Page 42 of Enemies with Benefits

“Leaving? Yeah.”

“Yeah. . .” He opens the door to make his escape.

“Oh, hey!” Jenny stands in my doorway.

Shit. Fuck. Shit. Fuuuck!

“Hey. I was just leaving.”

She eyes us both, then addresses Ben. “Did you—?”

“Just stopped by. She left her phone in my car. See ya around.” Without another glance, he walks off, climbing into his Jeep.

Jenny turns back to me, and I smile, internally slapping myself. “What’s up?”

“Nothing. I was bringing you coffee. You look like shit.”

“I feel like shit. Why did you let me drink that much?”

She giggles, and I watch her eyes take in my outfit. Yep, same one. The wheels start to spin, and she turns toward Ben, most likely assessing if he’s in the same—

“Wow, coffee. You shouldn’t have!” I win this one. She stops and looks back at me.

“Yeah, thought you might need some. Try it first. I may have put too much sugar in it.” She hands me the coffee as she walks in. “Super fun party last night. Speaking of, I couldn’t get a good read on Ben. Any chance you put in a good word for me? I didn’t realize you all hung out so much, girl. You should have mentioned it.”

Oh, the things I should have mentioned. “It’s been a long time since we’ve hung out. I really don’t even remember him.”Horrible friend. Even worse liar.I follow her to the couch, place the mug on the coffee table, and sit in the same space I shared with Ben minutes ago.

“It’s cool. Now you can talk to him for me. Get the scoop.”

“Of course.” The words taste bitter coming out of my mouth. But why? Memories of last night return. We made a pact. Friends. Why should I care that she likes him? I didn’t claim him.Do you want to claim him?Yes. No! We wouldn’t work out. There’ll always be that animosity between us. The past. And how could I fall for someone I’ve spent half my life hating?

Maybe it wasn’t hate. . .

Shut up, conscience.

“Totally. All over that.”

She smiles huge, and I deflate, feeling like a jerk.

She takes a sip of her coffee. “So good. Try yours! It’ll help your hang—”

Another knock sounds on the door. My nerves are heightened, fearing Ben had a change of heart and came back, deciding to spill the beans.What beans would he be spilling?I don’t know! That this is a fake friendship and there’s nothing innocent about our intentions?

“You going to get that?”

“Yeah.” I shoot up. “Why wouldn’t I answer my own door?” I trip over my feet and stumble to the door, throwing it open. “Hey, hello—”

“Ms. Fischer?”

Okay, not Ben. . .“Yes?”

“My name is Angelica Billson. My sister and her husband live next door?”

I look at the older woman, seeing the resemblance. “Yes, of course. How are they enjoying their trip?”

“That’s the thing. Edith and Jerald never mentioned they were taking a trip. And it’s not like my sister to leave without calling me.” There’s deep concern in her tone.

“Oh. . . well, I just got back home. They were gone before I came back. But, you know, my friend Jenny is the one house-sitting. Maybe she can help you.” I turn to address Jenny, but she’s not on the couch. “Jenny? She was just here.” Where the heck did she go?

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