Page 35 of Friend Me

Jackson rubbed his hands together, grinning. “So. Who did something they regret last night? I’m only getting married once, so I need the stories to be epic. I want people to be talking about this weekend for the rest of our lives. Tyler? Marlee? Not you, Sam; I don’t want to hear about my little sister’s debauchery.”

Before I could mumble a lie, Andrew bounced up with a glass of juice, which he handed to Alicia. “Watch out, Sam. Mother’s on the warpath. She heard you left the reception early last night.”

“I was working on my dissertation project. That’s much more important than yet another party. No offense, Jackson.”

“There was wine and dancing. It wasn’t just another party, was it?” Jackson turned to Alicia. She set a consoling hand on his forearm.

Andrew nudged his sister. “Hey, Sam, maybe you could tell Mother you snuck off with Tyler. You guys are both computer geeks. She might buy it.”

She stepped away from him, wrinkling her nose. “Tyler’s with Marlee.”

“Tyler and Marlee?” Jackson chuckled. “They’re just friends.”

He must’ve been the only one who missed our dance-floor kiss. What was I going to say? I couldn’t lie to Jackson. “We—”

“Friends make the best lovers, I think.”

We all turned wide eyes to Sam, who’d said it. I’d known her for three years, and she’d never had a serious relationship. What did she know about lovers?

“Someone who knows you and likes you already. Who cares about you as a person. And then you add on the romantic and sexual components. It’s like having a program that already functions well and adding on a new feature. What could be better? I’d want to be friends with my partner.”

I couldn’t—wouldn’t—look at Tyler. I’d tried to bolt on a feature to our relationship, but it was one that didn’t belong. Like trying to add a weather-forecasting feature to a note-taking app.

“I need—I mean, I’m going to get a drink.” Leaving his soda on a nearby table, Tyler stalked away without looking back. Without looking atme.

Jackson turned to me, eyebrows arching toward his hairline. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing. I…Excuse me.” Alicia could tell him all about it. I had to make things right with my friend. I followed Tyler outside to the porch.

He stood at the rail overlooking the vineyard. Stepping up beside him, I took a deep breath of grape-scented air.

“Last night I—I went too far. I made a mistake.” I swallowed. “Our friendship is important to me, and I shouldn’t have done that. I’m sorry.”

“I’m sorry, too. I crossed a line by kissing you. I got caught up in Operation—”

“I know. It’s okay. And if you don’t want to keep it up anymore, I’m okay with that.” Operation Prince Charming had sounded like just another fun game when he’d proposed it at the start of the weekend. But it had turned out to be dangerous fun. Like playing with matches.

“No, it’s fine. We’re friends. Friends help each other. I want to help you.” When he turned toward me, he looked like my friend again. No angry lines between his eyebrows, no sad droop to his lips. He smiled, though the dimple didn’t show.

Was the fake-dating helping? I replayed the shock on Cooper’s face after Tyler had kissed me. It hadn’t been quite jealousy, but it was a good start. Maybe if I spent some quality time with my battery-operated boyfriend substitute, I could keep my hormones in check and my hands off Tyler. And then Cooper would realize we were perfect for each other.

“Thanks. You’re the best.”

“Carly Simon, ‘Nobody Does It Better.’”

For the first time that day, I laughed. But it reminded me that we had to spend two hours alone in a car, driving back to the city. How awkward would it be? Worse, could I trust myself not to reach for his hand over the console?

Distance. That was what I needed. And a solo orgasm or two. Then I could be his friend and pretend-girlfriend in front of Cooper.

“Hey, you don’t mind if I catch a ride back with Sam? She offered while we were getting dressed yesterday.” It wasn’t even a lie. We’d geeked out over sci-fi TV, and she’d asked me if I’d watch an episode or two ofBattlestar Galacticawith her Sunday night.

Tyler’s grin faded. “No problem. I was thinking about heading back early anyway.”

My heart twinged, but I said, “I’ve got some final bridesmaid duties to wrap up. See you at work Monday?”

“Sure thing.” He turned on the toe of his sneaker and walked to the steps that led to the parking lot. No smile, no hug, not even a friendly shoulder-squeeze.

I deserved it. But I’d try to make it up to him. Starting Monday.

---