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“I’ll call an Uber.”
He looked unsure. “I can drive you. Or I’ll call Will and ask him to come get you.” He frowned. “I thought you had plans with him.”
“I’ll call a car.” I gave Angela a hug. “Thank you, Ang.”
Still looking a little stunned, she nodded.
“I’ll call tomorrow.” As I walked down to the parking lot, I pulled out my phone, opening the app for a car. It felt odd to order a car when mine was right there. I wondered how I’d get it home.
When the car arrived, I took time during the ride home to think about what to do about Will. I knew Will was home alone tonight, making it the best time to tell him that there couldn’t be any more benefits to our friendship. I figured I didn’t need to tell him why because it wouldn’t matter. As much as I thought Will enjoyed our time together, chances were that he’d shrug and say okay, accepting my decision. After all…
I’m not serious about her.
Chapter 12
Will
It had been a long time since I was alone for a night. Most nights when Mollie was with my parents, I was out with Rick. Tonight, hopefully, he was making up with Angela now, so I couldn’t call. Recently, my parent-free nights were spent with Ellie, but she had something to do with her friend.
I stopped short. They couldn’t both be with Angela, could they?
Either way, they were busy and I was alone. At first, I enjoyed the peace. I considered getting ahead in my work but then opted to just enjoy the quiet. I could go to the beach, but because booze wasn’t allowed on the beach, I went out on to the balcony and looked out over the water. The moon cast a white glare on the water and I wished Ellie was here to admire it with me.
I wished Ellie was around a lot. A lot more than I was comfortable with.
I’m not serious about her.
I’d said that to Rick and I meant it, although I was beginning not to believe it. If I wasn’t serious about her, I wouldn’t be missing her right now, right? I wouldn’t be wishing she was here enjoying the view and sharing her day with me.
She was a captivating woman with a mixture of confidence and vulnerability. I had a maddening need to show her how beautiful and sexy she was. I loved how she was with Mollie, who’d grown so much in the last few weeks – from a painfully shy child to one that now raised her hand in class, according to Ellie.
I couldn’t deny that I was turned on by her innocence and inexperience at first, but now just the thought of her curves and how she was game for anything sexual heated my blood more than any other woman had. Not even Tiffany, with her model body, blonde hair, and killer smile – revved my libido like Ellie did.
It’s just sex. That was what I told myself, but now I wasn’t so sure. There was something about today that had me on edge. Like things between us were about to end. Why didn’t she tell me in person that something had come up? I’m home all the damn time. Instead, she left a note on her door for me.
Ellie was an open and honest woman, so the fact that she’d avoided me had me second guessing. Did she have another date? Had I taught her all she needed to know and she now was off with another man? Would she let him touch her? Fuck her? The idea of that made my blood boil for a whole different reason.
She’s mine!
That thought stopped me mid-sip of my beer. She’s mine. It should have terrified me, and I had to admit that nerves fluttered in my gut. But more than that, the thought settled comfortably in my chest. Maybe it was time to open up to the idea of something more than friends with benefits.
My phone beeped alerting me to a text from Rick.
Ellie is Ubering home. They’ve had a lot of wine. Might want to check on her.
So, Ellie wasn’t on a date.
I’ll check on her. All good with Ang?
He texted back: Things are looking up.
He was a braver man than I was to open up with a woman. Could I do that? The instinct to protect myself said no. But an ache in my chest seemed to urge me to take a chance.
I put my beer down and went to the door to wait for Ellie to arrive. As the minutes ticked by, the tug of war raged in my brain; protect my heart or take a chance?
I didn’t have an answer as Ellie appeared at the end of the hall walking toward her apartment.
She stopped short when she saw me. A look of sadness crossed her face that made my gut clench. “Oh. Hey, Will.”
