I shrugged. “I told Frank to make up some stuff. I have no idea what I drank.”
“Why would you do that?” Aubrey asked. “You never drink anything but Merlot.” My only answer was to shrug.
“Were they girlie drinks? Or guy drinks?” Matt asked as he sat down on the couch next to me. Aubrey flopped down in the chaise nearby.
“They both have alcohol in them, what does that matter?” I asked as I pulled my legs up into a ball. I really just wanted to go back to bed and sleep.
Matt gave his reasoning. “Guy drinks have the harder stuff.”
There was a knock at the door. Aubrey got up to answer the door as I scoffed my answer to Matt. “My stomach begs to differ.” Clark walked in just as I was saying that.
“What are you doing over here?” Aubrey asked Clark. The agitation in her voice was extremely clear.
“Matt said you girls were serving breakfast.”
Matt put his arm over the back of the sofa, turning his body slightly and threw Clark an annoyed look. “No. I said I’m going to check to see if they want to go have breakfast.”
“Why are you calling us girls?” Aubrey asked Clark
Clark rolled his eyes. “So sorry. Women. Hot, sexy, fucking women.”
I didn’t bother lifting my head to know that he was probably grabbing her as she snapped, “Quit touching me.”
“Oh please! I’ve touched you there before more than once.”
“It doesn’t mean you can do it again like Mr. Octopus did last night to Vanessa.”
I rolled my eyes at Aubrey for saying that, not that she could see since I was still in a ball on the couch. Matt turned his head back to me and asked, “So what happened? I could barely get anything out of you last night.” I lifted my head slightly and noticed his jaw was locked and his whole demeanor changed to angry.
I put my head back down and closed my eyes as I let him know about my date’s manners, or lack thereof. “Nothing. My date became a little too grabby for my liking, so I kept telling him no. He wasn’t happy, so he basically kicked me to the curb.”
“That’s why you got drunk? Because some guy was being an asshole?” I heard the annoyance in Matt’s voice and lifted my head again to look over to him. He was annoyed, but I couldn’t understand why. What did it matter if I got drunk because of some idiot date?
“No, I…just felt like drinking. It was packed down there so I thought maybe I’d…” I trailed off realizing what I wanted to say was more for Aubrey’s ears and not these two guys who get any women they want. I was ticked at myself for going in that direction of telling them my real reason for heading to the bar.
While Mr. Octopus made me feel sexy, him pawing at me just made me feel like I owed him for taking me somewhere nice. Actually, he even told me that. I wanted to be asked out by a guy, not be set up by my friend. Especially now that I know how I was set up, I felt even more pathetic.
“You’d what?” Aubrey asked. I shook my head and widened my eyes hoping she’d understand to put this discussion off until later. Matt noticed, I guess I’m not so subtle in that department.
“Were you going in there to find a date or something?” Matt asked slowly, his face full of concern and that jaw of his was locked in place. I put my head back down not wanting to discuss any of this anymore.
“No, I mean. I just...” I took a deep breath and gave my admission, “I guess I did. I just wanted to see if someone would ask me out…for me.” I shot a look over to Aubrey. “Not because I was set up on a date.” I shrugged and put my head back down on the side cushion. Matt got up and squatted in front of me with a smile.
The sweet look on his face made me feel comfortable enough to confide in him. “No one even tried to pick me up. And it was packed down there,” I grumbled out my admission.
He chuckled as he asked, “Well, did you have your mean bitch vibes up?” I sneered at him and then childishly stuck my tongue out at him. He chuckled and patted my arm. “If you want a real date, hitting our little bar downstairs wasn’t going to get you anywhere. You should have come down to Allure.”
“I’m not going to Allure. The only time I’ve been there was for your happy hour party for work and we fought pretty bad.” I told him as I rolled my eyes.
“You’d actually like it there. Mostly young business singles, like us. I’ve met some contacts there before for business too.”
“And I’m sure for other things,” I grumbled as I felt a stab of jealousy.
He smiled and tilted his head. “Yeah. Well, why else are we going out to bars but to meet people, right?”
I gave him a thoughtful look and nodded. “I guess so.”
Clark chimed in. “Besides, we can get free drinks. Matt’s brother owns the joint.”
Matt looked over to Aubrey. “What are you guys doing tonight? We could all head out there.” His eyes fell back to mine and I had to wince.
“I’m not sure how I’ll be feeling later on.”
“And I have a date tonight,” Aubrey answered.
“How many dates do you have each weekend?” Clark asked Aubrey, slightly irritated.
“None of your business.” At the same time, I responded, “At least two to three.”
“Two to three? How would you get three?” Clark questioned, obviously irritated that she has so many dates.
I laughed as Aubrey glared at me. “Sunday afternoons too.” I looked back at Matt. “If I feel better I might join you guys out there. Then I won’t get yelled at for sitting at home alone.”
Aubrey stood up and declared, “I’m heading to the gym. I’d ask you if you’d join me, but I’ll let you off the hook today,” she teased me.
Clark practically jumped. “I’ll head down there with you. I haven’t worked out yet.” He practically sprinted out the door to get changed. Aubrey looked at me and rolled her eyes.
“You shouldn’t have mentioned anything,” I quipped with a smile.
Matt chuckled and added in, “He’s been wanting to run into you down there for a while now.”
“Great. I’ll make sure to wear my most unflattering outfit possible.” She walked to her bedroom to change. I looked back at Matt.
“She doesn’t have anything unflattering. Poor Clark will be staring at her amazing body the whole time.”
“I’m sure he’ll get over it. Nothing poor about that.” He gave me a thoughtful look. “So you went to the bar last night looking to see if anyone would want you? Why? Your date was groping at you all night long.”
“I just…” I shrugged not knowing how to explain it. “Just wanted to see if anyone would pick me up, that’s all. It’s stupid. I know.”
“Nothing stupid about needing to be wanted. Desired.” He smiled that smile of his. “You could have just called me, you know.”
“You’re off limits, remember?”
“You and your stupid policy. No one is going to know what we do, not to mention—who cares?”
“I care. I made the stupid policy so I need to be the one who definitely follows it. If someone were to find out what we did, I’d be the laughing stock of the whole Human Resources field. Who would want to hire me then?”
Matt nodded in understanding. “Well, we could be discreet. Hell, it would be easy enough since we live right across the hall from each other.” Why did he make it seem so simple? Or was I making it to be such a big deal? It’s not like I didn’t want to be with him again. God knows he’s been the center of all my fantasies since I met him.
I took a deep breath, trying to keep strong in my resolve. I can’t bend on this again. We had one fantastic night and it was supposed to rid us of this sexual tension we have. It feels like it just made it stronger. I swallowed knowing I had to continue being the strong one. “It’s just that we shouldn’t. We need to just stay friends.”
“Friends,” Matt repeated as he pressed his lips together and clapped his hands. He stood up and tousled my hair. “I’m going to run out and grab something to eat. Do you w
ant anything? I could bring something back for you.”
I smiled at how sweet he can be and tried to think of the stupid things he did at the office to piss me off. Somehow nothing was coming to mind. “Nah, I’m okay for now, but thank you. I think I’ll just catch some more sleep.”
He nodded. “I’ll text you later and see if you’re up for going out tonight.”
“Thanks.”
AFTER SLEEPING FOR SEVERAL HOURS, I woke to Aubrey staring at me. I know most people would think that’s terribly weird. Well, it really is, but Aubrey and I have known each other for so long, I’m used to her doing that. She doesn’t do it often. More so when something is really troubling her. She explained to me one time that it calms her. She has major issues that she’s been dealing with for so long, I stopped asking if I could help her.
“You alright?” I asked her as I turned onto my side, pulling the sheet closer to me.
She shrugged and then laid down next to me. “I have to leave tomorrow for two months. Marcus backed out because his wife went into labor early. So I have to fly to San Antonio to set up the hotel.”
I nodded knowing how often she has to do this. She started out helping set up new hotels and now they’ve continued to ask her to do them alone, without giving her a promotion. I keep telling her she needs to ask for one and tell her constantly how much more she should be paid for the job she does. Since she’s the single girl, she’s asked to pick up the jobs everyone tosses aside. “Two months. Last time it didn’t take you that long. Maybe you’ll be back sooner.”
She shrugged. “Maybe.”
“Are you upset about it?” I asked trying to figure out what was bothering her.
“No, not really. Just another city to explore,” She said with a faint smile. I glanced over at my clock, noting it was four o’clock.
“What time is your date tonight?”
“I’m meeting him out at eight.” I nodded as she took in a deep breath. “I’ve been thinking about you and Matt,” she said slowly. “Remember how we were talking about the next one could be the one?”
I started to protest by saying, “Aubrey, I don’t…”
“No,” she interrupted me as she sat up and crossed her legs. “Just hear me out. He seems like he doesn’t want a relationship either right now. So maybe, just maybe, if you guys are friends, you could always work into a relationship. You promised you’d have our happy ever after.”
“He’s not going to be our happy ever after, Aubrey. You should see him at the office, not to mention all the women that were falling all over him at the conference. You know I can’t handle that with all my insecurities.” I sat up, pulling the sheet around me, matching her sitting crossed legged. “Charles was always supportive when I felt insecure. I’m pretty sure Matt’s not that type at all. He likes me at the office. Confident Vanessa where I know what the hell I’m doing because I’m at the office. But outside all that, I can’t deal with him being looked at all the time.”
“But you’ll never know until you try. And what if he likes that you’re just a little insecure?” I scoffed.
“What man ever wants an insecure woman?” I shook my head.
“He likes the type of woman he can take care of too. I can tell. He took care of you last night.”
I couldn’t argue that. Not many guys would stay to do that. I gave her a thoughtful glance and then flopped back down, facing her. “I’m scared,” I admitted, feeling exactly that.
“I know. But you’ll never know until you try.”
“Aubrey, I still have to completely break it off with Charles. He thinks were on some break.”
“And what do you think?”
“I…think I’m ready to move on. I just don’t think it would be with Matt,” I paused and briefly closed my eyes. “Not that he would want anything to do with me.”
Aubrey shook her head and adamantly said, “I think you’re wrong.” She huffed out a deep breath. “I think he’s got issues of his own. I watched him at the wedding. I think the girl that was there broke his heart. You’re each other’s next one.”
I gave her a small smile. I know how much this means to her. She was thrilled at first about Charles for me. Until she heard little things he would say to me; stuff she considered mentally fucking with me. Not to mention that he never gave me an orgasm.
My phone rang out with a text bringing us both out of the thoughts we were having. Aubrey jumped up and grabbed my phone off my dresser where I left it. She smiled brightly and then bit her lip. Tears filled her eyes.
“What’s wrong?”
She looked up at me and gave a slight nod of her head. “He’s definitely the one.” She tossed my phone on my bed and headed out my door.
I glanced down at the text from Matt and smiled.
Matt: Are you up yet, Gorgeous? We’re hitting Allure tonight. I won’t take no for an answer.
I smiled bright as my heart flipped. Gorgeous again. Hmm, I like that. I bit my lip wanting to text him back. I was still tired and really didn’t want to go out. I decided to text him after my shower, knowing I’ll feel better after I take one.
I used my best shower gel. I washed my hair twice with my most expensive shampoo and conditioner. I took my time shaving my legs, making sure to get every curve. I wanted to feel better so I could go out with Matt. Ugh. And Clark. I’m sure he would come along too. I dismissed that thought quickly, attempting to focus on Matt. Matt and his gorgeous smile. What was I doing? Friends. I had deemed him a friend only and he had accepted that.
I stepped out of the shower, wrapping a fluffy towel around my body and hit the play list on my phone. I danced to the rhythm, shaking my hips and throwing my hands up in the air. I dried myself off while dancing to the song. I pulled the towel back and forth along my back before whipping it off and throwing it across the bathroom.
Gorgeous, he called me. I felt gorgeous and sexy as hell. I chuckled at the name Matt used for me, but then I glanced at my reflection in the mirror and dismissed anything that might bother me about my body. Instead I focused on my full breasts, my sexy curves and my flat stomach. I continued to dance to the music and strutted into my bedroom to grab some panties.
I heard a loud scream and realized it came from me as I glared at Matt sitting on my bed leaning back on his elbows with that damned half smile. My heart was pounding from anger or embarrassment, I couldn’t figure out which. I quickly covered myself, the best I could since I was naked. In my own bedroom. I ran back into my bathroom and slammed the door as I heard him chuckling.
“Come on out, Vanessa. I want to see you dance like that some more,” he called out as I stood behind my bathroom door breathing heavy. Naked. He saw me naked. Well, actually that wasn’t the first time I tried to reason with myself. Anger coursed through me as I realized he was in my bedroom. I grabbed my towel off the floor so I could go back out there and yell at him.
I whipped the bathroom door open and stomped over to the bed. “What the hell are you doing in here?”
He was sitting up by then, still smiling that sexy smile as he licked his lips. “I’m just here as a friend. You know, to help you pick out clothes for tonight. Aubrey let me in,” he told me with a shrug.
“I…You…I,” I stammered trying to find the right words. “You are not allowed to be in here. You can’t see me naked.”
He glanced down at my towel covered body and licked his lips as he pressed them together and gave his head a slight shake. His eyes were so bright. “I’ve already seen you at your finest, Vanessa. Nothing can shock me now.”
Was he talking about me throwing up last night or when we had sex? I dismissed that silly question in my head and got back to the point. “Well, that doesn't give you the right to be in here. I don’t go walking into your room when you get out of the shower.”
“I would love the hell out of that, if you would,” he told me as he stared right into my eyes, making me melt.
“Well…I don’t. So…don’t do that to me.” I t
ried to regain some sort of composure. As much as I could with a towel around me and naked as God made me. I walked over to my dresser and pulled open my lingerie drawer. I felt heat on my back and my heart picked up knowing he was right behind me. I glanced into the mirror to see him standing behind me, staring down at my neck as if he wanted to kiss me. I stood up straight, still looking forward into his reflection as I asked, “What on earth are you doing?”
He stared back at my reflection and smiled. “I just wanted to help you pick something out.”
Asshole. I clutched my towel tighter to my body. As pissed off as I was right now, having Matt right behind me, remembering what he did to me, turned me on beyond reason. I glared back at him as I realized I needed to mess with him just as much as he was with me. I smiled to myself as it dawned on me what I needed to do to Matt.
I pulled out my sexiest royal blue demi bra. The one I saved for special occasions to make me feel extra sexy. He wanted a show then I’ll give him one. One that he can’t touch. He wanted to use this ‘friends’ thing to get closer to me. Fine. I can play his little game.
I turned slightly, feeling how close he was right behind me, my elbow brushed against him slightly. He took a small step back, chuckling to himself, as if he won this little game of his. I confidently turned around completely and dropped my towel. I watched that smug smile drop immediately as his eyes dipped to view my body. As his smile dropped, mine appeared. I was going to have a great time messing with him.
I pulled the bra to my stomach and began to fasten it around my back, when it dawned on me—I had help today. I tilted my head to the side, trying not to smile too much, as I cupped the bra just below my breasts. “Matt, since you’re here to help me, as my friend, could you please fasten the hooks?”
I slowly turned around and glanced back to see his expression. I watched him swallow as he stared at my ass. “Matt?” His eyes shot up to mine, glazed over with lust. Desire. This was going to be fun to taunt him tonight. My new friend.
He stepped forward and his hands brushed against my back. His mere touch was going to drive me insane, but I was determined to play his little friendship game.
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