Page 31 of Let Me Be the One

Ben

Lainey looks hot tonight. I don’t like that I’m thinking this, but I can’t seem to shake the thought. Frustratingly, the more I hang out with Lainey, the more glaringly obvious her attractiveness is. As I follow her over to the pool table, I can’t keep my eyes off the swish of her hips beneath her jacket. I also can’t stop imagining what she’s wearing underneath it. I caught a glimpse of purple and black, but that was just a tease. In her high heels, her legs look like they’re a mile long and I’m doing my best not to think about having them wrapped around me while I’m balls deep inside her.

See, this is exactly why female friends are dangerous. Usually, all I want to do with a woman is screw her. But I talk to Lainey. We hang out. And now I’m torn between asking her how she is and bending her over one of the pool tables and finding out what kind of underwear she’s wearing. If any.

Damn. I’m getting harder with every stride she takes. I clench my hands into fists to stop myself from reaching for her. Lainey is the last person I should think about sleeping with. She’s still in love with her ex and she’s not a one-night stand kind of girl. Our easy friendship used to deter errant fantasies of her and me, so why is it no longer working?

She turns to face me as soon as we reach the table. “You rack ‘em and I’ll break. Or do you want to break?”

“You break.”

My voice comes out gruff and her expression is full of apology as she studies me. “I know tonight is guy’s night.”

“Then why are you here?”

I probably could have phrased that better, but I don’t have it in me tonight. Not when I’m all worked up over what she’s wearing and I have to hide it. I’ve looked around already; there aren’t any decent-looking women in this place, outside of Lainey and her friend, so I can’t even distract myself. No wonder Duncan suggested we come here. If we were anywhere else, I’d have left the group already to go hook up. I should have known something was up when Duncan insisted we come here.

Hell, I did know. When I suggested we go somewhere else, he shot me down. And for what? A woman.

I follow Lainey’s gaze over to where Cass and Duncan are standing together at the bar. Seb is still with them, but there’s no mistaking the fact Cass is a lot closer to Duncan than she is to Seb.

Duncan thinks I don’t know he’s been sneaking off to see someone, but I’m not an idiot. And now it’s obvious who Duncan’s mystery woman is. From the way Lainey’s gaze is flicking between them and me, she knows it, too, and she’s waiting for my reaction. Might as well clue her in that I know exactly what’s going on.

“So it’s Cass,” I say. “She’s the one he’s been skipping guy’s night for?”

Lainey’s gaze locks with mine. “You knew he was involved with someone?”

“He doesn’t even try picking up anymore when we do go out. Plus he has this fucking glow about him every time I see him. She’s responsible for that, isn’t she?”

“Wow, you saw the signs before I did.”

It’s only now I contemplate the idea Lainey only found out tonight. “Did you know?”

“I had no clue they were together until Cass dragged me here tonight.”

I don’t know why I feel relieved that Lainey hasn’t been keeping Cass and Duncan’s relationship from me, but I do. Obviously, she’s going to be more loyal to Cass than to me, but I don’t like the idea of her hiding something so easily from me. Lainey and I have only been hanging out as friends for the last month and a half, but I’ve come to trust her like I trust the guys. Every time I’ve talked to her about Duncan bailing, she’s never said a thing. It would bother me if she knew this whole time.

“So, what’s the purpose of tonight?” I ask. “He’s finally telling us the truth and we’re all supposed to celebrate?”

She gives a little shrug. “I think so.”

The moment I put the triangle back on top of the rectangular light over the table, she breaks, knocking in one big and two smalls.

“I’ll take smalls,” she says just as Seb and Cass join us.

Both Seb and Cass are nursing drinks, and I realise I don’t have one. Damn it. I’ve been so distracted by Lainey and Cass being here, and then by Lainey’s hotness, that I forgot to buy one.

“I need a beer,” I say to no-one in particular.

“Duncan is bringing you one,” Cass says, eyeing me warily.

Sure enough, Duncan is strolling towards me with two beers in his hands. “For you.” He holds one out to me before he lowers his voice. “An apology for messing with guy’s night.”

“Wouldn’t be the first time,” I mutter as I take the beer.

Lainey chooses that moment to start up a conversation with Seb and Cass, leaving me to talk to Duncan.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Duncan asks.

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