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A part of me thought Will was just trying to get me out of his system, and other times I wondered if he was developing feelings for me like I was with him. But I quickly dismissed those thoughts, attributing them to wishful thinking, because I did wish that Will and I were more than neighbors with benefits. I wished we could have something like Angela and Rick had, that is until something went wrong with their relationship.
The day I got the text from Angela that she and Rick were over, I was saddened because I knew she loved him. I invited her over to my place to binge on wine and ice cream, and to give her support.
When she arrived later that evening, I gave her a hug. “Ang, I’m so sorry.”
She sniffed. “I promised myself I wouldn’t cry anymore.”
“That’s why you’re here. To cry and yell, and drown it all out with wine and ice cream.”
“You’re the best friend ever and I’m terrible. I’ve hardly been in touch about your new job and what’s going on with Will.”
“Right now is about you.” I motioned for her to sit on my couch. I wasn’t ready to delve too deeply into things with Will. I poured her some wine and handed her a pint of her favorite flavored ice cream. “So, what happened?”
She gulped half the wine down. “He’s a jerk. I made a comment about how much of his stuff was at my place and he went on a rant about how he wasn’t ready to make a commitment, blah, blah, blah.” She looked up at me and I saw such pain in her eyes. Pain I never wanted to feel and was sure I would if I kept up this thing with Will. “I never asked him for a commitment. And it’s not my fault he left things at my place. Men are pigs.”
I nodded in agreement because that’s what friends did. “When you told him that, what did he say?”
“He went on and on about how women talk in code so he knows what I was trying to do and he’s not ready.” She shook her head. “No doubt. He’s not even ready to have a grown-up conversation.” She scoffed. Then her lips trembled as her eyes filled with tears. “I really thought he was the one, you know?”
I nodded. “I know, honey.” I refilled her glass. “What are you going to do?”
She shrugged. “I’m going to drink wine and eat ice cream with my best friend, and find out what’s going on in her life. Then maybe tomorrow I’ll say yes to the cute guy at my job who’s been asking me out.”
“Rebound date?” I asked.
She nodded. “It sounds mean, but I don’t want Rick thinking he’s broken me.” She drank another large gulp of wine. She set her glass down and picked up the spoon I’d dug into the ice cream and started to eat. “Whoever invented ice cream should be sainted.”
I laughed. “I agree.”
“So, El, tell me about your new job.”
I held back my grin slightly as I didn’t want my happiness to make her misery worse. “It’s good, Ang. I’m really enjoying it and the kids are great. Will’s daughter is in my class.”
“Really? Is that allowed? I mean, aren’t you and Will a thing? That’s what it sounds like and Rick, dickhead, seems to think so too.”
I seesaw my head side to side. “It’s not like you and Rick.”
She quirked a brow. “What’s it like? You mean, friends with benefits?”
I nodded.
She grinned. “You go, girl. From virgin to sexed up on a regular basis. Is it good? I bet it’s really good. Will looks like a man who knows what he’s doing.”
I could feel the heat of a blush on my cheeks. “Yes, it’s good, but…”
“But what?” Angela had a rapt look on her face as she stuffed a large scoop of ice cream in her mouth.
“If my principal finds out, I’ll be fired. They have a strict rule about dating other teachers and parents.”
“What business is it of hers?”
I sipped my wine, wanting the warmth to soothe my confused nerves. “It’s not I guess, I don’t know. I just know it’s a rule. I can’t afford to lose my job though. Not over NSA sex, no matter how good it is.”
Angela frowned. “Are you sure it’s no-strings?”
“Yes.” I put my wine down and got my ice cream. “He’s been clear about that from the beginning.”
She shrugged as she took another bite. “Rick was thinking it might be more.”
“Why?” A blossom of hope bloomed in my chest, which was idiotic because if he felt more, it would make my decision about work and him all the more difficult.
“He said Will doesn’t usually see a woman more than once. And apparently, Will gushes about how good you are with Mollie. Rick said the way to Will’s heart was through Mollie.” She eyed me. “Do you want in his heart?”
