Page 34 of My Scorned Best Friend

“They still act like they don’t like each other,” Jed says.

“Kind of like you two,” Molly says, waving her finger between Xavier and me.

Ben coughs, quickly grabbing his beer to wash down the food lodged in his throat. “Am I missing something?”

“Gotta go,” Molly singsongs and walks away.

“People have been thinking we’re secretly together for years. It’s just a rumor. We’re just friends. Right, X?”

He nods but doesn’t say anything. Usually, he’d be the first one to point out that we’re just friends.

Ben smiles. “Good. I was gonna ask if I’m just wasting my time here?”

“No.” I give him a wan smile I hope appeases him. Although deep down I think the answer is yes, but not because of Xavier. Try as I might, my feelings for Ben just aren’t moving in the direction of romance. Maybe I’m still too messed up about Xavier to allow someone else in.

“Then I can take you to dinner tonight? That Terra and Mare place.”

I know Ben means well, but I don’t want him to spend the night in a fancy restaurant he surely doesn’t want to be in. “I have a better idea. How about we head to this bar on the outskirts of town? We can play pool and darts. I’ll show you the spots off the beaten path of Sunrise Bay.”

Ben’s lips spread in a huge smile, revealing his perfect white teeth. “Sounds fun.”

“Great. But now I have to get back to work. Um… my place?” I look at Xavier. “Would you mind showing Ben where I live? You have your key.”

He doesn’t make eye contact with me. “Sure.”

“Okay, I get off at five, so I’ll be home shortly after.” I get up and put on my coat. “See you then.” I open my purse to leave some money on the table.

“I got it,” Xavier mumbles.

“I’ll pay you back.”

He nods.

This wasn’t at all how I saw our lunch panning out, but I have no time to dwell on that. Fran and her crew made an appointment with me to discuss the extension and what they hope it will include, should they decide to donate money.

“Bye, guys.” I walk off but turn around. “It’s great that you came, Ben. Really.”

I mean it. It was a nice thing for him to do, and if I was more into him, I’d be swooning right now. But his visit might be a blessing in disguise and let me really figure out whether there’s anything between us.

His face brightens with a smile as though he never expected me to say that. “I’m glad I came then.”

“Bye, X,” I say and walk out the door.

Once I’m in the library and out of the public eye, I lock myself in my office for a moment to catch my breath and gain my equilibrium. Why do I feel as if I’m in some weird sort of love triangle when there’s technically only one man who’s interested in me?

11

“TAKE ME TO YOUR MOM’S GRAVE.”

Xavier

“Does this house suit her or what?” Ben asks the minute I use the key she hides in a rock garden by the front door to let us in. He should be staying at my place, but I wasn’t gonna make some big deal about it and get Clara pissed at me again.

“It was her childhood home.” I set the key on the table near the front door.

“Really? Where are her parents?” He leaves his suitcase in the front foyer and starts looking around. For some reason, it irks me that he’ll be here alone. Then again, I’ve known Ben for many years—it’s not like he’s gonna steal her panties.

“She hasn’t told you?” I stand inside the door, checking my watch because I don’t want to be late picking up my dad from his treatment.

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