Page 16 of F Buddy

I realized I hadn't said anything for a while and cleared my throat, feeling my face warm a little. Only Scarlett could throw me off my game, possibly because she was one of the few women I’d slept with that I considered a friend. Though it could just be because she was amazing, even when the idiots she dated didn’t seem to see it.

“I know where your place is so I could come pick you up,” I offered. “Is there something you’re in the mood for? Or anything you don’t like…?”

She hummed. “I could go for pretty much anything.”

“Great!” I knew this cozy little Italian restaurant that would be perfect. “I’ll see you in, say, thirty minutes?”

“I can't wait,” she said warmly.

We said our goodbyes and cut the call. I looked down at the phone for a moment, before looking up and realizing I hadn't moved past my front door. I rolled my eyes at myself and walked further into the apartment, turning on lights as I went. I dropped my groceries in the kitchen, my backpack with stuff from work in my bedroom, and went to get showered and changed.

Minutes later, I was out of my apartment, rushing down the street.

The last time I was at Scarlett’s apartment was a while back. It was for a party, though I couldn’t quite remember the occasion. It was a small, cozy place, a bit of a distance from my place. I was just glad I didn’t have to call her back and ask for directions because I hadn't even thought about it before.

I was trying to be smooth. She probably didn’t need it, but that didn’t mean I would do anything less than my best. I wined and dined the women I took to my bed because it was the least they deserved. Most of them appreciated it.

Of course, it was also part of what got me into trouble, with a few women reading too much into my actions.

I got a taxi quickly and was on my way to her place. Technically, I had a car, and if I wanted to impress her, I would have picked her up. But living in New York City, I rarely used the car. Traffic was just too annoying. And Scarlett didn’t need me to impress her.

After thirty minutes in the taxi, we made it to her apartment block.

“Wait for me. You can keep the meter running.”

I barely waited for the nod from the driver before I was jumping out and heading for the apartment building. I sprinted up two sets of stairs and paused outside her door to take a breath. Slowly, I knocked in two sharp raps.

There was silence for a moment. It wasn’t long, but it was enough to have me worrying I’d knocked on the wrong person’s door. But then in the next moment, the door opened, and there she stood.

She took my breath away. If anything, she looked even more beautiful than she’d been at the wedding. She wore a dark red dress, and I wondered if matching the dress color to her name was deliberate. It was sleeveless and fell to her feet, with a slit going up in the center up to her thigh. She had matching heels on. Her hair was done up, and it fell in curls over her pale shoulders. There was a thin gold necklace around her neck and matching earrings. She had a red and gold clutch purse in one hand.

She smiled up at me, looking a little unsure. “Would you like to come in, or…?”

“Ah, no,” I said quickly, realizing I’d just been standing there and staring at her, and feeling a little sheepish. I smiled back. “I’m ready to head out if you are?”

She gave me another smile and stepped back inside. She was back a second later, stepping out and locking the door. She had her back to me as she did, and my eyes fell to the nape of her neck. I swayed a little closer when I realized she’d put on some perfume, something that smelled heavenly.

I was very tempted to turn her around and press her against the door. Hell, I didn’t even have to turn her around. We could skip the dinner and go straight to bed…

But that wasn’t classy. We both knew how the night was going to end, yes, but I could be a lot more tactful about it, or try to be anyway. She deserved better than the dirty things going through my mind, after all. And besides, I wanted her to think of doing this with me again, so the last thing I wanted to do was scare her off.

She turned to face me, and I almost jumped her. I held back at the last minute, and then realized I’d been staring at her again.

You’re better than that, I told myself. Fucking try harder.

I smiled a little easier, more confident, and held my arm out. “May I escort you?” I asked.

Her smile grew into a grin as she sidled closer and slid her arm into mine. “You may,” she responded, just as formally.

I led her down the stairs and out of the building. The taxi was still there waiting, and I rushed forward to open the door, stepping aside so she could go in first, giving her a flirty smile as I did. Scarlett giggled as she slid inside, and I followed her.

The driver started the car, and we were off.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

“It’s a secret. We’re not that far off, so you don’t need to wait long. Be patient?” I made my tone go low and persuasive, picking up her free hand and kissing the back of it.

She sent me a coy smile but kept silent.