She shrugs. “You look at him the same way, you know.”
“I do not.” But my protest comes out weak.
She raises an eyebrow.
“Okay, fine.” I throw my hands up in defeat. “I’m attracted to him. Who the fuck wouldn’t be? The man is sex on a freakin’ stick. But it’s not that simple...” I trail off, not sure how to explain the pull I feel toward him.
“It never is,” Lizzy says softly.
“What am I supposed to do?” I ask, suddenly feeling overwhelmed. “I’m not looking for a relationship. I’ve got all this…” I wave my hand in the air.
“Maybe it’s not about figuring it all out right now,” she shrugs. “Maybe you should just... see where it goes? At the very least, have some fucking fun.”
Maybe she’s right. I’m probably overthinking it.
I take a thoughtful bite of my croissant.
Taking a sip of her coffee, Lizzy sighs. “But... If there’s one thing I do know? When it comes to FWB, no matter how hard you try, feelings happen, right? You can befriendsall day long, but once the benefits kick in... all bets are off. One day your blissed out from an orgasm, the next all your thinking about is how you can’t wait to sit on his face again. And there aren’t any gray areas either. You’re either going to end up parting ways and being indifferent to each other, or you’re going to fall in love. One or the other is inevitable. Sometimes both.”
Shit. Those are some of the most profound words I have ever heard come out of Lizzy’s mouth. All I can do is stare at her wide eyed in surprise.
“Anyway.” She shifts, scooting her butt so she’s sitting onmy desk. “Have you decided if you’re going to volunteer at the festival?”
“Yeah, I think I will,” I nod, smiling inside at her abrupt change of topic. “It’s for a good cause, and it would be nice to get more involved in the community.”
“Great! I’ll let Ryder know. We could always use more help at the Dunk-A-Hunk.”
“Dunk-A-Hunk?” I laugh. “Who’s getting dunked?”
“Usually Jax and Ryder take turns,” she says with a mischievous grin. “People pay good money to see those two get soaked.”
The image of Jax in a wet T-shirt sends a jolt of heat racing up my neck. “I’ll bet,” I grin. “Oh, and I met your brother today.”
Her eyes soften. “When?”
“Next door during lunch. He came in with Jax, and he introduced us.”
A sly smile breaks across her face. But instead of giving me shit, she stands. “I should head back. I’ve got a client in thirty minutes.”
“Thanks for the coffee,” I say, walking her to the door. “And the pep talk.”
She gives me a quick hug. “Anytime. And Sash? For what it’s worth, I think you should go for it with Jax. Life’s too short to deny yourself what you really want. If anything, you should work on the friends’ part. Trust me, he’s a good one to have.”
seventeen
By the timeI get home, my body is aching for a good stretch.
The contractors worked nonstop trying to get as much done as possible, and I’ve been hunched over my desk making calls and finalizing schedules for our soft opening.
My shoulders feel tight, my lower back is screaming, and my mind won’t stop racing with all the details still left to handle.
Swapping my work clothes for a sports bra, tank top, and shorts, I grab my mat and head out to the lake behind my house. It’s a perfect spot for yoga. Peaceful, and with an unobstructed view of the sunset over the water.
The evening air is still warm as I spread out my mat and begin my warm-up. Starting with gentle stretches, I focus on my breath, letting it center me as I move through each pose. The tension in my shoulders begins to melt away as I transition into a flow sequence, my body easing its way into a rhythm.
With each move, I feel more grounded, more present. This is why I love yoga—the way it forces me to be in the moment. Focus on nothing but my breath and the sensations in my body.Leaving no room for thoughts about work, Ryan’s bullshit, or... Jax.
And yet, even though I do my best to push him out of my mind, images keep slipping through. The intensity in his eyes when he looks at me. The way he kisses. The sound of his sinful voice coming through my phone as he watched me through my window.
