Page 9 of My Scorned Best Friend

“Yeah…”

He slapped me on the back. “Thanks, man.”

“NO!” I swallowed past the lump in my throat. “I mean, I’m not cool with it. She’s not going to be one of your girls to tell a story about like Ashton.”

I walked out of the hallway. Ben’s mouth was open, but he didn’t fight me on it. I knew he wouldn’t.

I headed in Clara’s direction to get her out of here, but Juliette stepped in front of me.

“Hey, you,” she said, her finger running down my chest. “You bought me a Sex On The Beach.”

“Great. Enjoy.” I stepped around her and overheard her mumbling her displeasure, but I couldn’t care less.

My bigger problem was that Ben was now giving all his attention to a brunette and Clara was glaring daggers at me.

“I’m beat. Let’s go.” I placed my hand on her elbow, but she pried it away from me.

“What did you tell Ben?”

“Nothing.”

She turned to me, her shoulders square. A pissed-off Clara was never good. “That’s funny, Xavier, because he came over to me just now and said he was sorry, he really liked me, but bro code and all that.”

“Please, you’d be his flavor of the night. I saved you.” I nodded toward the door. “Let’s go.”

“No. I’m not going. And maybe I want to be his flavor of the night. Did you ever think of that? It’s actually none of your business.”

“You are always my business.”

She slammed her drink on the table and leaned in closer. I was sure some of my teammates were watching. “Let me get this straight. You’ve decided you don’t want me, but no one else can have me either, is that it?”

“No, that’s not it.” I shook my head, not understanding what she was getting at.

“That’s exactly it! We’re friends, so sure, you can have an opinion on who I choose to date or hook up with, but you do not get to dictate my decisions for me. Nor do you get to be so heavy handed that you go behind my back and try to prevent me from even getting to make the decision in the first place. Especially after you tossed me aside.”

“I thought we were on the same page that last night was a mistake. That this is what’s best?”

“Yes, you conveniently decided that after we slept together. Bravo.” She shook her head and I saw tears pooling in her eyes. “You don’t know anything, Xavier Greene. Just go back to your girl. I’m so done with you.”

She stomped away and I left not soon after, taking a long enough walk around San Francisco that when I got back to my condo, she was already gone. Needless to say, there wasn’t a note waiting for me.

4

“YOU’RE STAYING HERE?”

Clara

I’m used to a certain kind of treatment when I come into town to visit Xavier. Usually, I was greeted by a driver, but if Xavier was available, he’d always wait for me right after security.

So after finally accepting Ben’s invitation to visit him this weekend, I’m surprised to find neither as I descend the escalator into arrivals. No Ben and no driver holding my handwritten name on a sign. He said he’d handle everything, including meeting me at the airport.

Maybe Ben’s at baggage claim? I check the overhead screen and find my designated baggage carousel. I still see no one. As I wait for the luggage to arrive, I pull out my phone, but there’s no text message from Ben.

Finally, the conveyor belt starts moving and all the passengers from my flight descend as though we’re at the doors of Walmart on Black Friday at opening time. I’m in luck because my bag is the fourth one out, so I grab it and quickly wheel it out of the way before I’m trampled by someone.

As soon as I step outside, the sun hits my face and I relish the warmer air for a moment, forgetting how awkward it is that I’ve come down here to spend the weekend with Xavier’s teammate.

A loud honking makes me stop soaking in vitamin D to see what is going on. A huge truck pulls up in front of me and stops abruptly. I squint, although the dark shadow the truck has created by blocking out the sun helps me see that the monstrosity in front of me is being driven by Ben.

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