But she’s not my girlfriend. Why am I worrying? Hell, can’t I just enjoy my night?needy Reggie asked himself.
No, you can’t. That’s not how we live life,pragmatic Reggie answered.
He struggled with the need to make sense of everything now.
Why can’t I just be that guy who likes getting laid and leave it at that?
Because it’s a hell of a lot more than that, and you know it. Don’t be a dumbass.
Maggie was no friend with benefits. Well, she was, in the sense that she gave him hotter orgasms than he’d ever had in his life. But Maggie meant something to him. Something that scared him because he knew that familiar tingle in his heart, the one that burned when the dreaded L-word emerged.
“Yo, you okay?”
Reggie turned to see a giant walking toward him, and he didn’t look welcoming. Reggie tensed. The man looked familiar, likely the one he’d passed the last time he’d been to Maggie’s. And then he remembered her talking about her friends. How many neighbors around here would be six foot six?
“Are you Benny?”
The man smiled, and the awful expression he’d been wearing disappeared, leaving a not-so-angry giant behind. He had brown hair threaded with gray that met his shoulders and wore a pair of jeans and a faded, blue T-shirt, showcasing sleeves of tattoos. His biceps looked like boulders, and Reggie would be hard-pressed to make his hands fit around the guy’s neck. Behind him came Doug, the man who’d been with Emily at the library.
“Hi, Reggie.” Doug nodded. “Remember me?”
“Yep. You’re Doug. You guys are Maggie’s friends.”
“Yeah.” Benny looked him over, but Reggie couldn’t tell what he thought. “Hey, you look like you could use a beer. Want to come over?”
Reggie looked at them, then at Maggie’s closed door. His mind started to clear, and he could think again without the haze of lust, needy affection, and worry clouding his thinking. “Sure, why not?”
Once inside their apartment, he noticed right away the differences between their space and Maggie’s. Unlike her warm, cozy home, theirs felt like a designer showpiece. Comfortable but extremely high-end. Natural tones on the walls, beech hardwood floors, and Scandinavian-style furniture that could accommodate a man of Benny’s size had been tastefully chosen to accentuate the modern feel of the space.
The living area led into a spacious dining area, complete with a long, wooden table and six chairs. The kitchen, very unlike Maggie’s, would have looked at home on a cooking show. It had black granite counters, white cabinets, and a big-ass kitchen island that could seat four easily, not to mention all the stainless-steel appliances.
“Farther down the hall, we have three bedrooms and two baths,” Benny explained. “And yeah, Maggie has the smallest unit in the building.”
“Huh.”
Doug smiled. “First time I went from our place to Maggie’s, I had the same look on my face.” He pulled three different kinds of beer from the fridge and offered Reggie his choice.
“Thanks.” Reggie chose a tasty Peddler horchata cream ale he’d had before.
“So. You’re Reggie.” Benny’s stare made Reggie a little uncomfortable. This guy was Maggie’s friend, so Reggie didn’t want to come across as antagonistic, but if the guy didn’t blink soon, he’d have to say something, if only to get that serial killer expression off his face.
Doug rolled his eyes. He handed Benny the pale ale and kept for himself the imperial stout before plopping down at the island. “Ignore my husband. Please, sit.”
Reggie did, then looked back at Benny and scowled. “Why do you look so familiar to me?”
“I have that kind of face.”
Doug snorted.
“No. It’s…” Reggie leaned toward him, searching.
Benny sighed and pulled his hair back, then put a sneer on his face. “This help?” He snarled for effect.
Reggie gaped. “Bear Destruction!Dude, you were my hero! How many titles did you win on the semipro circuit? Holy shit. I can’t believe it’s you. You’re awesome.” Reggie still didn’t quite believe it, but why would someone try to impersonate a retired wrestler from a now-defunct league?
Benny flushed. “Surprised you recognized me.”
“I didn’t at first, but something kept nagging me.” Reggie couldn’t stop staring and knew he was acting like an idiot. But…Bear Destruction!“I have to get your autograph before you kick me out for fanboying you.”
