BEST FRIENDS SHOULDN'T DATE

MEADOWS

"You are really going to waste fifteen thousand bucks on that man, Med?" Cody said, leaning against the counter of the jewelry store in one of Seattle's biggest malls.

I punched in my pin on the machine and shrugged. "'That man’ is my boyfriend, Cody."

"Yeah, the prick who’d been dating you for what—a decade now?"

My head snapped toward him. Heat flooded my cheeks. Did he have to say that so the entire store could hear?

“Uh… miss? Your card.” The cashier stammered, her eyes wide as she handed it back to me.

I collected my card and the bag with the Audemars Piguet I’d bought for William. Storming out of the store, I forgot I had even come here with my dummy of a best friend.

God, he could be so frustrating sometimes.

"Wait up, Med!" he shouted, but I only quickened my stride.

Before I reached the escalator, his annoying six-foot-three figure easily caught up. He nudged my shoulder, releasing an unsympathetic breath.

"Don’t tell me you are mad at me because I mentioned your stupid boyfriend."

"If there was anyone stupid, it was you, Cody," I muttered, even though I didn’t mean it.

"Aw, she used the S-word," he snickered, looping his arm around my shoulder and pulling me to his side. "Probably another century before you use the F-word."

He knew how much I loved it when his arm was around me. This was emotional blackmail.

"Shut up." I almost laughed the words out.

"You know there is only one way to shut me up, baby."

I smacked his chest, laughing. "This is the reason William almost broke up with me last fall. Shut your pothole."

He shrugged, his expression turning almost serious as he looked at me through those thick, long lashes I had always envied.

"I mean, I am single now, so we could hook up. As long as you make those chocolate cookies all day, I am fine waking up all night to hear you talk about Pokémon."

Heat rushed to my cheeks. I looked away when he didn’t. He finally pulled back, and we rode down the escalator in silence.

I knew all he saw me as was the nerdy little girl in glasses who had first approached him when she’d seen him holding a Jane Austen book. I remembered it had been his first day of school; we were sophomores then. He had been the first person I’d ever seen openly hold up such a "boring" book in class.

I had really wanted to know him. He’d been a douche at first, but eventually, we became best friends, even though my parents didn’t like him because he was a dirtbiker.

"Heads up, Cinnamon."

He tossed me a helmet, and I caught it easily.

"When would you settle for one nickname?" I rolled my eyes.

He put on his helmet and got on the bike. I climbed on behind him, handed him the bag with William’s gift, then wrapped my arms snugly around his waist.

I always enjoyed it when he brought his motorbike, even though he had nearly killed both of us more than a dozen times.

"So, your man is back after six months of abandoning his girlfriend, huh?" Cody asked as he rode me home.

I frowned. "He didn’t abandon me, jerk. He just had a conference he needed to attend."

He scoffed. "For six months? Come on, do you know how fishy that sounds?"

"There was nothing fishy about it, Cody," I said firmly, not wanting to push this topic any further. "Unlike you, he worked in companies, inside skyscrapers. You wouldn’t understand even if you tried."

He said nothing. I could feel him frowning, but I didn’t care. I unlooped my hand from his waist, my mood sinking again.

I really wanted to prove to Cody that he had been wrong about me and William. I wasn’t just the good-girl nerd he thought I was. The watch wouldn’t be the only welcome gift I would be giving William tonight.

I would give him what he’d been asking for all along.

My parents had always told me to wait until marriage. I had tried so hard to keep it, and a part of me still wanted to. But I am afraid William would never propose unless I gave it to him.

A hopeful smile tugged at my lips. He had promised to marry me if I gave myself to him. He said he needed to know if we were sexually compatible before moving forward with the wedding.

A few minutes later, Cody pulled up in front of my apartment. He got off first, then helped me down.

I needed to take a warm bath before going to William’s penthouse.

Cody leaned against his bike, scratching his neck. "Remember the race I told you about earlier today?"

I furrowed my brows, trying to recall if he had mentioned a race. At my silence, he released a long breath.

"Twenty thousand dollars was at stake, Med, and I need my good luck charm by my side tonight." A small smile grazed his lips, showing off his dimples.

My heart constricted. I really don't want to break his heart.

I stepped forward, puckering my lips. He frowned instantly, knowing something was wrong.

"Cody, I am going to be with William tonight."

"The race is at midnight. I would pick you up right after your date."

I shut my eyes for a second, releasing a breath. "I… Cody, I am going to spend the night with William."

"Since when do you stay out before midnight?" He gave me that look, as if I were some kid, and it grated on my nerves.

"I always do when I am with you!"

He straightened, looking down at me now. "There is a difference between me and William, Med."

I folded my arms across my chest and looked away. "Don’t speak to me like I’m a child, Cody! I am going to spend tonight with my boyfriend." This time, I looked up at him, my eyes defiant despite his judgmental stare. "I am going to give him the part of me he had always wanted."

It was like the color drained from Cody’s face. His gaze shifted to shock in a millisecond, his tense shoulders collapsing.

I swallowed the lump in my throat. I had thought he’d be celebrating—he had always teased me about being a virgin.

"He didn’t force you to do it, did he?"

I shook my head. "No, he didn’t. It was all I’ve always wanted."

His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. Then, without a word, he handed me the gift bag. He climbed onto his bike and drove into the horizon without even saying goodbye.

I spun on my heels and headed into my apartment, a dreamy smile breaking across my lips.

I can not wait to see William.