I Just Want You(37)

Once Zane steps in the room, Berklee holds up the menu that's clutched in her hands. "You want something?"

"Hell yes! I'm starving." Zane takes the menu from her. "I want a mushroom hoagie."




 

 

"Crew?" her sweet voice asks.

"What are you getting?"

She bites her bottom lip and takes the menu back from Zane. "I was just thinking about pizza," she says, not looking up.

"That's fine with me. I'll eat anything, so get whatever you want on it. Use your company card."

She nods and walks out the door, not once looking at me. I know this because I watch her go. I don't pull my eyes from the door until I can no longer see her.

Zane bursts out laughing and I scowl at him. I have to have her. This crazy attraction-addiction-I have is not going to simmer until I do.





TODAY HAS BEEN . . . thrilling and overwhelming, to say the least. After lunch it was all business, as Crew's phone rang off the hook. No more chances for stolen kisses, but that's okay. I need to start this with slow doses of him, pace myself so I don't let him consume me. I need to keep all emotions detached and just . . . feel.

Looking at the time, I save the file I'm working on and shut down my laptop. Grabbing my phone, I text Maggie.



Me: Heading home now.



Maggie: K. Eat at the game?



Me: Perfect.



I finish closing up and step out into the hall. Crew is still on the phone, something about workers' comp from what I can tell. I decide not to bother him and make my way to Zane's office.

"Hey, I'm heading out. Maggie and I are going to the game tonight."

"Another home game?" he asks.

"Yeah, we like to make it to as many as we can." I point over my shoulder. "Will you tell Crew? He's still on the phone and I don't want to interrupt him."

"He won't mind." Zane grins.

I roll my eyes. "Night, Zane. Have a great weekend."

"Later, Berk!"

He called me out earlier today-well, if you consider teasing me calling me out. He gave me a hard time, then proceeded to tell me that his best friend is a great guy.

"How was your day, dear?" Maggie asks when I walk through the door. I can't help but laugh at her.

"Great." I grin.

"Wait. I know that grin. Tell me everything," she says, clapping in excitement.

"Let me get ready to go."

"Ten minutes," she calls after me. "Oh, and I grabbed us each one of Barry's Garrison High hoodies!"

"Thank you," I reply, stripping out of my skirt. I put on a pair of worn jeans and my Garrison Football T-shirt, pull my hair up into a loose ponytail and grab my tennis shoes. "Ready," I say, plopping down on the couch to put my shoes on. 

"Spill," Maggie demands, tossing the sweatshirt at me.

"The sexual tension is off the charts, Mags. We decided we can't fight it anymore."

"And?"

"And I might have suggested we have a . . . benefits-only arrangement. We're going to be spending a lot of time together, so it's convenient."

"Berklee!" Maggie scolds.

"Think about it. It could work. He's hot as hell, and I've never felt this kind of attraction before. I swear, Mags, it's electric. I feel like I've been shocked every damn time he touches me."

"That's risky and you know it, Berklee."

"How is it risky? We agreed that we won't sleep with other people during our . . . arrangement. One of us wants out, we tell the other and go on with life."

"Come on, you know it's not going to be that easy."

"Sure it is. It's mutually beneficial for both of us."

"This isn't you," Maggie counters.

"I agree this is out of character for me, but Maggie, it's just. . . . I want him. Plain and simple. I'm willing to risk the fact that my heart could be shattered when he decides he's done with me. I'm willing to take the pain to experience what it's like to be with him."

"Who are you and what have you done with my best friend?"

"It's me, I'm just taking a risk. I don't have the words to describe it. I just know that if I don't let myself experience him, I will regret it."

"Who knows, maybe it won't end."

"Come on, Maggie. Even I'm realistic about this deal. Crew is vibrant and sexy and can have anyone he wants. I'm a means to an end with him. He's been so focused on the club that he's been depriving himself. I'm the cure. I'm close and convenient, and he can trust that I'll keep my mouth shut-well, except for with you. Once things settle down with the club, I see him walking away, and I'm okay with that. I'm not naive enough to say that it's not going to hurt like hell, because I know realistically that I won't be able to keep my emotions out of it. That's not how I'm built. But I'm going in with my eyes wide open, expecting it, but willing to soak up anything and everything he's willing to give until then."