My Favorite Mistake: A Friends-to-Lovers Romance (A Love Like That)

by R. L. Kenderson

  “I’m fine. Thinking about high school, is all.” I flipped a page. “Part of me feels like it was so long ago, and another part feels like it was yesterday.”

  Despite my wayward sexual thoughts, this was true. I couldn’t believe how much time had passed.

  “It does. I’m glad I’m not back there though.”

  “Really? But you had so much fun. And you were a jock.” Which meant he had gotten away with a lot with the teachers and he’d had his share of female attention.

  “Yeah, it was fun, but I like my life now.”

  “That’s good, I suppose. There’s no going back.”

  I continued to flip through the pages, the two of us pausing to look and comment on pictures every now and then. I was starting to loosen up and realize that no matter what, Griffin was still my best friend, and nothing was going to change that.

  We were getting to the end of the album, where we were dressed up in formal clothes.

  “Is this prom?”

  “No. This is still sophomore year. It can’t be prom yet.”

  “Then, why are we so dressed up?”

  I flipped a page, and once I saw Griffin’s date, I knew when it was.

  “Ugh. It was Spring Fling. The dance where the girl was supposed to ask the guy. You know, because we lived in the 1800s, and women weren’t allowed to make the first move, except for the special dance where we were given permission,” I added sarcastically.

  Griffin chuckled. “Oh yeah. I remember. Jeanene Hanson asked me to go. You know, she was a senior, and I was only—”

  “A sophomore. Yes, I know.” I rolled my eyes.

  “You’re just jealous because you went with Billy Richardson, who was a sophomore.”

  “I liked Billy Richardson. Remember, I was the one who asked him to go. Besides, why would I be jealous of your lack of taste?”

  “Ooh, them’s fightin’ words, Campbell.”

  “Well…I mean…Jeanene did get kicked out of high school and had her daddy buy her way back in.”

  “She was suspended.”

  I snorted. “Sure, that was the line they were feeding everyone, but we all know she got booted out. It must be nice to have rich parents to throw money at your problems.” I looked down at Griffin. “You realize she probably asked you because none of the seniors or juniors would go with her.”

  He shrugged. “I didn’t care back then. She gave me head behind the bleachers on the football field. That’s all that mattered to me.”

  “You’re gross.” I quickly turned the last two pages and lifted my arm to nudge Griffin off me. “That’s it.”

  I would like to think I was pushing him away because we were done with the album, but I was irritated with myself for being bothered by Griffin getting a blow job from Jeanene Hanson all those years ago.

  I leaned over and slid the picture album back in its place on my nightstand. “Should we look at more?” I asked in an attempt to get in a better mood.

  Griffin wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me back toward him. “How about you just lie here with me?”

  I wanted to refuse because I was annoyed with him, but he was solid and warm, and he smelled good. “Okay. Ten minutes.”

  “Ten minutes,” he agreed, and his breathing soon evened out.

  I closed my eyes and started counting to thirty as I slowed my breathing and cleared my thoughts.

  I didn’t even remember making it to twenty.

  Fourteen

  Griffin

  I opened my eyes to unfamiliar surroundings. It took my vision a second to adjust to see that I was in Madeline’s old room in her parents’ house. She was snuggled up against me with her breath tickling my neck, and the lamp beside the bed was off.

  Either she had turned it off or someone else had come in here and done it.

  I looked at my watch. It was only a little after eight, and I had been sleeping less than an hour.

  I gently shook Madeline. “Mads.”

  She threw a leg over me, and I smiled.

  I shook her again. “Mads. It’s time to get up.”

  She groaned and rolled onto her back. “What time is it?”

  “Eight.”

  “That’s it?”

  “I know. It feels like midnight now that the sun goes down so early.”

  She got onto her elbows. “I can’t believe I fell asleep.”

  “Why? I’m cuddly like a bunny.”

  She snorted at my reference to her high school pajamas. “You’re cuddly like a rock,” she said as she sat up and swung her legs to the floor.

  “Like a rock?”

  “All your muscles, they’re hard.”

  I scoffed. I wasn’t that muscular. Sure, I worked out, but I wasn’t going to win any bodybuilding contests. Not that I wanted to. Sometimes, less was more.

  “Yeah, well, you didn’t seem to mind on Friday. What did you say to me again?” I paused for dramatic effect and snapped my fingers. “That’s right. You told me you wanted to lick me all over.”

  Madeline jumped up from the bed and peeked over her shoulder at me. “It’s not the same thing.”

  I sat up and tried to look at her face, but it was too dark. The only light coming into the room was from the stairs.

  “Are you embarrassed?”

  “No,” she said too quickly as she yanked on the hem of her shirt.

  I threw my head back and laughed. “You totally are.”

  I snagged her hand and pulled her back down to the bed. She yelped as she fell into my arms.

  I ran my nose along her jaw. “It’s okay to think I’m sexy, Mads. Most women do.”

  She slapped her hands down on my shoulders. “That’s what you think.”

  “Hmm,” I murmured and trailed my mouth down to the spot between her shoulder and her neck.

  I brushed my lips over her skin, and she drew in a breath.

  I licked her once and then quickly sucked on her there.

  God, she tastes good.

  Friday night memories came to the forefront of my brain, and I began to grow hard against her leg.

  But if she knew I was turned on, it would defeat the purpose of my little move.

  Madeline dug her nails into my shoulders, and I lifted my head.

  “See? Women want me.” I slapped her ass and jumped off the bed. Discreetly, I adjusted my dick in my jeans.

  “You’re the worst,” she said and rolled off the bed.

  Sighing dramatically, I put my hands on my hips. “Again, you told me I was the best on Friday. Why do you keep lying?” I bit my lip to keep from smiling.

  “I did not say you were the best.”

  “That’s right. I think it went something like, ‘So good, so good, soooo—’ ”

  She socked me in the gut. “I’m going downstairs,” she muttered and left the room.

  I sprinted after her and stopped her at the bottom of the stairs. “Hey, Mads.”

  She turned around. “What?”

  I reached the same stair. I could hear the TV in the living room, so there was a strong chance that no one could hear us talking, but I leaned close and lowered my voice just in case. “I’m only teasing you, I hope you know. I’m not trying to upset you.”

  I leaned back, so I could see her eyes.

  She smiled. “I know.”

  “Good.” I put my mouth near her ear again. “Because you’re beautiful, and the way you fuck…” I sucked in a breath through my teeth. “I’m surprised you don’t have guys knocking down your door.” I kissed her on the temple and continued down the stairs.

  Madeline followed me into the living room, where her parents and grandmother were sitting around the television.

  “Good morning, you two,” Nora said jokingly.

  “Sorry about falling asleep. I’m not a great dinner guest.”

  She waved her hand at me. “It’s the weekend. Weekends are for naps. The two of you looked so peaceful, and I figured you needed your sleep.”

 
“I was wondering who had turned the lamp off,” Madeline said.

  “Yeah, I lost quite a bit of sleep on Friday night for Madeline’s birthday. She kept me up all night.”

  Nora looked at her daughter. “Madeline, I thought your partying days were over.”

  Madeline turned red and shot me a look. “Griff is exaggerating. But I did need sleep because you’re right, Mom; my partying days are over.”

  “That’s too bad,” Grandma Dotty said. “I thought, with that bedhead, you two were doing something more fun than sleeping.”

  “Mom,” Nora said.

  “I’m out of here,” George said and pushed himself off his recliner.

  Madeline put her hand on his arm. “Have a good night, Dad.”

  He hugged her. “Good night, peanut. Happy birthday.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Are you really leaving?” her mom asked as George walked away.

  “Yeah. I have to go to work tomorrow.”

  “Same for me,” I said.

  Nora frowned. “I understand.” She stood and gave Madeline a hug. “Happy birthday.”

  “Thanks, Mom. Thanks for dinner and the birthday money.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  As Madeline went to hug her grandma, Nora put her arms around me. “Thanks for coming, Griffin.”

  “My pleasure. You know I love your food.”

  She chuckled as she stepped away from me. “You know you’re always welcome. With or without Madeline.”

  The two of us said good-bye, grabbed our stuff, and walked out the front door.

  “Hey. Come over to my car real quick.”

  “Okay,” Madeline said and walked over to my vehicle with me.

  I unlocked the passenger door and pulled out a small present. “It’s late, but here is your birthday present.”

  Her mouth popped open, and her eyes widened in surprise.

  “You didn’t think I forgot, did you?”

  She took the box. “No…”

  I laughed. “Making you come was not a birthday present, Mads. Even if it was something you’d asked me for.” I nodded toward the gift. “Open it.”

  “Okay.” She picked at a corner until she slowly pulled away the wrapping.

  She was killing me with how slow she was going.

  “Just rip it.”

  “It’s too pretty.”

  I didn’t understand women sometimes. It was wrapping paper that she was only going to throw away later.

  Finally, she pulled all the wrapping away and opened the box.

  She gasped.

  Fifteen

  Madeline

  I had no idea what Griffin had decided to get me since I’d never given him any ideas. And it turned out that he hadn’t needed my help at all because he had just gifted me the best present I’d ever received.

  “I can’t believe you did this,” I said.

  “The way you say it, it sounds like I did a bad thing.”

  I shook my head. “No. You did a great thing. It’s just that my gift sucks compared to yours,” I said.

  “Nah.”

  “Griffin, I got you a neon sign for your bar. You bought me two plane tickets to Europe.”

  He shrugged as if it were no big deal. “You always said you wanted to go before you turned thirty.”

  “That was years ago.”

  “I figured you gave it up after a while. But I thought if you couldn’t go before you were thirty, why not go because you’re thirty?”

  I threw myself in his arms. “You’re the best.”

  “Finally, you admit it.”

  I laughed into his chest. “Ha. You wish.”

  He rubbed my back. “So, does this mean you like your present?”

  I stepped back. “Of course I like it, you big dummy.”

  He grinned. “Good. Now, no pressure, but if you really want to show me your thanks, you’ll take me with you.”

  I laughed and slapped his arm with the tickets. “Duh. You’re my best friend after all.” I lifted my brow. “Besides, you already put your name on the other ticket.”

  He shrugged. “You never know. You might have a new boyfriend by then. I made sure the tickets are transferable.”

  I looked at the tickets again. They were for summer.

  As if he’d read my mind, he said, “I guessed you wouldn’t want to go in winter; plus, I wanted to give you time to take off work.”

  He was pretty thoughtful.

  I looked back up to him. “I don’t care if I have a new boyfriend.” And I didn’t really want a new boyfriend either. “I’m taking you with me.”

  He smiled. “Can’t wait.”

  “Will you be able to leave your wife though?” I asked.

  His brow furrowed. “My wife?”

  “Yeah. You know, the bar. Are you sure you can leave her for a week?”

  “You’re so funny. Not.”

  I laughed.

  “Yes, I can leave her. It’s not every day that I get to go to Europe.”

  The front door to Griffin’s parents’ house opened.

  “Happy birthday, Madeline,” Griffin’s mom, Camile, shouted.

  “Thank you,” I called back.

  “Would you like to come in? I have something for you.”

  “I’d love to.”

  Camile turned her attention to her son. “You’re coming in to say good-bye?”

  “Yes,” he shouted back. “You ready to go in there?” he asked me.

  “Lead the way,” I told him.

  Camile gave me a hug as soon as I walked through the door. “Did you have a good birthday?”

  “Yes. I had to work, but my coworkers brought treats. And we went out on Friday night. I even managed to get Griffin away from the bar for a while.”

  “You’re a better woman than me. I can’t get him to leave that place.”

  I put my hand up like I was telling Camile a secret, but I didn’t bother to lower my voice. “I just told him the bar was his wife, but he didn’t think I was funny.”

  Griffin put his hands on his hips. “I’m standing right here.”

  “Good,” his mom said, “because that bar isn’t going to give me grandchildren.” She held up her hands. “Not that I’m asking for some right now. I’m only asking for some someday.”

  He sighed. “Where’s Dad?”

  “I’m right here,” Glen, Griffin’s father, said as he rounded the corner. His eyes brightened when he saw me. “Is that the birthday girl?”

  I grinned. “Hi, Glen.”

  He came toward me and wrapped me in his arms. Glen was like an uncle to me. He was tall, like his son, but huskier. When I was a kid, I’d always thought of him as a human teddy bear.

  Pulling away, he asked, “What did my son get you? Something good, I hope.”

  I lifted the plane tickets and shook them as I did a little dance.

  “Griffin, you bought those?” his mom asked, eyes wide.

  I frowned. I hadn’t expected disapproval from Camile.

  Or maybe I was assuming things.

  “Yes, Mom. It’s not every day your best friend turns thirty.”

  “Well, I think it’s an excellent present,” Glen said. He squinted and leaned closer. “It also looks like you get something out of it, Griff.” He chuckled. He put his hand on his wife’s back. “It’s a good gift, Cam.”

  “It’s a lot of money.”

  The tension I hadn’t known I’d even had in my shoulders lessened. She was just worried about her son spending a lot of money.

  “The bar’s had a good year, Mom.”

  Camile opened her mouth, but Griffin stopped her with a hand.

  “I’m still putting plenty of money into savings.”

  Camile closed her lips and appeared to relax. “As long as you’re not going to go broke, then I guess I can’t complain.”

  “Did you give Madeline our present?” Glen asked Camile.

  “I can’t give it to her now. It pales in compari
son.”

  “I will love it, no matter what it is.”

  “Famous last words,” Camile said and headed to the kitchen. A few seconds later, she came back with a gift bag. “Don’t laugh.”

  “I would never,” I promised.

  I peeled back the tissue paper and pulled out an envelope and a handmade scarf. It was teal.

  “Griffin said it was your favorite color.”

  “It is. It’s beautiful.”

  Camile looked sheepish. “I figured, with winter coming, it never hurts to have an extra scarf.”

  I wrapped it around the back of my neck and threw one side over my shoulder. “Thank you. I love it.”

  “Don’t forget the envelope.”

  I opened the white lid and pulled out a gift card to Caribou Coffee.

  “We didn’t know what else to get you, and Griffin said you liked coffee.”

  “I do.” I looked up at both of them. “I love coffee. Thank you again. You didn’t have to get me anything.”

  Glen shook his head at me and turned to Griffin. “Come with me to the garage. I forgot to show you something.”

  “I’ll be right back,” he told me.

  “It’s fine.”

  We’d driven separately after all. I didn’t need him in order to leave.

  Griffin and his dad walked into the kitchen and presumably out to the garage since I heard the door open and close.

  “Glen got a new power tool. Those two were outside, looking at it, for an hour before he went to your parents’ for dinner.”

  I smiled. Griffin and his dad were close, so this didn’t surprise me. Both of his parents had been nervous about him opening a bar, but his father had been behind him one hundred percent and even offered to loan him money if he needed it.

  “I have one more thing for you,” Camile said as she turned and went toward the kitchen.

  I followed her as she opened up a bakery tin and pulled out some cookies to put in a plastic food storage bag.

  “I made your favorite cookies, so I thought you’d like to take some home.”

  “Chocolate chip?” I asked.

  Camile made the best chocolate chip cookies. She’d given me the recipe, and I had attempted to make them a few times. They never tasted as good.