The Friends Zone

by Tarrah Anders

  “Yes, please.” He hoarsely says as he sits down in the chair opposite of mine.

  I enter the kitchen and prepare him a mug. I grab a banana, walk to his side, and set everything in front of him. He mutters a thanks and I resume my seat in front of him.

  “How are you?” He asks. I freeze and peer over my screen. I wasn’t expecting him to actually talk to me so calmly as he’s been bouncing between being a walking void to crazy emotional outbursts.

  “I’m functioning. You?” I say closing the lid, opening the space for him. Using some of my therapy tactics I remember learning while going to college.

  “I don’t know what side is up. I keep thinking she’s going to come over here and we’re all going to BBQ or something. Or that she’ll reply to my texts, or … that she’s just here.” He sniffs. His eyes are glassy, but he’s blinking back the tears. At least he’s speaking, and I need to keep it moving along.

  “We were supposed to go dress shopping last weekend. She was my maid of honor. Guess that will have to be you now.” I say to attempt to lighten the mood.

  Max smiles and my heart beats faster. I mentally high five myself.

  “I’m man enough for two jobs.” He says. “Look, I want to apologize; I’ve gone nuts, off the deep end and am a permanent resident of crazy town right now. I know that you’re dealing with the same shit that I am, so, I’m sorry.”

  Confused, I cock my head. “Why are you sorry Max, you did nothing wrong.”

  “I’m here and she’s not.” I’m speechless. I rummage through my brain and all the schooling to try to remember this stage, but I fumble. I get up from my chair and pull out the one next to Max. His eyes watch me all along. I grab his face with my hands and lean towards him.

  “Never! Never say something like that to me again. You are important Maxwell Hunter. I’m sad my best friend died, I’m sad that your girlfriend died, but not for one minute- do I wish it was you who died. So I never want to hear you say something like that ever again. You are important! Tears are running down my face and through my blurry vision, I see that his cheeks are now tear stained. Giant tears are bubbling from the bottom of his eyes and his lips are trembling. I pull him to me further and hug him. I hug him so hard that I don’t know where I end and he begins. He hugs me back and his whole body is shaking.

  Max pulls away from me and looks over my shoulder. I turn my head and Dane’s standing directly behind me, his eyes are sad but he also realizes how big this moment is. I get up from my seat and Dane replaces me and starts talking to Max quietly. I am in the bathroom and cleaning up my appearance. My face is blotchy and my shoulder has wet marks on it from Max’s tears. It pains me to know that Max feels that way, but I’m glad that he’s showing more feelings than anger, that he cried.

  My hands are gripping the ends of the bathroom vanity and I’m taking deep calming breaths to gain my composure. Dane appears in the mirror as he leans against the doorframe. He has a small smile on his face, his purple tie is loosened and the top two buttons of his shirt is undone. He looks entirely edible right now, but I couldn’t even fathom seducing him after just crying like that.

  “That was… intense.” He breathes.

  “How much did you hear?” I ask staring at him in the mirror.

  “I walked in as you sat in front of him. I had no idea he was feeling like that.” Dane says walking up and putting his hands on my hips. He’s still looking at me in the mirror.

  “Survivors guilt.” I simply say. “I’ve had it here and there, but its understandable how he feels.”

  “It was beautiful how you handled that. I felt like I was eavesdropping.” He says as I lean up against him. He wraps his arms around me and kisses my neck. A fire lights in my stomach and I’m feeling an earning for him. I give him more of my neck and push my ass against his crotch. I can feel his length and I breathe deeply, my eyes fluttering closed. Dane’s hand snakes around my hips and his flat palm lands beneath my belly button above my center and he presses me into him as he pushes his hips.

  “Sterling.” He whispers as he trails kisses across my shoulder.

  “Close the door Dane.” I instruct, my voice sure and my eyes catching his in the mirror.

  Dane moves back and the warmth from his body instantly leaves me, chilling me. He’s unbuckling his belt and lowering his zipper and I remove my jeans and underwear. He returns behind me and with his hand, he massages between my legs. I can feel his cock against my ass and I reach around to take hold of it. I grip his silky smooth member as his fingers are diving in and out of me.

  “You’re so wet.” He whispers nipping at my shoulder.

  I release him and look up at his reflection in the mirror. I see unbridled lust in his eyes as he takes my hip in one hand and his erection in the other. His gaze holds mine as he enters me, I fight to keep my eyes open as he plunges all the way in and my body covers his cock. He pumps in and out with his grip tight on my hips. My hands are still clinging to the bathroom vanity and my breaths are short.

  “Harder, Dane.” I urge.

  “Are you sure?” He asks doing the exact opposite of what I asked.

  “Make me feel it tomorrow. Make me feel.” I plead.

  His movements quicken as he slams into me over and over again in a frenzy. I can feel tightness and my body starts to climb. A moment later my body shutters in ecstasy and Dane follows seconds later and still. Breathing heavily, he removes himself from me gently. I can feel his come sliding down the inside of my thigh. Dane catches his breath with his forehead against my shoulder blades. His semi-erect cock is pressed against my ass still and he slowly pulls away. He retrieves a wash cloth and drops to his knees behind me.

  He cups my butt as hand slides to spread my cheeks. He gasps. Startled, I look down at him.

  “What?” I ask in worry.

  “I’m watching my seed seep out of you, it’s… beautiful.” He whispers.

  I chuckle as his other hand with the washcloth inches from my knee, up my thigh to my center. He delicately cleans me and after pressing a kiss to each butt cheek, he stands with a smile on his face.

  “Your incorrigible.” I smile up at him as I turn to his embrace.

  “And you’re beautiful. But I’ve got to get back to the office, I wanted to check in on you guys before I head to my next meeting.”

  “Afternoon delight and then back to work… Oh the life!” I dryly joke.

  “Morning delight, afternoon delight, evening delight, and middle of the night delight….shall I go on?” He leans down and brushes his lips against mine, plying them open with the tip of his tongue.

  “Leave before I haul you into bed.” I start to push him away. He finishes buckling his belt and opens the door.

  “Take care of our boy. I’ll be home around 4, so we can make the service at 6.” He kisses me one last time as he grabs his jacket that he had laid on the bed when he followed me.

  We walk into the common area and Max is sprawled across the couch with a beer in hand.

  “Nooner… nice!” He jokes looking up at us and noticing the flush on both of our skin. At least he hasn’t lost his sense of humor.

  DANE

  Max was out of the office for exactly 2 weeks. He then resumed to most of his activity from his desk as his crutches started to piss him off to where he threw them and broke things. Most of the staff steered away from his office when he was around, afraid of what mood he would be in. He fluctuated from hostile to calm to joking to hulk smash-like. Lukas and myself were the only ones who didn’t care. Max was sill staying with Sterling and myself, primarily now out of convenience since he couldn’t drive. During Max’s leave of absence, Lukas kicked some serious ass and even got us two new leads on new projects. I knew that returning to work was good for Max, so I made sure he stayed constantly busy. He was diving head first into creating plans, bids and anything else that was thrown his way. I took advantage of the situation in that aspect and knew it was helping him somehow.

  M
ax came to the office on most days with me and left when I left. He would sometimes bring a box of paperwork home with us so he could stay up and work on stuff. I don’t know how much he was sleeping, but he was functioning at least. He ignored phone calls from his parents, who in turn called me when he didn’t answer. They were worried, but I assured them that he’s making ends meet and coping.

  Sterling has been incredibly helpful with him and helping him manage his moods over the past two months. He’s talked to her about his feelings, but he still hasn’t opened up to me yet. I’m not jealous, I understand – I just wish he could feel confident to talk to me too. He never mentions Betsy, and he rarely shows much emotion when at home with us, which Sterling say is part of his process. Sterling and I have had moments of sadness, that hasn’t gotten easier. We’ve put the wedding plans on hold for now, which is killing me, but that too- I understand. It’s probably pissing off both our parents more.

  I’m sitting in Lukas’ office staring at the model he had mocked up for the Valley project a month ago. Its specifications meet all of what we had discussed at the original meeting after we were first awarded the job. This model sits next to the East Village project that Lukas has been rocking during this rough time. I look to the table that sits alongside one of the adjoining office walls and see several other models sitting. I strain my neck looking as Lukas enters.

  “Those are what I had completed based upon all the discussions for one of the projects that Max opted for, some realty offices. I had someone mock something up based on the notes and plans. You can take a look and let me know what you think…” he said as he started towards the table.

  “You’re office is starting to look like a miniature town.” I joke. I take a look at the two models which sit in front of me. They are identical except for the insides. “Which is the original?” I ask noting the size and layouts.

  “The left one is the current existing while the right is the idea based upon some of Max’s notes. Most of the offices appear to have somewhat the same internal layout, but they want each location to have a different style and flair to it. More so interior design, however some changes that we can make or contract out for.”

  “Nice work dude. Look, I never properly thanked you for manning the helm while all this stuff went down. I greatly appreciate it. You’ve seriously been awesome.”

  “Hey, what are friends for. It has been good experience.” Lukas brushes off.

  “They break ground on the East Village?” I ask.

  “Yes, yesterday. Excavation is happening right now and soon framers will go in as well. I’ve got my construction hat shined and my brightly colored vest ready especially for the site, don’t worry – I’ve got this.”

  ***

  I peek my head into Max’s office and when I see the coast is clear and nothing is broken, including him, I walk inside.

  “Ready to go?” I ask sitting in the empty chair in front of his desk.

  “What day is it?” He asks me still focusing on his task.

  “Friday.”

  “That’s right.” He says as he scribbles down something on the notepad full of his writings and drawings. “I’ll catch a cab or something home. I shouldn’t be too late.”

  “I can wait around if you want?” I offer.

  “No, no, no. Have some alone time with your girl, you deserve it. Hell you probably need it. I’m going to work for a few more hours and I’ll just see you later.” He still hasn’t looked up at me, which I find troublesome but it’s no different than how it’s been for the past 3 weeks. He only time that he has actually looked me in the eye was when he was telling Sterling that day that he wished it was him instead of Betsy. He looks off my shoulder or above my head, but I’m not pressing anything, at least not right now.

  “Alright, give me a call if you can’t get a ride. I’ll see you later buddy.” Max grunts as I leave the office and soon I’m racing home to my girl.

  ***

  Since the accident, Sterling has been working half day at the office and half day at home. She took time off for bereavement but she never really took that time as she was still checking in on the kids during the appointment times that she had set up. She was dedicated just as much as she was working herself too hard. I saw a lot of the grieving that I see in Max in Sterling, except she’s talking it out with me in which I am grateful. I wouldn’t be able to handle it if both of them had shut down on me.

  Sterling is sitting at the dining table working on her laptop as I walk in the door. She looks up and smiles. Her hair is in a braid and she’s in her sweats with her feet up on the chair next to her.

  “Hey there. No Max?” She greets me as I approach.

  “He wanted to work late, give us some alone time. He said he’d catch a cab or something.” I say as I lean down to kiss her.

  “Hmmmm.” She smiles.

  Since the day I came home and I fucked her in the bathroom after the emotional conversation she had with Max, we picked back up in our sexual appetites. Right after the accident, neither of us could muster up the energy or all around desire to have sex. It wasn’t for lack of trying, we both had tried one night, but we were dragging ass physically as it was that we mutually gave up. I could see the desire in her eyes right now, but I was a man on a mission. I wanted to feed her first, because I plan to tire her out nice and good tonight. Max is working, we can be loud and free, hell we could fuck on the dining room table again, although that was quite uncomfortable before.

  “I was thinking of cooking pasta carbonara.” I say walking into the kitchen.

  “What time do you think Max will be home?” She asks.

  “He didn’t say, he said ‘later’, but he hasn’t been very descriptive at the office. So who really knows.”

  “How’s he doing?” she asks leaning her hip against the island.

  “He’s scary at work. No one knows what type of mood he will be in from one moment to the next. He keeping busy though. He rarely leaves the office. He doesn’t talk to me unless I ask him questions directly. I know he’s broken, I know you are too, I just am at a loss of what to do.”

  “Oh Honey, he may be broken, but it’s only temporary. He will fix himself, but it just won’t be immediate. I’m not broken. I’m sad, yes. But I am not broken. You’ve been my rock and everything that I could ever need to help me get through this. Everyone has their own way of coping with grief.” Sterling comes to my side and looks up at me. “You put me back together when this all happened. I don’t know what I would have done without you.” She leans up on her tippy-toes and kisses my cheek.

  “I just don’t know what to do for him.” I exhale.

  “There’s no rulebook. There’s no step by step instructions. Let him come to you, let him figure this out. He knows we are here for him, he knows that he can ask anything of us.” Her arms wrap around me and I instantly am grounded.

  “Have I told you today that you’re amazing?” I smile down at her. “I should get dinner started before we starve. But I definitely plan to take advantage of the Max-free zone tonight. I want you screaming!” I take a fake chomp at the air. She smiles and pulls away.

  The rest of the evening was perfect. It was quiet, until I had Sterling screaming as I took her against the wall in the hallway. It was near 11pm, when we fell into bed and there was still no sighting or word from Max.

  ***

  Upon waking the next morning, I wake before Sterling. I walk into the living room and am immediately hit with the smell of alcohol. I see clothes strewn from the front door to the couch. The clothing, isn’t all male clothing. I silently curse as I see a pair of legs over the edge of the couch, and then I see a bulky cast and another leg, laying on the floor. I quietly walk to the scene and see a leggy blonde laying face down on the couch. She’s only wearing her bra and panties and one shoe, I look down on the floor and Max is also face down in only his boxers, with his cast, my view is almost comical. There’s a half empty bottle of vodka and several empty beer bott
les on the coffee table.

  I debate with myself whether I should wake them or not, instead I walk back to the bedroom. Sterling is still sleeping and I nudge her shoulder.

  “There’s a half naked girl sleeping on our couch.” I whisper to her.

  She jolts awake. “What the!” She barks.

  I hold up my hands. “Max brought her home. Should we wake her and tell her to leave to avoid something with Max? Or do we let Max handle this?” I honestly am torn.

  “I’ll wake her. Hopefully Max drank enough to where he’s sleeping hard. But just in case.. back-up?”

  We both tip-toe to the living room. Max is passed out and the chances of him waking are slim to none, as Sterling shakes the blonde’s shoulder. She leans down next to the girls ear and somehow she makes magic happen and the blonde is swiftly retrieving her belongings to leave. I give her a sympathetic look as soon as she’s dressed. She gives Max’s limp form on the ground one last look before she leaves and is gone forever.

  So now, how do we disinfect the couch?

  STERLING

  I don’t know how he does it. Every other morning for the past month, I have to whisper to a passed out girl on our couch that she needs to hurry up and leave. I pretend that I’m Max’s girlfriend and that I won’t kick her ass if she doesn’t leave within 5 minutes. I’m not sure if he remembers what he’s doing, as he hasn’t made any mention of it to either Dane or me. I also try to refrain from sitting on the couch too much, unsure of what substances are on it. Max partakes in all his activities in the living room and not the bedroom he’s staying in, which just is another indicator that these girls aren’t anything other than a one-night stand. Eventually, we will need to have a conversation on boundaries, I don’t want anyone to feel uncomfortable in our house and if this is how Max is going to cope and continue, then ahhhh I don’t know!

  I just closed the door behind Barbie number five and Max has started stirring. His bulky cast is moving and I dash down the hallway to our bedroom. Dane is standing in the walk-in closet securing his tie around his neck. His wet hair is still messy from being towel dried. I sigh as I push him further in the closet and close the door behind me. His shocked look is priceless, but it won’t be in a second.