Modern Girl's Guide to Friends With Benefits (18 page)

Was there something she'd be getting in the middle of? He was ready to make that decision, but he wasn't sure if Meg was. Either way, it wasn't fair to string Stephanie along when the only woman he could think about right now was Meg. "I don't want to be the guy who cancels last minute—"

"You don't have to explain. I have eyes," Stephanie said, glancing at the photo she was holding. "But I won't say that I'm not disappointed." She set the picture down and headed toward the door. As she passed Peter, she laid a hand on his arm and squeezed. "I hope she realizes what a catch you are."

Chapter Eleven

Modern Girl Tip #17 Keep Your Priorities Straight:
Balance is important. Make sure your relationship isn't interfering with other things in your life. In other words, don't forget about your job, your other friends, or your family (no matter how great the sex may be). This isn't an actual romantic relationship. Your friend with benefits doesn't have to play a big part in all areas of your life.

A light coating of snow covered the ground when Megan left Peter's apartment. And the traffic still sucked. There was no use fighting it anymore. She needed to switch out her little roadster for the more sensible SUV. So instead of heading home, Megan dropped her baby off for a winter treatment and caught a cab to XXX Coffee.

The long, silent ride gave her plenty of time to process her ever-shifting relationship with Peter. She'd thought she'd be fine seeing him with another woman. She had over sixteen years of experience watching Peter date plastic socialites. But when Stephanie had showed up last night, Megan had realized how wrong she'd been. And when Peter said she was 'just a friend,' Megan knew that this friends with benefits thing would never work. She'd always loved Peter, but now Megan realized that she had fallen
in love
with him. What the fuck was she supposed to do with that?

Megan paid the cabbie and stumbled into XXX. There were a few regulars enjoying the cozy ambiance of the little cafe. She loved this place. Several mornings, she too would walk to the corner, sit with the other anonymous patrons, and work on her novel. But this morning, she just wanted to get Benny and get back home.

"Late night?" Emily asked from behind the coffee bar. "You look like you could use a Double Insomniac and a shower."

"You sure know how to make a girl feel pretty," Megan said flatly.

From anyone else, she might take offense, but the younger woman's sour disposition grew on you. Emily had been working for Patrick for almost a year. She was sassy and sarcastic stitched together with cigarettes and black eyeliner, but underneath she was a decent person.

"Hey, I just call it like I see it." Emily surveyed her dress and added, "I've seen my share of walks of shame working the morning shift."

"This isn't—" Megan shook her head. There was no use trying to plead her case. Emily had already made up her mind. And she wasn't altogether wrong. Megan did squeeze back into the dress and heels she'd been wearing yesterday, and she didn't even want to think about what her hair looked like. "Are the guys upstairs?"

"Patrick was down for the morning rush, but I didn't see Connor leave this morning, so." The girl shrugged and returned to cleaning the espresso machine, obviously bored with the conversation.

Megan wasn't going to get anything else from her, so she headed to the stairs in the back of the kitchen. She just wanted to collect Benny and go to bed. The whole week had been a rollercoaster of emotions and Megan was ready to get off.

It would be easy to blame Peter for making things complicated, but it wasn't his fault. She'd told him nothing would change, but the truth was, sex had changed everything. What was supposed to be a simple solution for both of them had complicated things beyond repair. And wasn't that the real rub? She needed him as a friend, but she'd wanted him all to herself. It was foolish to think that she'd be able to keep her emotions out of the whole affair. Megan definitely hadn't been prepared for the kick-in-the-gut hurt she felt when Stephanie showed up at the door.

And the fact that Stephanie was going to be at the New Year's party, as Peter's date, wasn't something she could face. Unfortunately, there wasn't much she could do about it.

Connor answered the door with a squirming Benny in his arms. "Morning, sweetheart."

Benny practically leaped into her arms and Megan buried her face in the soft, dark curls of his coat. "Did you miss your mommy?" The puppy licked and nipped at her ears. If only Peter were this happy to see her after they'd been apart. She set Benny down and gave Connor a hug, getting lost in his strong embrace. "Thanks for taking him home last night."

"You know he's always welcome. I would have been happy to just let him out while you were gone, but I didn't think it was a good idea to leave him unattended with all the construction going on."

"Thanks again. I didn't think I'd be staying the night, but after the movie, it was late and I had a few glasses of wine."

"You don't have to explain yourself to me," he said. "Come on in while I get my things."

The cozy living room was warm, and despite the clean, modern interior, had a welcoming feel. Photos of Patrick and Connor peppered the space along with souvenirs from their travels and hints of Connor's Irish heritage. It felt like a home and was nothing like her big empty house. Megan had a sudden desire to curl up on the sofa and spend the rest of the day cocooned in the warmth of their apartment.

"Are you ready?" Connor said, coming up behind her.

No, she wasn't ready. The thought of spending the day sequestered in her office sat like a cold lump in her stomach. For the first time in a long time, Megan felt like there was something missing in her life. A big empty void. One that she was afraid could only be filled by Peter.

"Is everything, okay?" Connor asked when she didn't follow him to the door.

Megan took a deep breath and plastered on a smile. "You're right. We'd better go before it starts snowing again. I don't think these heels will make it if it get too much deeper."

"Well, you two have fun. I need to prep for the lunch crowd," Patrick said as he walked past, pausing briefly to give Connor a solid kiss. "We're closing early tomorrow and will be closed all day on the first, so I'd appreciate it if you reminded Connor to come home at a reasonable time."

"So you guys have special plans?" Megan asked, following him to the front of the apartment.

"Nope. I thought we might rent some movies. Maybe make a big pot of chili and spend two days at home, just enjoying some time together," Patrick said, a wistful smile lighting up his face. "You should come by on Saturday night and ring in the New Year with us."

"I wish I could, but I've got plans." A pang of jealousy settled in her chest. It was the kind of thing she wanted to do with Peter. She'd been a fool to think that by just adding sex to their relations, they could have the same thing. But what Connor and Patrick had with each other was more than sex, more than friendship.

Megan had gathered up Benny's things and followed the boys to the door when her phone rang. She fished the phone out of her purse, hoping it was Peter. Not that she knew what to say to him. Professing her undying love after insisting they could keep things casual was probably not the best plan. But that didn't stop her heart from speeding up just thinking about him. Unfortunately, it wasn't Peter. "Lonely hearts hotline," Megan said, trying to hide her disappointment.

"Megan, honestly. Can't you just answer the phone like a normal person?" her father said in his usual monotone voice.

"Good morning to you too, Dad." She held up a finger and walked back to the living room.

"How are you?" he said.

"I'm doing well." It was a replay of the same conversation they had every week. More like polite strangers than family, but Megan wasn't in the mood for it this morning. "Was there something you needed?"

"Yes, actually. I needed to talk to you about the museum benefit," he said. "I got a rather distressing call from Michelle this morning."

"Is she alright? Is something wrong?" Megan and her stepmother didn't have a very close relationship, but she still cared about her. Michelle had done the best she could, filling in for her mother. And lord knew Megan hadn't made it easy for her.

"Ethan called her. He had some rather unpleasant things to say about you. I thought the days of you acting out and making a spectacle out of yourself were over. Honestly, Megan, you're thirty. When are you going to grow up?"

"Grow up? I think I showed great restraint. I bet when Ethan talked to Michelle, he failed to mention that he propositioned me for access to you in exchange for sex."

"I'm sure you're blowing this out of proportions. You've always had this persecution complex. Not everyone is out to use you, dear."

"I'm so glad you're siding with me, Father," she said grinding her teeth. "Do you even care what happened or were you just calling to lecture me about public image?"

"Megan, I don't have time for this. I want you to fix things with Ethan. I shouldn't have to intervene. His father and I have history and I don't want there to be any bad blood because of some silly misunderstanding. Call him and handle it yourself. I know you have tickets for that Widows and Orphans' Gala on Saturday. Why don't you have him escort you?"

She couldn't believe the nerve of her father. Megan took a second to calm down before responding. Connor came out of the bedroom to find her pacing the living room, taking deep breaths. When she spotted him, the idea came to her so suddenly that Megan didn't have time to mull over the wisdom.

"I'm sorry, Father, I can't. I already have a date. But I'll be sure to send him an email." Megan rushed on before he could respond. "My contractor is here. I've got to go. Give Michelle my love."
And a swift kick in the ass for setting up that date in the first place.

"And what was that all about?" Connor asked.

"I'll tell you downstairs. I need to talk to you and Patrick," Megan said. Picking up Benny's leash, she rushed downstairs and hoped Patrick and Connor would be willing to help her out. It was a brilliant idea. She didn't want to show up to the gala alone, not with Peter and his date, and she definitely didn't want to see that asshole Ethan without someone on her arm. Connor was the perfect solution.

"Since you guys aren't doing anything New Year's Eve, can I borrow Connor?"

Patrick stopped rolling out the dough for the scones he was making and turned around. "I thought you had some fancy event to go to. If you want a date, I have half a dozen straight friends that I'd love to set you up with."

"I don't want a date, but I need one. It's complicated. I won't keep him all night. I'll get both of you tickets. I just need him for dinner. After that, you guys can spend the night enjoying free booze." Megan smiled her sweetest smile and batted her eyelashes. "Please. It would help me out a lot."

She looked back at Connor, who shrugged. "I'm all for free booze. And it's been forever since I got you in a suit."

"Just a couple hours?" Patrick asked.

"I was only going to stay through dinner." It was about all she'd be able to stomach with Stephanie and Peter sitting across from her. "I'll leave around eight and you two can stay and ring in the New Year in style."

"Well then, it looks like we're taking you to a party. I'll ask Emily to close up on Saturday," Patrick said and went out into the shop.

"Thank you, Patrick." Megan followed behind, wrapping both arms around him. "I can't tell you how much this means to me." The snap of a photo app went off a few feet away and Megan turned around to find Sarah holding her phone and a cup of coffee.

"I wasn't expecting to see you here this morning," Sarah said. "But I don't blame you." She winked and nodded toward Patrick. "I'd be here every morning, too, if I had him."

Just then, Connor came up behind her, effectively sandwiching Megan between two muscled bodies, and kissed the top of her head. "Since I'm your date, I'll be expecting a dance or two. Patrick here has two left feet."

"
Oh
," Sarah said, drawing out the syllable. "I didn't expect that, but then again, I've read your books. Good for you."

"You don't understand—" Another couple clicks of her phone went off, and Megan had had enough. She was tired of people assuming things about her and meddling in her personal life. "Damn it, I told you no pictures. Now erase them."