Max pouted. “Is everything okay?”
“Is what okay?” Kate asked, biting the corner of her lip. She was tired. She didn’t want to deal with this right now.
“Everything. Me. You. Are we all right?”
“Yes, we’re fine. Why?”
Max looked hurt. “Because the past couple times I’ve tried to… hook up, you haven’t been interested. You keep blowing me off.”
Kate sighed. This was her chance to let Max know that their arrangement was no longer going to work. However, she didn’t want to hurt his feelings. “It’s complicated. I don’t know what I want anymore.”
For a moment, Max looked like he was going to say something, but he closed his mouth and held up his hands. “Okay. Fine. Sorry for bugging you. Good night.”
Kate could see that she’d pissed him off. “Hey, Max,” she said, leaning against the door. “I’m sorry.”
“There’s nothing to be sorry about,” he said over his shoulder. He got into his car and drove away without saying anything else, not even goodbye.
Kate closed the door and locked it and then headed to her room. She flopped onto the bed on her stomach and buried her face in the pillow, wishing she knew what the deal with Max was. When they’d first gotten together, they were strictly supposed to be friends with benefits. She was the one who worried about getting her feelings hurt and getting in over her head, but so far, she’d managed to be the only one who kept up her end of the bargain. Max always seemed to want to complicate things.
She should’ve just put an end to things right then and there, but she hated to see him upset. She also didn’t know how to end things without explaining about Chris. She wasn’t even sure what to say about Chris.
*
When Kate returned from the office the following morning, she found Lucy sitting in a lounge chair out by the pool with a magazine in her lap and a cup of coffee on the ground next to her. Kate propped her sunglasses on top of her head and waved hello. She went into the kitchen to make a cup of coffee for herself, and then joined Lucy outside. “What’s up?” she asked, kicking off her sandals and stretching out on the lounge chair.
Lucy closed her magazine. “Not much. How was the poker game last night?”
“I lost,” she said. She took a sip of coffee and then set her cup on the table in between them. “Jackson told us his news last night.”
Lucy nodded, squinting her eyes. Kate peered at her, trying to tell if she was squinting in the sunlight, or if she was trying not to cry. “I thought he might.”
“It’s good news, right?” Kate asked. “I mean, that’s all over and done with now. You can finally put all that stuff behind you.”
Lucy took a deep breath. “I know. I know I should be happy. But when I stop to think about it… I’m happy that someone’s marriage ended. That it failed. Because of me. That’s terrible.”
“Not because of you. Their marriage failed because it wasn’t meant to work out. You guys are the ones that are supposed to be together.”
“That’s what Jackson said,” Lucy said. She drew her knees up to her chest and hugged them. “It was bad enough when we were sneaking around to see each other. I’d never cheated on anybody before. Neither had Jackson. We’re not like that.”
“But you don’t have to worry about that now. You have Jackson! He’s not going anywhere.”
This brought a smile to Lucy’s face. “I know. I just don’t want to make a big deal out of it. Like you said, it’s over. I keep trying to tell myself that their marriage didn’t have anything to do with me. And I guess I don’t want to have anything to do with the details of their divorce, either. I just want us to move on.”
“That’s all that Jackson wants, too,” Kate said. “He wanted me to talk to you to make sure you were okay with everything.”
“We never talked about her. His wife. I never really talked about Matt with Jackson, either. It was like we didn’t want to ruin what we had by dealing with reality – the fact that he had a wife and that I was supposed to be getting married. So we just never talked about it. I guess that’s why I had a hard time talking about any of the divorce stuff with him. We never talked about them when they were together… So I didn’t want to talk about them now.”
“That makes sense,” Kate said. “But you know that Jackson is crazy in love with you, right?”
Lucy beamed. She nodded and stretched back out on the lounge, folding her hands behind her head. “Yeah,” she sighed.
“You’re lucky,” Kate remarked.
Lucy didn’t say anything for awhile. Finally, she asked, “How’s Chris?”
“He didn’t want to come home with me last night. Said he doesn’t want to move too fast and complicate things. So I don’t know if we’re dating… Or if we’re just… friends?” She thought about being unable to end her friends-with-benefits arrangement with Max and decided to not mention Max’s visit last night.
“Well, it’s not like you need to go rushing into anything,” Lucy admonished.
“He said he just wanted to have fun. That’s what I want, too.”
“Yes, you want to have fun. But you also want to settle down. I know you, Kate. You’re getting tired of all this crap.”
“What crap?”
“Dating. Trying to figure out these guys. Am I right?”
Kate groaned. “I guess. But it’s not like I want to turn around and get married tomorrow. I just want… a boyfriend. I want somebody like Jackson.”
“Well, you can’t have Jackson. He’s mine,” Lucy grinned.
“You know what I mean. I want someone that can be my best friend. But that I can do all the other stuff with. I want someone that I don’t have to go through all the stupid first dates and first times with. I want someone… comfortable.”
“Is Chris like that?”
“I don’t know. He might be. Maybe.”
“What about Max?” Lucy asked with a sly grin.
“Max is just a friend,” Kate said.
“Mmmhmmm,” Lucy said, getting up and going into the house for a refill.
Kate pulled her sunglasses off the top of her head and plopped them on her nose. She folded her arms across her chest, trying to sort things out. She didn’t know where things were going to go with Chris. Yes, they were taking things slowly and seeing where they would lead. Hopefully they would lead to Kate having a steady boyfriend for holiday dinners and family functions.
And then there was Max. The whole friends with benefits thing had worked great when they first arranged it months ago. Kate had a sexy guy who was interested in her – at least for a few hours – but she could still go about her search for a decent boyfriend. Max was great – he was incredibly good looking, the sex was great, and he always liked to cuddle. Even though he was the one who brought it up from time to time, she just wasn’t sure if a serious relationship with him would really last. And now that Kate was semi-involved with Chris, it wasn’t like she could have Max just showing up on her doorstep at two o’clock in the morning whenever he felt it. She didn’t know what to do.
*
“Bride Ideas, this is Kate. How can I help you?”
“Kate, it’s Jackson.”
“Hey. What’s going on?” she asked, saving the file she was working on and shutting her computer down for the night.
“Do you have any plans after work?” he asked.
Kate straightened a stack of bridal magazines and scooped up some loose paperclips. “I was just getting ready to leave,” she said, dropping the paperclips into their little ceramic bowl. “You have something in mind?”
“Can you meet me at Vintage in half an hour?” he asked.
“Sure,” Kate said. “I’ll see you then.” She hung up the phone. Vintage was a smoky wine bar located just a few blocks from her office. Since she was already done with her work, she decided to leave a little early and walk there. She shouldered her bag and turned off the lights. Julia was out at a cake tasting so she made sure to lock up before heading do
wn the street.
The tables outside on the sidewalk were already taken when she arrived at Vintage, so she headed inside, where it wasn’t nearly as busy. Only a few patrons were dotted around the little tables, and there was only one person sitting at the bar. Max.
He was reading something on his phone. A glass of red wine sat in front of him. Kate walked up, perched on the stool next to him, and hung her purse on the back. She crossed her legs and smoothed her skirt across her knees. Max turned to see who had joined him just as she reached for his wineglass. She brought it to her lips, smiled, and took a sip. “Get your own,” he laughed, taking the glass from her. “Can she have a glass, please?” Max called to the bartender.
“What are you doing here?” Kate asked. She thanked the bartender as he poured her glass of wine.
“Waiting for Jackson.”
“Oh? Me, too.” Kate said.
“You know what this is, right?” Max asked.
Kate took a sip of her wine. “He just called a couple minutes ago and asked if I could meet him.”
“Yeah. His divorce is final…”
Kate studied Max’s face, puzzled. “Um, yeah.”
“So now he’s probably going to tell us that he’s going to propose.”
Kate gasped. “You think?”
Max shrugged. “You heard him the other night. Talking about how he wanted to marry Lucy, he should’ve married Lucy… Now that he’s divorced, he probably can’t wait to pop the question.”
Kate placed her fingertips on the base of her wine glass and slowly turned it. Max was probably right.
Lucy was going to get married. She was going to lose Lucy. It was bad enough after college when Lucy had decided to stay in Miami with Matt instead of coming home. They’d always been close, but things weren’t exactly the same when they lived so far apart. And now, if she got married… they wouldn’t have anything in common anymore. Lucy would be Mrs. Jackson Parker and Kate would be… still single. Still Miss Kate Thompson.
“There he is. Ten bucks says I’m right,” Max said, getting to his feet. He moved to the next stool so that Jackson could sit in between them.
Jackson was talking to someone on the phone, and as he approached, Kate could tell by the tone of his voice that it was Lucy. He said goodbye and hung up, slipping the phone into his pocket. “Hey,” he said, fist-bumping Max and then bending to give Kate a polite kiss on the cheek. He sat down on the stool in between them and ordered a glass of wine. He loosened his tie a little.
“So, I asked you both to meet me here because you’re two of my best friends. Next to Lucy, of course. And Lucy’s the real reason why we’re here,” he said. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small, black velvet box. He placed it on the bar in front of him.
Kate looked across Jackson and caught Max’s eye. He winked at her. Kate looked at the box and then at Jackson. He nodded. She reached for the box, opened it, and gasped.
“Do you think it’s big enough?”
“Big enough?” Kate asked. “Are you crazy?” She took the ring out of the box and slipped it on her left ring finger. She splayed her fingers and held her hand out in front of her. Max let out a whistle as they admired the emerald cut-diamond and the diamond-studded band it rested on. “Carat and a half?” she asked.
“One and three-quarter carats total weight.” Jackson smiled proudly. “Is it okay?”
“Are you kidding? It’s gorgeous.” She slid it off her finger and carefully placed it back in the box. Jackson put it back in his pocket and Kate threw her arms around him. “Congratulations,” she whispered. The next thing she knew, she had tears in her eyes.
“Thanks,” Jackson said. He gave her a squeeze and when he let go, the tears were spilling down over Kate’s cheeks. “Are you okay?”
Kate nodded clumsily and reached for a cocktail napkin so she could blot her cheeks. “I’m just really happy for you guys. I mean… finally!” she said, a giggle escaping through the tears.
Max smiled, and Jackson laughed. “I know, right?”
“You guys are like a fairy tale,” she said. “Best friends, high school sweethearts. Getting married!” She sniffled, folded the napkin over, and carefully dabbed underneath her eyes.
“Lucy has to say yes first,” Max interjected, chuckling. Jackson turned from Kate to Max to laugh with him. “Just kidding, man. Congratulations!” Max hugged him and pounded him on the back. “I’m happy for you.”
Kate took that as an opportunity to slide off of her stool, grab her purse, and head to the ladies’ room. She used her fingertips to remove some of the mascara and eyeliner that had smudged, then rummaged around in her bag for a compact to blot at her cheeks. Then she studied her reflection in the mirror.
It was going to suck, having to stand by and watch her best friend get married.
But that was just what she was going to have to do.
*
Even though it’s customary for the losers to clean up after the poker game, the following Saturday, Kate found herself hanging out with Jackson and Kevin long after she’d beat the two of them. They were hanging out on Kevin’s little balcony, watching people stroll through the downtown streets below them. It was mid-October and although the warmer weather was lingering, it cooled off nicely in the evenings. Kate was enjoying the fresh air while Jackson and Kevin both enjoyed two more of the cigars that Jackson had brought over to celebrate his upcoming proposal. Since Kate had given up smoking awhile back, she found that she kind of liked the smell of the cigars.
“So have you talked to Lucy’s parents yet?” Kevin asked.
“Yes,” Jackson said, puffing on his cigar. “And I have their blessing.”
“I bet they were relieved,” Kate said, leaning against the railing and resting her chin in her hands. “I don’t really think they wanted her to marry that other guy.”
“Lucy’s parents have always been great,” Jackson said. “Now I just have to figure out when to do it.”
“Her birthday’s next week, right?” Kevin asked.
Almost immediately, Kate said, “Don’t do it on her birthday!”
“That’s what I was planning,” Jackson said. “Why not?”
“Because… Her birthday’s her birthday. The day you propose should be… the day you propose,” Kate explained.
“I can’t propose to her on her birthday?”
“It’s like proposing on Valentine’s Day. Everybody proposes on Valentine’s Day. Propose on another day, not her birthday. You want that day to be special because it was the day you asked her to marry her. Not… It was her birthday, so you gave her a ring as a present.”
Jackson and Kevin exchanged glances.
“I swear I’m not the only girl who feels that way. And I’m almost positive that Lucy would not want you to propose on her birthday.”
Kevin scratched his head in puzzlement. “I don’t know, but I’m going to bed, kids,” he said, snuffing out his cigar. Jackson did the same. Kate hugged Kevin.
“Good night,” she said. She and Jackson made their way through Kevin’s cramped apartment, out into the hall, and down into the parking lot.
“Come with me tomorrow,” Jackson said. “Now that you mention it, I need your opinion on a present for Lucy.”
“Do you know what you want to get her?” Kate asked, looking through her purse for her keys.
“I have an idea. I’ll pick you up at your office and we can do lunch. How about that?”
“Does this mean you won’t propose on her birthday?”
Jackson grinned and hugged her. “I’ll wait. But I can’t wait much longer.”
“Okay,” Kate said. “See you at noon tomorrow? How’s that?”
“See you then,” Jackson said.
Kate got in her car and headed for home. She reached into her purse and pulled out her cell phone. Earlier in the evening, Chris had claimed that he was tired and wanted to go home and get some sleep. When he went out of the game, he left shortly afterwa
rds. Kate wasn’t sure if he was really going home to go to sleep, or if she should try to hook up with him later.
A glance at her cell phone answered that question. She didn’t have a single call or text message from him. She considered calling him, but maybe he really was tired and had gone to bed. Oh well. She had been enjoying herself and was determined to beat Jackson and Kevin, so she was glad she hadn’t thrown the game just so she could join him.
However, she was a little disappointed that he didn’t even attempt to show her any affection at the wedding they worked that evening, or at the poker game. Usually, he’d steal glances at her, put his hand on her leg under the table, or touch her shoulder as he walked past her chair… Tonight, she felt like she was just another one of the guys sitting around the table, drinking beer and playing poker.
That seemed to be how things went with Chris. One minute, they were buddies – just hanging out. Then they were making out on her couch, but Chris never wanted to spend the night. It had been awhile since they’d gone out on an actual date. They always seemed to go out in the group, like always.
And then, whenever Kate would start to question exactly where things were going, Chris would say or do something just thoughtful enough to squelch her worries and make her think that maybe they were on their way to being a serious couple after all. This, however, was one of those times where she wasn’t so sure where they stood.
*
Kate was in the alley behind Bride Ideas, waiting for Jackson to arrive for their shopping trip. Checking her phone once again and seeing that she still had zero calls and zero text messages, she sighed. She’d texted Chris a few times throughout the morning, but never heard back from him.
Jackson arrived just as she tossed her phone into her purse. Kate got in the car, kissed him on the cheek, and fastened her seatbelt. He drove them to a little diner their crowd sometimes went to. The place was pretty full, so they sat at the counter. They both ordered burgers, fries, and shakes. Kate silently cursed the fact that she would probably have to watch what she ate for the next six months until Jackson and Lucy finally got married. Looking down at her plate of greasy food and her tall, frosty milkshake glass, she decided that this would probably be her last cheeseburger for awhile.
One of the Guys Page 7