You can’t do this.

  “We need to talk,” Chloe said. “At the wedding, or after it, I don’t know. The reception, I mean. There are important things to talk about.”

  “I agree.”

  “Wha—? Wait, what do you have to talk to me about?”

  “I made a mistake.” I took her hand and stroked my thumb across the back of it. She pulled it free, and the gesture shocked me. Was it already too late? Had I lost her because of my stupidity? “Please, ride with me to the reception. We’ll talk.”

  Chloe chewed on her bottom lip. “Yeah, OK. That’s probably a good idea.”

  A good idea? She was acting strangely, and I couldn’t quite place why. “This way.” I led her to my car, and we got into the back of it. My driver knew where to go and rolled up the window that separated the front of the car from the back.

  “You travel in style.” Chloe sounded ready to throw up. Apparently, I made her as nervous as she did me.

  “I try.” A silence parted us, but I wouldn’t let it stay. Goddamn, I’d been such an idiot. Seeing her with another man had been painful. And it was a man she didn’t even want around. What would happen when she met someone she did want to spend time with?

  How would I handle that? What would happen if I, one day, received an invitation to Chloe’s wedding? Would I be the guy who crashed into the reception and declared my love for her? She’d turn to me, dressed in a white wedding dress, standing next to some faceless handsome guy, her groom, and tell me it was too late.

  Because I’d been too dumb to risk it for her. That was what Chloe deserved. Someone who would put everything at risk to be with her. Even if it meant tearing apart friendships and family ties.

  “We should talk,” Chloe said and interrupted my thoughts.

  I turned in my seat, facing her. “We should.”

  “Uh, should I start, or do you want to?” She had both hands pressed to her stomach, her face pale.

  “I want you to know that I’m sorry,” I said. That was a start. “When you called me a few weeks back, I acted like an idiot. I was trying to be hard, Chloe, because I was afraid.”

  “Doesn’t matter. What matters now is—”

  “But it does matter. I pushed you away because I was afraid of what it would mean to draw you closer instead. And I don’t want that to be who I am, Chloe. I want to be there for you, no matter what.” This was an ass-backward way of saying it. Fuck, I was dumb.

  “Jacob, I wanted to talk to you, because there are some things that you don’t know.”

  “Same,” I said. “You don’t know that I’m—I want you.”

  “What?” Her hands dropped to her sides. “What did you say?”

  “I want you. For you. And not just physically, Chloe. I want to try to make things work with you. I want to try dating.”

  “Oh my god.”

  “And I know that you’ve got a boyfriend, and this shit is totally inappropriate, but I’m the kind of guy who goes for what he wants, and you are what I want.”

  “I—what?” She’d gone green now.

  “Chloe, I’m—”

  Her hand flew to her mouth. “I think I’m going to be sick.” She retched. “I’m definitely going to be sick.”

  Always a good sign after confessing feelings to someone. I tapped on the window that separated the driver from the passengers. “Pull over!” The car skidded to a halt.

  Chloe flung herself out of a side door and slammed it shut behind her.

  Thirty-Three

  Chloe

  It was the second time I’d locked myself in the bathroom this evening, but this one warranted it.

  Jacob wanted to date me.

  It was enough to induce tears. He’d fucked me, rejected me, then I’d found out I was pregnant, decided that I’d do the right thing and tell him, and then, just when I’d been about to break the news, my morning sickness had decided to become all-day sickness.

  I washed out my mouth for the fiftieth time, staring at myself in the mirror. “You can do this. Just go out there and tell him you want to talk. He’ll hear you out.”

  But my mind was muddled up.

  He’d said he wanted to date me. I’d vomited.

  And what was this about me having a boyfriend? It doesn’t matter now. Go out there and tell him.

  I nodded at my reflection, brushed a few stray curls behind my ear, then walked out of the bathroom and ran directly into Jacob.

  “Whoa,” I gasped.

  He caught me by the arms. That was his signature move, catching me, then releasing me. Ha, that’s ironic. “Easy,” he said. “Are you all r
ight?” He pressed the backs of those strong fingers to my forehead. “You coming down with something?”

  Oh, you have no idea. “We need to talk,” I said, shifting away from him. “Now.”

  “All right.” He offered me his arm. “We’ll go talk. There are a few private tables off the dance floor.”

  “No. I don’t want to talk in there. Charlie.”

  “Right,” Jacob said. “Of course. There’s a balcony that overlooks the fountain.”

  “Yeah, that will work.”

  He guided me through the hotel, and I was lost in the moment. One more step, one more, OK, now another, almost there. And then we were through the reception hall, Jacob smiling at the couples winding toward the dance floor, past a booth where the DJ bopped up and down to the beat, and out onto the balcony.

  Jacob positioned us near the railing, our backs to the open door that led to the hall. I couldn’t face his sparkling eyes.

  Thunder rolled overhead. The fountain was down below, on a long lawn that wound out of sight. Lights illuminated the water, casting fractal rainbows through the drops.

  “Nice night,” Jacob started.

  Tell him now.

  “Jacob—”

  “Before you say anything, Chloe, I want you to know that if you tell me you’re happy with this new guy, whoever he is, I’ll back off. But I can’t not shoot my shot. I have to tell you how you make me feel.”

  My lips tingled, went numb.

  “I’ve been denying it for far too long, Chloe. I care about you, deeply.” He swallowed. “Fuck, and I know there’s a lot standing in our way, but I’m not going to let that stop me from being with you. I’ll talk to Charlie. We can talk to him together if you want.”

  “Jacob,” I said.

  “Nothing’s coming out right.” He swept his fingers through his hair. “I wanted to do this the right way, but there’s no time. I don’t want to lose you to this other dude. Who is he, by the way?”

  I shook my head, searching for words. Good god, this was the last thing I’d expected. I’d thought he didn’t want me. “Jacob, this is—I don’t understand any of it.”

  “I know,” he said. “I know.”

  “No, I mean, who told you I was in a relationship?” I asked.

  “Charlie.”

  “But that’s…that’s a blatant lie. I’m not in a relationship.” Because I couldn’t get over him. Couldn’t stop thinking about him, couldn’t stop hurting. And now I was pregnant, he’d decided I was worth the risk of this, and the minute I told him, everything would change.

  Because, of course it would. How was he supposed to respond to it? Sweep me into his arms and tell me that he wanted me all along?

  “So, that means you’re single.”

  “Yes, but—”

  “I fucked up, I know,” Jacob said, and he was so earnest. “But I want to make it right. Even if it takes a while, even if it means—”

  “Can you just stop talking for a second?” I put up my hand. My head hurt, and the nausea had swum back.

  Jacob nodded, though a frown graced his tan forehead. “Sure.”

  “There’s something you need to know, and it’s going to change everything you’ve just said, but, oh well, that’s life. I’ve waited so long for you to say those things, and it turns out, ironically enough, that they don’t matter at the moment. All that matters is…” I trailed off, searching for an eloquent way to put it that wouldn’t shock the living shit out of him.

  But, of course, there was no way. I had to come out and say it.

  “Chloe?” He placed his hand over mine.

  “I’m pregnant,” I said.

  And there it was. Laid bare. I’d done the right thing and told him, even though it scared me.

  Jacob’s jaw went slack. “What?”

  “I’m pregnant, and you’re the father,” I said, raising my voice. It was pretty unbelievable. I got that he was in shock.

  “What did you just say?” The voice didn’t come from Jacob, but from the balcony door behind us. And it sent shivers up and down my skin.

  Jacob and I spun toward it.

  Charlie stood there, one hand gripping the jamb, the other balled up in a fist at his side. “Chloe, what did you just say?”

  Oh, no, no, no, this could not be happening. “Charlie,” I squeaked. “You weren’t meant to find out like this. Charlie, don’t flip out, OK? Everything’s fine.”

  “You motherfucker,” my brother said coldly, glaring at Jacob. “I trusted you. You swore you would never go near her. You swore it to me.”

  “You swore?” That was lame. Incredibly lame. My brother had made a pact with his best friend about me? Sure, he was protective, but that was childish.

  “Charlie,” Jacob said, but he was still stricken by what I’d told him.

  “Everyone calm down.” I put out my hands toward Charlie. “Brother, this is a private discussion between Jacob and me. It’s got nothing to do with you. When we’re ready to talk to you about it, we will, but you can’t just—”

  “I knew this would happen, I fucking knew it.” Charlie growled, stalking forward.

  Jacob’s back was stiff as a pole. He met my brother eye for eye. “It’s not what you think it is.”

  “It’s not? You didn’t just knock up my sister?”

  “Charlie,” I snapped. “You’re causing a scene at your own wedding. Go back inside and spend time with Addy. Leave us alone. This is my business.”

  “You knocked her up, and you’re going to run out on her. You piece of shit, I fucking knew I should never have allowed you near her.” Charlie poked Jacob in the chest.

  Jacob caught his finger and held it. “Calm down. None of that’s true. I’m not going to leave your sister in the lurch, dude.”

  This grossed me out. This talk about Charlie’s sister, like I wasn’t here. I’d conveyed the most important information of my life to the man who’d impregnated me, and instead of discussing this like two adults, we had to deal with my brother throwing a tantrum?

  “Charlie, enough,” I snapped.

  He didn’t acknowledge me.

  “You scumbag. I trusted you,” Charlie growled. “I’m going to beat your ass.”

  “Charlie!” Addy appeared in the doorway, gorgeous in her wedding dress, but her cheeks were flush and her eyes darting back and forth. “Charlie, what’s going on?”

  “Jacob got my sister pregnant.”

  “Oh joy,” I said. “Let’s involve more people in this. You maybe want to invite the rest of the bridal party? Huh?”

  “You.” Charlie grabbed hold of Jacob’s lapels, bringing his face forward, teeth gritted, covered in sweat. “You motherfucker. You get out of here. You get out of this hotel. Get out of our lives. Leave now, and never come back.”

  “Stop it.”

  Jacob stood staring at my brother. He reached up and detached my brother’s hands from his jacket, then stepped past him and walked off. He disappeared into the hall. The music played, but the people on the dance floor, visible past Addy, had stopped to stare at his passing.

  And then he was gone. Jacob was gone, and without a word about the baby, about us, about anything.

  Thirty-Four

  Chloe

  “What the hell is wrong with you?” I turned on my brother.

  Charlie blinked at me like he’d only just realized I was there, fuck it, that I existed. His anger doubled-down, his eyebrows two dark ticks above his eyes. “What the hell is wrong with me? What about you?” he asked. “You had sex with him. With my best friend?”

  “Yes, yes I did,” I barked. “I had sex with him, three times, once when I was eighteen and twice a few months ago, you know, when you were about to get married. Do you want more details, Charlie? Would you like to know what I ate for breakfast? Which way I wipe when I sit on the toilet?”

  “Oh god.” Addy pressed the balcony doors closed, hurriedly, and cut out some of the light.

  A crack of lightning from the approachin
g storm illuminated us. Charlie grunted under his breath. “Don’t be disgusting.”

  “No, no, that’s what you want. You want every minute detail about my life, so you can control it, right?”

  “Chloe.”

  “Asshole. You are an asshole. This was none of your business.”

  “You’re my sister. You’re always my business.” Charlie snapped it out. “Since we were kids. We’ve always—”

  “You do not have to give me the rundown of our relationship. I was there for it, and it doesn’t make you any less of an asshole. I am fine on my own.”

  “Clearly. Must be why you’re pregnant right now.”

  “Fuck you.” I poked him in the chest. “Fuck you, Charlie. Accidents happen, and none of this was your business to start with.” I let my hair down from its bun, tugging at the strands of hair, crunchy from hairspray. “God, this was only the most important conversation of my adult life, and you barged in here and made it about you.”

  “I’m trying protect you.”

  “I’m thirty fucking years old!” I yelled. “Thirty. Not sixteen. I don’t need you to look out for me. I am fine on my own.” I glared at him. “And I’ll tell you something else, Charlie. If you don’t get your shit together and start acting like a mature-ass adult, you can forget about being involved in my life. Or my baby’s, for that matter.”

  Addy gasped.

  “Yeah,” I said.

  “Chloe,” Charlie replied, trying to measure his tone, even though his face was screwed up with anger. “Chloe, you and I both know what kind of man Jacob is. Why you would—”

  “I’m sorry, what? What did you just say?” I lifted my chin. “What kind of man he is? You realize that’s your best friend you’re talking about. Your best friend who you lied to.”

  “What? When did I—?”

  “You told him I was in a relationship. You told him I was taken. Why is that?”