Page 15 of The Friend Zone

I never liked this girl. Too catty and manipulative to even consider hooking up with her. Luca made that mistake once and he couldn’t shake her, not even after he got together with Lakyn.

If I want to get the truth from her, I need to keep my tone kind. “Bianca, what about you? Look, I’m flattered you’re here but I thought you and Topher were an item?”

I know I struck a nerve when her lips flatten into a bitter line. “We’re not, or at least not yet. We’ve just been hanging out, but I told him clearly that I want more. He said this was a test of my loyalty and if I went through with it, he would take me to the Dean’s charity gala as his date and we would make it official. So I’m here.”

Holy shit.

I thought Topher was the devil after he invoked the bro-code to make Bay untouchable, but this? This is what my philosophy teacher at my prep school would call Machiavellian.

Topher has made no mystery that he wants to get back together with Bay.

It’s no secret that he was always threatened by Bay’s close friendship with Cole. Of course the threat of throwing my best friend out of the Gamma house if he doesn’t stay in the friend zone is effective because of Cole’s financial situation.

I must have looked like an even bigger threat because money isn’t a factor in my decisions.

Our frat president is aware of how embarrassed I am by my initiation video, so I suppose this is his insurance policy to make sure I don’t say fuck the video and ignore his ridiculous bro-code.

Getting a blowjob from Candace would make Bay look at me under a different light, but having Bianca go down on me?

That would be the kiss of death not only for any chance to turn my deal with Bay into more than a casual thing, Bay would never even look at me again if I hooked up with the girl Topher cheated with.

However I look at the situation, Topher has me by the balls. If I let Bianca and Candace blow me, I’ll lose Bay forever. If he releases that video, not only Bay will never want to be with me again, I’ll also tarnish my family’s name.

Whatever I do, Topher wins at least one part of the battle. In his arrogant delusion, he doesn’t realize that Bay will never give him a second chance no matter what.

Guilt twists my insides. Not because I’m thinking about letting Candace and Bianca have their wicked way with me.

I’m not tempted, not even a little bit. I feel bad that what I’m about to do will fuck up the team’s winning streak.

“Girls, I need you to do me a favor,” I use my most charming smile. “I need you to let everyone believe that you gave me that blowjob. Especially Topher.”

They look at me as if I had sprouted two heads. “Come again?” Candace blinks, confused.

“Why would we do that?” Bianca sounds more suspicious.

I can’t tell them that I’m a complete moron who caught feelings for his friend with benefits. “Because I don’t want the fact that I’m not feeling well to impact on the team’s performance tonight,” I lie. “And I don’t want to embarrass the two of you. This has nothing to do with you two, it’s complicated and it’s my own problem.”

Fuck, I can’t believe I used “it’s not you it’s me” twice in one day as an excuse.

“Fine,” Bianca shrugs. “As long as I get what I want, suit yourself. But you’re missing out, Jagger.”

Candace doesn’t look convinced. “So Bianca gets to prove her loyalty to Topher, but what about me? If we don’t blow you, how am I going to win you over and get you to take me on a date?”

The words tumble out of my mouth before I can think about the consequences of my offer. “I’ll take you on a date. Tonight. You can be my date at the Gamma party after the game.”

Candace’s eyes light up like a kid on Christmas Day. “Yay! We’re going to have so much fun, Jugs.”

I flinch at the use of that horrible nickname. “Yeah, but remember. I’m not feeling well, so we’re just going to hang out. I don’t want to get you sick.”

Once again Candace isn’t deterred by that. “You’re so sweet to worry about me. I’m going to take care of you.”

I nod, putting on a smile despite feeling dead inside.

When Bay hears that I got the blowjob after I rejected her, and sees me at the party with Candace, she’ll have no choice but to move on.

My family’s name will be safe because if Bay thinks I let Bianca Williams touch me, whatever there was between us will be well and truly dead.

I should feel relieved, but I don’t. I keep telling myself that I’m doing the wrong thing for the right reasons. After all, I wasn’t lying when I told Bay that I’m not a relationship kind of guy. Even if Topher hadn’t gotten in the way, I know I would have found a way to fuck things up sooner or later.

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