Page 8 of My Scorned Best Friend

“You’ll never lose me, Xavier.” She wrapped her arms around me. “Never. We’re best friends. Always.”

Her voice shook when she said best friends and I knew Clara way too well to not know that I’d hurt her. That she’d thought because it was her, it meant something different. That there was a possibility I’d wake up a different guy. Not the one cynical about falling in love, but one who believed in happily ever afters and that life was full of rainbows and sunshine.

“So, you’ll stay?” I asked selfishly. “We have that party tonight.”

“As long as that coffee in there is my chai latte.”

Her smile righted my world again, and it was as if the two of us hadn’t had one of the sexiest nights in my existence. Despite what I was saying, I knew I’d be reliving that night for the rest of my life.

For the whole day, I saw Clara in a different light. When she pulled her hair into a ponytail, I remembered my lips traveling the length of her neck. Or when she crossed her legs, I remembered those legs curled around my waist, the heat of her core pressed to my hardness. And when she came out of my guest bedroom wearing a dress that was way too short, I almost lost that ounce of self-control I’d always kept intact when it came to Clara—until last night.

We headed to the engagement party for my teammate who’d already been married twice and thought the third time was the charm. I had my doubts, but I tended to not be the one to ask. The bar was packed, but they had a back room reserved just for our party.

I opened the curtained-off area and Clara walked in first. My eyes fell to her ass until Ben distracted me by yelling my name from across the room. Before I had time to say hello to anyone else, he had Clara in a big bear hug, her feet dangling off the floor. I wanted to growl like a protective papa bear, but I reminded myself that Clara wasn’t mine.

The party was in full swing, and although Clara had said all the right things to assure me our friendship was fine, there was an awkwardness between us that had never been present before.

We played pool, darts, and drank casually. One thing I loved about Clara was her willingness to venture off and not be stuck at my hip. Then again, she’d known some of these guys as long as I have.

A tall blonde sauntered up to my table and signaled to the empty seat. “May I?”

“Have at it.” I slid the stool out for her and caught a glimpse of her micro minidress. There was more fabric on my board shorts.

“Xavier, right?”

I nodded and sipped my beer. “Yeah.”

“My friends bet me I wouldn’t have the guts to come over here.” She put her hand out between us. “I’m Juliette.”

I took her limp hand. “Nice to meet you, Juliette. Can I get you a drink?”

She twirled her hair with her finger, and I sighed because Clara and I always made fun of girls who messed with their hair as a way to try to attract a man. But these are the girls who know the score. They know there’s no forever when you pick up a professional football player in a bar.

I lifted my arm to draw the attention of the waitress, but while I scanned the area, my eyes stopped on Clara. Actually, they stopped on Ben standing way too close to Clara. Flashes of last night came to mind.

“Excuse me,” I said to Juliette.

“But the drink…”

“Sorry,” I barked at her, setting my focus on my best friend and teammate.

They were talking with Ashton, and he was going on and on about some girl who wouldn’t leave his apartment.

“Hey, guys,” I said, interrupting. “Clara, can I talk to you?”

Ashton continued on with the story.

She put up her finger. “Just a minute.”

“Actually, X, I gotta talk to you.” Ben nodded away from the group.

I was going to talk to Clara about staying away from Ben, but I guess it’ll be Ben I’ll talk to.

When we were in the bathroom hallway, I asked, “What’s up?”

“I just wanted to make sure it was cool with you if I ask Clara out. I know you guys are, like, best friends and stuff.”

I hadn’t expected this. I didn’t think Ben would do the honorable thing like asking me if it was okay. Images of Clara naked and writhing under me the night before flashed through my mind. Her smooth legs sliding up my waist. Her soft palms running down my back. Her begging and pleading for me to never stop.

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