Page 5 of Best Friends

“Did you just get here?” I ask nonchalantly, taking the seat beside him while trying not to fixate on his mouth.

I’ve never been so aware of his scent or his full lips.

It’s embarrassing and worrisome. I don’t want to feel sexually attracted to him.

That thing between us at the hotel was just supposed to be a one-time thing. Why is it so hard to forget?

“Yeah.” He pushes a frosty glass of beer toward me when the bartender sets it down. “I already ordered yours. Figured you two would show up soon.”

“Thanks.” He often orders my drink before I show up, and I do the same for him.

But when our fingers brush as I take my glass, a tingle zips up my arm and I flinch.

I keep my face blank, hoping no one noticed the way I reacted to his touch.

I feel a little sweaty and overheated. It suddenly occurs to me that I forgot to take my heat suppressant pills the last few days.

God, the last thing I need is to go into heat.

I dig the small vial of pills from my pocket and wash one down with my beer.

Malcolm looks past me at my partner. “Cheyenne, what can I get you to drink?”

“I’m in a gin and tonic kind of mood.” She slaps his back and sits on the other side of me. “Thanks.”

Malcolm orders her drink, and I sit stiffly beside him, keeping my leg from touching his.

When he leans across the bar to pay for Cheyenne’s drink, his leg bumps against mine and our thighs press together.

When he sits down again, he doesn’t seem to even notice that his leg is still touching mine.

I’m sure that’s happened a million times over the years and I just never noticed.

I’m sure he doesn’t even know it’s happening right now.

Unfortunately, since we fooled around together, any brush of him against me feels different.

Sexual. It’s really beginning to worry me.

I take a sip of my chilled beer to distract myself.

“How’s it taste?” he asks, giving me a hooded look.

Something about his tone and looking straight into his blue eyes brings back the memory of my lips on his cock. That makes me remember swallowing his creamy jizz and heat floods my face. My heart rate kicks up and I swallow wrong, choking on my beer.

I guess some things are easier to swallow than others.

“Shit. You okay?” Malcolm slaps my back repeatedly, and I wince.

I give a choking laugh and wave him off. “Thanks. You can stop hitting me now.”

He grins and switches to rubbing my back.

That does nothing to help the situation, and I have to control the shiver of desire that goes through me at his touch.

I tell myself I’m the one acting weird. Malcolm is mostly just being how he always is.

He’s a touchy feely kind of guy. Sure, his looks are a little more intense than usual, but overall, he’s not doing anything different.

I clear my throat. “How was your shift today?”

“Good. Kind of quiet, but that’s okay.” He glances over. “How was yours?”

“Depressing, as usual.” I poke at the condensation on my glass. “So many people out there are suffering. Some days it bugs me more than others.”

“Yeah.” Malcolm’s gaze is empathetic.

“I keep telling him he should have been a dog groomer,” Cheyenne teases with a smirk. “It would have been less stressful.”

“Dogs don’t like me,” I deadpan. “I’d probably get my face eaten off.”

“Everybody loves you, C.,” Malcolm says. “You’re extremely charming and likeable.”

“Ha. That’s a good one.” I shake my head, then take another sip of my drink. The heat of his leg next to mine is definitely distracting.

A pretty blonde omega comes wandering up, and big surprise, she stops next to Malcolm.

She’s hot: big boobs, curvy hips, long tanned legs.

Pretty face too, full lips and bright blue eyes.

She runs red-tipped fingers through her long blonde hair and lets out a dramatic sigh.

“Is it hot in here, or is it just me?” she asks, smiling coyly at Malcolm when he turns to look at her.

“It’s definitely you,” he says in a flirtatious tone.

“Yeah?” She puts her arm around his shoulders and all but bats her lashes at him. “You like what you see?”

He grins at her blatant flirtation and slips his arm loosely around her waist. “What’s not to like?”

“Ooh,” she coos. “You’re a smooth one. Are you smooth all over?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know.” Malcolm says.

“There’s only one way to know for sure,” she says softly. “I’ll have to get you out of your clothes and do an inspection.”

Malcolm chuckles. “Now it’s definitely hot in here.”

I grit my teeth, annoyed by their back and forth.

Malcolm never sits at the bar that he isn’t hit on.

This chick is no different from a hundred others who’ve made a play for his attention.

But tonight, the irritation I feel at their flirting is off the charts.

I realize it’s unreasonable of me to care whether Malcolm flirts with a girl.

It isn’t the first time, nor will it be the last. Still, their playful banter is getting under my skin.

I remind myself that he’s my best friend, nothing more. His sex life is none of my business. In fact, I should worry about myself. I should try to find a girl to screw tonight, instead of worrying about who my friend might fuck.

Forcing myself to disengage from Malcolm and the blonde girl’s conversation, I scan the immediate area.

There are a few girls at a nearby table who are very pretty, and one of them even smiles at me.

I smile back but stay where I am. I struggle to drum up enough enthusiasm to go talk to her.

Making small talk just to get a girl in bed seems so tiring right now.

I give Malcolm and the blonde girl an irritable glance, and when I look away I accidently meet Cheyenne’s gaze in the mirror behind the bar.

She meets my ill-tempered gaze and arches one brow. “Everything okay?” she mouths.

Embarrassed she caught me scowling at Malcolm and his new pal , I shrug and turn my attention to my beverage.

Hopefully Cheyenne will just think I’m in a grumpy mood because of work.

The last thing I need is for her to figure out I’m jealous of Malcolm and that omega.

That would be humiliating and it’s also completely illogical.

He’s my friend . That’s it. I have no right at all to feel possessive of him.

Still, every time the girl laughs hysterically at something Malcolm says, or touches him, I clench my jaw.

She plays with the hairs on the back of his neck, and it pisses me off.

She leans on him, making sure he has a nice view down the front of her blouse, and I want to scream.

She’s so blatant, I’m not even sure why he finds her attractive.

She’s trying too hard. Isn’t that a turn off? It would be to me.

When the girl gives another obnoxious peel of laughter, followed by Malcolm’s husky chuckle, I pull my leg away from his.

Does the guy have no concept of personal space?

I have every right to sit here without his fucking leg encroaching on my space.

How oblivious is he? Would he sit with his leg pressed against Cheyenne’s leg like he always does with me? No. Of course not.

But the minute I move my leg, Malcolm turns his head and frowns at me. “What’s wrong?” he asks.

I meet his gaze, praying I look normal. “Nothing. Who said anything is wrong?”

He narrows his eyes. “Tell me.”

“Dude, nothing is wrong,” I lie. As I finish speaking, I unintentionally meet the gaze of the blonde who’s wrapped around Malcolm like a shawl.

She smiles at me. “Hey, you want me to get you a girl too? I have a bunch of friends here with me tonight. In fact, my friend Jenny already said you were cute. Want me to call her over?”

Dismayed at her offer, I flush and give a shake of my head. “No,” I say curtly. “I’m more than capable of picking someone up if I want.”

She holds up her hands, smiling. “I didn’t mean to offend you. You just seem kind of shy.”

“That isn’t shyness,” Cheyenne chimes in with a laugh. “That’s a hatred of all mankind.”

“Oh.” The girl looks confused. “Well, um, if you change your mind, Jenny likes the silent, broody type.”

“No, thanks.” Does this chick really think I can’t get a girl if I want? She thinks I need her help? I’m so annoyed at that thought you could probably scramble an egg on my cheeks they’re so hot.

Malcolm watches our interaction with a peculiar look on his face. “Yeah, C. can get his own women. You don’t need to help him. He does just fine in that department.”

“Exactly.” I scowl.

“I was just trying to help.” The blonde girl looks pouty.

“Of course.” Malcolm smiles at her, once more slipping his arm around her waist. “It was sweet of you to offer.”

She lights up at his attention, giving a little giggle.

“I’m going to get some air.” I stand abruptly and drain my beer.

Then I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand, and head for the back exit.

I hear Malcolm call after me, but I ignore him.

I’m in a pissy mood now and I need to be alone.

I don’t really understand the emotions I’m feeling, and it’s best if I work it out by myself.

The minute I’m outside, the cool air of the evening calms me.

It stinks because there are dumpsters at the back of the bar, so I make my way across the street.

There’s a small park across from the bar with grass and tall, thin aspens.

I used to go over there for a smoke, but I gave up cigarettes many years ago.

I’d love a cigarette right now though. I often crave them when I’m stressed.

I make my way to a small grove of trees where there’s a picnic bench.

I sit down and stare up at the trees, listening to the wind whispering through the leaves.

This is better. I needed some space from people.

Usually, I’d have had some laughs with Malcolm to take away my stress, but tonight that blonde girl interrupted our time together.

He’d have eventually gone off with some omega, but usually we’d have spent a little more time together winding down from work.

Maybe I need to stop coming by Frankie’s after work until I get my emotions under control.

I don’t like feeling possessive of Malcolm.

I suspect because we crossed a line with each other, my omega instincts make me see him as a virile alpha now, rather than just a platonic friend.

I don’t like it one bit. I just want these confused feelings to go away.

If I’d known this might happen, I’d never have fooled round with Malcolm.

When the back door of Frankie’s opens, and Malcolm walks out, my pulse spikes.

I’m tempted to hide behind a bush, but before I can make myself move, he looks around and spots me.

With a shake of his head, he starts toward me, carefully crossing the street.

Thankfully he doesn’t have that blonde omega with him.

He reaches me, scowling. “What are you doing out here?”

“I needed some fresh air.” I avoid his gaze. “It was too stuffy in there.”

He’s quiet for a minute, then says softly, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing is wrong.” I force myself to meet his gaze. I’ll cut my tongue out before I admit seeing him with that girl bugs me.

He sighs with frustration. “Come on, I know you too well. Something is bothering you.”

“No.” I shake my head. “I told you, I just needed some fresh air. You know me, I hate crowds.”

He twists his lips, studying me. “It’s not even that crowded tonight.”

“You say that because you like people.”

He sits beside me on the bench. “You promise everything is okay?”

“Yes.” I sigh. “I’m in a weird mood, that’s all.”

He smiles, turning his body to face me. “You’re always in a weird mood. Usually you’re not quite so grumpy though.”

I shrug. “It’s just been a long, tiring day. I probably should have gone straight home.”

He gently elbows me. “You promise I didn’t say something that upset you?”

“I promise. It’s just the usual stuff bothering me, Malcolm. I’ll be fine.”

“Well, if you’re sure you’re not upset about anything.”

“I’m not,” I lie.

He pats my leg and I stiffen. “Hey, I met that blonde chick’s friend Jenny. She’s pretty and she really does think you’re cute. She said she’d love to party with you.”

“I don’t know, man—”

“Come on,” Malcolm says coaxingly. “We should take those girls back to my place. We could have a foursome, or if you just want that girl all to yourself, you can take the guest room. We haven’t partied with girls at my house for ages. What do you say?”

His suggestion is nothing new for us. We’ve done that plenty of times.

Take two girls home and fuck them, sometimes together, sometimes separate.

It’s no big deal to us. We’re best buds.

We do everything together. So then why do I feel like puking at the idea tonight?

I’m not even remotely interested in sex with some girl.

What’s more worrisome is that I’m bothered by the idea of watching him fuck that blonde omega. I don’t think I can handle it.

“Nah.” I stand quickly and meet his confused gaze. “I’m not up for it tonight. You’ll have to fly solo on the pussy front tonight, dude.”

“What?” He scowls. “Why?”

“I’m not in the mood, that’s all.” I turn toward the street. “I’ll see you tomorrow at work.” There’s no way I’m going back inside that bar. I just want to go home, eat dinner, and go to bed early.

“C.,” he calls after me, sounding frustrated. “What the fuck is wrong?”

I just wave at him and trot across the street toward my truck.

I need to get a grip on my emotions and I can’t do that around Malcolm.

Not when he’s the source of my stress right now.

What I need is a quiet night at home. Malcolm can bang every omega in Frankie’s tonight, if that’s what he wants to do. I have no claim on him.

But I also don’t need to watch him do it.