Read Online Between Friends (Friends with Benefits) by Vristen Pierce - Free Book Online Page B

sorry.”
    “It’s fine.”
    Though, really, how could it be? I didn’t know what to say. There was nothing I
could
say that would make a bit of difference, so I simply sat there with my hand on his as the sun sank lower in the sky. If he wanted to share more, he would. I wouldn’t push.
    “My parents divorced when I was thirteen. I came here with my mom—her dad still lived here—and my brother stayed with my dad. I missed them, my brother especially, because we’d been close, but I didn’t want my mom to be alone. I know that sounds crazy. I was a kid. What the hell was I going to do for her? Anyway…” He shrugged. “I knew I was coming with her, but my brother didn’t want to leave our dad. I was little lonely when we moved here, and a lot pissed.”
    “Because of the divorce?”
    He nodded. “That, and the fact that I’d been forced to leave the only life I’d ever known behind. Yeah, even though I’d insisted on coming here. Crazy.”
    “Not crazy,” I said quietly. He’d been a kid. He’d been allowed to have mixed-up emotions. Hell, I was firmly in my thirties and I’d started having them lately.
    “So I was in junior high, with a chip on my shoulder, daring someone to try to knock it off. Then, I met a huge asshole who was determined to try.”
    I smiled. “Justin?”
    “Justin.” Evan groaned. “I couldn’t stand that prick for, like, the entire first year I knew him.” He chuckled. “After we kicked each other’s asses pretty good one day, we’ve been best friends ever since.”
    I frowned. “I will never understand the male sex.” We shared a laugh. “So where’s your mom now? She still live here?”
    He shook his head. “After her dad died, she met this loser and took off with him to parts unknown. Last I heard, they’d moved to Florida. She wanted me to go with her, with them, but I couldn’t stand that guy. Besides, I was nineteen—I didn’t exactly have to be with my mommy anymore.”
    “Wasn’t that lonely, though?” My family wasn’t super close, but I couldn’t imagine not seeing them in years.
    “It would have been, but by that time I had a surrogate family in Justin’s.” He cleared his throat and offered me a tremulous smile. “Listen to me, droning on about boring-ass stuff. I’m sorry.”
    “No, I’m glad you shared this with me. Thank you.”
    Evan’s hazel eyes shone with mischief as he leaned toward me. “Thank me.”
    Smiling, I brought my lips to his for a soft, slow kiss. “Take me home and I will.”

Chapter Twelve
    “Ms. Washington, I don’t know how many times I can explain this to you,” Gilbert Stein said. He rolled his eyes. “We’re on a deadline here! I
cannot
have this”—he waved his hand—“Julia person fucking up my plans. Now, either you get her on track or I’ll have to find someone more capable of doing the job.”
    I took a deep breath and smiled. After two months of back and forth, I was finished. “You know what? I think it’s about time you meet this Julia person, and perhaps the two of you can hash it out.” I raised my eyebrows. “Yes?”
    “Oh, God, yes, please. I don’t have time for anymore nonsense.” Mr. Stein straightened his tie.
    I held up a finger. “I just have to run it by the boss, but I’m sure it will be okay. Would you wait here for me, please?”
    He sat back in the chair with a huff. “Whatever, whatever. Make it snappy, though.”
    I closed my office door behind me and took the elevator to the tenth floor, which held the upper echelon of the art department. Taking advantage of her receptionist’s absence from her desk, I strode to Cassie’s office and rapped on the door with my knuckles.
    “Yes?”
    I opened the door and peeked my head in. “Is this a good time?”
    Cassie nodded and held up a finger. “Okay, I’ll see you then,” she said into the phone. She smiled. “I love you, too.” She ended the call and looked at me. “What’s wrong?”
    I walked into the office