Best Man with Benefits Read online

  Eighteen

  Jacob

  At first sight...

  I strode up to the front gates of the mansion, amped for the night. It was the first time I’d come over to my new buddy’s house, and it would be killer. No fake-ass parties, no dates, but a night for the boys—gaming, eating junk food, chilling out.

  My parents approved of him too, not that I gave a fuck what they thought.

  The gates had golden sheen, real money, and I hit the intercom button on the wall. I tucked my hands into my pockets and waited.

  A click sounded, followed by a voice that might’ve been an angel’s. “Hello?”

  Shit, had Charlie gone back on the whole deal and invited a chick over? “Hi,” I said. “Here for Charlie.”

  “Oh. Who are you?” the girl asked—she was young.

  “Jacob.”

  “Oh, OK.” And then the intercom clicked again. And silence. No opening of the gates. What the hell?

  I buzzed again.

  “Yeah?” The girl again.

  “It’s Jacob. Are you going to open the gates?”

  “He’s in the bathroom,” she replied. “I can’t ask him if you’re for real or not until he gets off the damn toilet, so no. I’m not going to open the gates.”

  “More information than I needed, but OK.”

  “Can you just wait like…five minutes?” A pause. “Make that ten. Ha!”

  “Uh?”

  “I’m kidding. I’ll let you in.” There was a clank, and the gates swung inward.

  I shouldered my backpack, and walked through them and up the long winding path that led to the front of the house. Whoever this chick was, she had a sense of humor. I reached the house, mounted the steps, and crossed the porch.

  The door was closed.

  I raised an eyebrow and knocked on it. “Hello?”

  Not a great first time visiting my buddy, but what the hell.

  Footsteps tracked up to the front door, and the blurry image of a woman appeared through the colored-glass inlay.

  “Hi,” I called out, running a thumb beneath the shoulder strap of my pack. “It’s Jacob. I’m here for Charlie.” As if whoever it was didn’t know that from before.

  Was it Charlie’s mom? But no, the woman who’d answered had been around my age.

  The latch clicked, and the most beautiful girl I’d ever seen appeared.

  She wore a pair of shorts and a loose shirt, her hair was messy, falling around her face, and there wasn’t a speck of makeup in sight. A pouty mouth sat beneath a straight button nose, and above that, two sparkling green eyes.

  “Hi,” I said, and my voice cracked. Shit, I was an idiot. This girl had to be Charlie’s chick, and here I was, checking her out.

  “Hi,” she said. “I take it you’re Jacob, right?” She pointed a finger at me. She held an apple in her other hand and took a massive bite of it. It crunched under white teeth.

  “Yeah.” But she’d been joking, of course. It was because I’d announced myself like twenty fuckin’ times. “Ha, sure.” Smooth.

  “OK, well, like I said, he’s in the bathroom, so...OK. You can come in and chill in the living room or in the kitchen or whatever.” She stepped back, and I strode past her.

  She was short too, and small. I liked that. “Cool,” I said and turned in a circle. “Nice house.”

  She shut the door. “It’s just a big empty space. It’s not that great.”

  That big empty space was a polished parquet-floored entrance hall with a set of carpeted stairs to the left, a chandelier hanging in the center of the ceiling. “OK.” What the hell else was I supposed to say?

  “My house is similar,” I said.

  “To what?” She took another bite of her apple.

  “Nothing.”

  “OK.”

  There was a weirdness between us that had nothing to do with the fact that we’d just met. It was the image of kissing her—it popped up out of nowhere. I cleared my throat and looked around.

  “So, where’s the living room?”

  “Kitchen,” the girl said, crunching on apple. “You want the kitchen. Are you going to take your backpack off?”

  I shrugged it off slowly, flexing my muscles to the best of my abilities as I did. She definitely noticed but shifted her gaze away. “Sure. Why the kitchen?”

  “That’s where the food is. Are you hungry?”

  “Sure.”

  “I can make you something. I like to cook. What do you want to eat? A burger? Fries? Cheese croissant.”

  “You’re going to make me a burger?” I asked, incredulous. I couldn’t recall the last time I’d had a meal that hadn’t been gourmet or prepared at the hands of a chef my mother merely called ‘Chef.’

  “Sure, if you want one,” she said. “We also have this fresh baked bread and cheese?”

  “I, uh, sure, a cheese croissant?”

  She rewarded me with a million-watt smile. “Great. Right this way,” she said, beckoning.

  I followed her into a hall and down it, then took a left through an open archway and into a kitchen that was as big as most people’s houses. “Sit at the island,” she said, gesturing to the marble mass in the center.

  I took a seat on a bar stool beside it, and watched as she rushed around the place, grabbed ingredients.

  “What’s your name?” The thought had popped into my head, and mingled along with others. How had Charlie landed such a babe? How long had they been together? Why hadn’t he told me?

  They had to be established if she was comfortable enough to roam around in his kitchen and let people into his house without checking with him first.

  She paused, her hand closed around the top of a brown paper bag. “Oh, it’s Chloe,” she said. “Nice to meet you and all that.”

  “You too.”

  Chloe swept toward the counter and brought out a croissant. She’d abandoned her half-eaten apple to brown on the island.

  “So,” I said. “How long has it been for you two?”

  “Huh?” Chloe had a knife and cutting board out now and worked on the cheese. She did everything smoothly—like she flowed from one activity to the next, whether it was slicing the cheese, or buttering or setting out plates.

  I admired the way she moved, and the horndog-dude part in me couldn’t help noticing how tight her shorts were.

  “You and Charlie,” I said.

  “What about us?”

  “How long have you two been a couple?”

  Chloe dropped the block of cheese onto the counter with a thud. “Oh my god, ew. You’re not serious,” she said and spun toward me, her hands held out at her sides, fingers arched like she’d just touched something rotten.

  “What? What happened?”

  “You think Charlie is my boyfriend?”

  “Uh?”

  “He’s my brother!” Chloe erupted.

  Humiliation and relief came in equal parts. I couldn’t help but grin. “Shit, sorry.”

  “That’s gross, dude. Seriously.” Chloe turned her back on me again, this time to dish the cheese onto the croissant. She fed the pastry onto a plate, then brought it over and clapped it down in front of me, the porcelain ringing against the marble. “I seriously can’t believe you thought that. It’s going to haunt me for like, the rest of my life.”

  “Sorry,” I said, shrugging. “It was an easy mistake to make.”

  “How? You think Charlie would just let some strange girl let people into his house? Or that...uh, his girlfriend would talk about him pooping?” Chloe pressed fingers to her mouth, laughing beneath them. “Oh my god, can you imagine?”

  “Speaking of which,” I said, “he’s taking a while in there.”

  “Yeah, we had burritos last night. Charlie’s not great with spicy food.”

  We both laughed at that, and I enjoyed the sound of it. Hers was a tinkle that spread through the kitchen, bounced off the floor tiles. It was feminine, but not too sweet. Warmth pressed against the inside of my chest.


  I stared at her, and she stared right back at me.

  “So,” I said. “I haven’t seen you around school.”

  “That’s because you’re too popular to see me around school. I know who you are, though. I heard all about you from the other girls in my grade.”

  “Oh yeah?”

  “Yeah. You’re the player.”

  I snorted. It wasn’t true. I’d been on a couple dates, sure, but I wasn’t going around taking chicks out and then just dumping them. I wasn’t even into dating or relationships. That shit was weak. “I’m not.”

  “Funny, that sounds exactly like something a player would say.”

  “You’re assuming I have a reason to lie to you,” I said.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  I shrugged. “Nothing.”

  Her brow wrinkled up, but she didn’t comment. “Anyway, I’m always in art class or the library, and I sing in the choir, so you wouldn’t know me. You’re the football squad guy. So, yeah. Whatever.”

  “Sure.” I nodded, and an awkward silence fell between us again.

  “You don’t want the croissant?” she stated.

  “I do. I’m just distracted.”

  She blushed like I’d told her how beautiful I thought she was. So gorgeous I could barely take my eyes off her. I lifted the cheesy goodness without breaking eye contact with Chloe. I took a bite and relished the buttery flavor. “Damn…this is good.”

  “Great,” she said and looked down at her feet, then up at me again. “It was nice to meet you, Jacob.”

  “You’re not leaving, are you? We only just got started talking.”

  “I—uh, I have homework to do and that kind of thing. I’ll be in the dining room doing it, though, if you need anything from me.” She licked her lips. “Unless...do you want a drink? A soda? A milkshake?”

  “A soda would be great,” I said, “but I can get it too. You don’t have to.”

  “I want to.” Chloe flashed me those pearly whites again, and walked over to the fridge. “We’ve got Coke or Sprite.”

  “Sprite sounds good. Thanks.” She walked it over the counter and set it down in from of me. She tucked her hands into the pockets of her jean shorts. I popped the tab on the soda. “You want some?” I held my croissant up to offer her a bite.

  “Uh—”

  “Jake!” Charlie strolled into the kitchen, but stopped dead a few paces in. His eyes narrowed, darting back and forth. “Chloe?”

  “Yeah?”

  “She made me a killer croissant,” I said.

  “He thought I was your girlfriend.”

  Why either of those things mattered, I had no idea.

  Charlie didn’t quit staring at us, and that stare was suspicious. Shit. So, he was one of those guys. The “stick to the bro code and don’t go near my sister” guy. But I hadn’t done a damn thing.

  Even though you think she’s adorable? You pictured kissing her? You were happy she wasn’t Charlie’s girl?

  “Chloe, are you done in here?” Charlie asked.

  “Yeah, I’m going to go do homework.”

  “Good.”

  “Fine,” she said, nodding. She shot me one last smile. “See you around, Jacob.”

  “See ya.”

  And then she walked out of the kitchen. I couldn’t help watching her go—she swayed when she walked.

  “Dude,” Charlie said.

  I snapped my gaze toward him. “Yeah?”

  “Are you checking out my sister? Because that is not OK, man.”

  “No. No way, not a chance.” I chomped down on my croissant chewing enthusiastically.

  “Good, because she’s off-limits.”

  I shrugged as if it was no big deal to me, though it was a lie. I’d never had a crush before, but I got the feeling this was it. Chloe had given me that girly stomach-flip feeling, and it was dumb luck that she happened to be my best friend’s sister.

  “Cool, then finish your food and let’s go. The new GTA is fuckin’ awesome. You’re going to dig the shit out of it.”

  I nodded and shoveled down the last of the croissant. Suddenly, a weekend of gaming and chilling out at my buddy’s house didn’t seem as much fun. In fact, faking that I didn’t like Chloe would be pure torture.

  Nineteen

  Chloe

  Idiot. Idiot. Idiot.

  It was a consistent chant in my mind as I stood, waiting to take part in the bridal procession. The interior of the church was gorgeous, with stone walls and colored-glass windows and standing floral arrangements. It had to have cost Charlie and Addy a fortune, but the beauty of it all was dimmed by the shit of this past week.

  I’d managed to avoid Jacob throughout it, or at least, talking to him. Seeing him was an inevitable, unfortunately. He was at every event, and he hadn’t quit trying to make eye contact. Once or twice, I’d woken to the sound of someone knocking on my room door, but when I opened it, there was no one there.

  “Asshole,” I murmured.

  “What did you say?” Addison had entered the church, and stood pink-faced beneath her veil. She was nervous but radiant.

  “Oh my god, Addy, you’re stunning,” I whispered, my hand flying to my face. I pressed it over my mouth and tried not to cry—it would only mess up my makeup and stress Addy out.

  She wore a designer cream wedding dress, strapless and sleek, without a train. Her veil was made of fine, decorative lace, and her blonde hair had been styled to perfection. I’d already seen her through various stages of the dressing process, but not the final effect.

  And it was that she was moments away from marrying Charlie. My big brother would finally have the happiness he deserved.

  “Do I look all right?”

  “All right?” I laughed and walked over to her, opening my arms. “Addy, you are perfect!” I drew her into a hug.

  My issues didn’t matter right now. Only Addy and Charlie did. This was their day.

  “Are you sure? Do you think he’ll like it?” Addy brushed her hands over her dress.

  “You’re kidding, right? Charlie’s going to do the full-on jaw-drop tongue-roll like out of a cartoon.”

  Addy gave a nervous giggle.

  The music had already started up. The wedding march, played by violins.

  “This is it,” Addy whispered. “This is the day I get married.”

  “The start of the rest of your life.” And my stomach twisted. I’d never have this. Not about you, remember?

  “Everything will be perfect today,” I said. “Everything you’ve ever wanted.”

  “It’s time,” the wedding planner said and beckoned to the bridesmaids.

  Addy’s dad stepped forward, smiling at his daughter, his eyes glistening with tears. We lined up, and I handed out the bouquets that each of the women would need on their walk up the aisle. They were collections of roses and baby’s breath, tied with golden ribbon and matching the dusty rose dresses we wore.

  Nerves tumbled through my stomach. This wasn’t my big day, but it was huge. And after this day was done, I would be out of Paris and back in LA. Back to working on my music and forgetting anything had happened with Jacob. That should’ve made me happy.

  So why doesn’t it?

  “Let’s go, people,” the planner called, snapping her fingers at us.

  My anxiety doubled, tripled. Not only would I have to see him again, I’d have to walk down the aisle to do it. This sucked big hairy donkey balls.

  I joined the procession then waited my turn and did as I’d been instructed in the practice runs for the big day. One step, wait two beats, two step. It was the most ridiculous walk, but it was what Charlie and Addy wanted, so it was what I did.

  My gaze roved over the people standing at the front, beneath the stained-glass window. There was my brother, dapper in his suit, smiling, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. He searched for his bride.

  And there were the other bridesmaids lining up, one by one. I refused to look over at
the best man. Outright.

  I’d only blush or get angry, and that wasn’t happening today.

  I took my place and watched Addison approach the front of the hall, smiling from ear to ear now. Charlie had stepped forward to receive her, and I’d never seen my brother this happy.

  A collective sigh had gone up from the folks in the hall the minute Addy had appeared, and I didn’t blame them.

  She took one of those slow steps, then paused, halfway down the aisle now, her gaze fixed on my brother. Then another step and a pause.

  This is taking forever.

  A bang sounded from the back of the church, and a few of the people in the pews jumped, shifted around to find the source of the disturbance. There was nothing in sight.

  What the hell was that?

  I searched too, and accidentally caught Jacob’s eye. He opened his mouth to say something, or mouth it, whatever, and I quickly broke eye contact.

  The violins had faltered for only a beat. They took up the wedding march again, and the long walk to the front resumed.

  Another bang came. This time, accompanied by the appearance of a scruffy dude at the back of the hall. He wore a hoodie and a pair of sweatpants, and he had a weasel-face. Sharp-nosed with ginger hair, he glared at the people in the church through bloodshot eyes.

  None of the wedding attendees had noticed yet and neither had Addy—she was so fixed on Charlie—but those of us upfront had.

  I took a step forward and caught movement from Jacob in the corner of my eye.

  “Nobody move!” the intruder snarled, and brought a gun out of his pocket. “First motherfucker who moves gets a cap right between the eyes.” American accent, Brooklyn? The details didn’t matter but they stood out to me.

  A volley of shrieks rang out from across the hall, but no one got up or ran.

  Charlie was frozen, glaring at the man. “What do you want?” he yelled. “This is private. This is—”

  His big day, in the process of being ruined.

  Charlie had cut off because the guy, whoever he was, sauntered forward. He stopped beside Addison, and my insides dissolved into a puddle.

  He grabbed hold of Addison’s arm then pressed the gun to her temple. “Such a pretty bride,” he said. “Such a gorgeous woman.”