Just Friends Read online

  Glancing over at the horror section she saw Chase was no longer there. She moved through several selections of films, reading them and putting them back.

  “How would you like to go out sometime?” Her video stalker was back with the smooth words.

  “I wouldn’t.”

  She found two she couldn’t decide between. The guy reached out toward her. She knew he was going to stroke her cheek in some creepy kind of way. His touch never came. She felt Chase behind her. His scent invaded her nostrils, and his presence couldn’t be mistaken for anyone but Chase.

  “She’s taken, mate. Back off.” Chase wrapped his arm around her waist then looked over her shoulder. “What did you pick, baby?”

  Ignoring the man in front of her, she showed him the two cases. “I don’t know which one to pick. Do you think you’d be able to stomach two?”

  “Sure, here is what I’ve got.”

  “Sorry, man. I didn’t mean anything by it.” The man held his hands up and disappeared toward another aisle.

  “I leave you alone for two minutes, and you’ve got men panting after you.”

  “Not on purpose.” They made their way over to the counter.

  “Hi, Leah, how are you?” Willy, the owner, asked.

  “Great, Willy. You?”

  “Slow at the moment. I imagine it will pick up later.”

  She nodded, pulling out her card. “This here is my friend Chase. Chase, this is Willy.”

  The two men shook hands.

  “I’m sorry about that guy hassling you. I’d have said something, but I was busy up here,” Willy said.

  “Don’t worry about it. I’ve got my own little protection man right here.” She paid the bill, and they were outside heading back to his car.

  “He seems nice,” Chase said, getting into the car.

  “Yeah, he stopped carding me after my sixth visit. I love going to this video shop. Most of the time there isn’t anyone lurking in the aisle for a date.”

  Chase pulled out of the parking lot, and they made their way back to their apartment. The drive was a long one. The city was busy on a Friday night. She didn’t want to live in the city for the rest of her life. Leah liked the thought of being in the country and being able to work from home. She knew her dreams were a long way off, but she’d never give up hope.

  Mitch’s car was already parked in his space when they made it back. Out of all three of them, Leah was the only one who hadn’t gotten her licence. She was not destined to be behind a machine. Mitch or Chase picked her up to drive her to school or she rode her bike. Her biggest failing was in driving a car. She wasn’t embarrassed by her failure. The only time she’d been embarrassed was when Chase and Mitch had gotten cars for their birthday when she unwrapped a bicycle. For a joke her parents had put stabilisers on the back.

  Fortunately, none of her life had been hindered by her lack of a licence.

  Chase parked the car, and they both got out. They keyed in the code to their building and grabbed their mail from the boxes before walking up the stairs to their apartment.

  Mitch was on the phone as they entered their apartment.

  “We’ll make it down in a few weeks. I know, Dad.” Mitch rolled his eyes pointing at the phone.

  Leah smiled then moved toward the kitchen. Chase put the movies down by the television and walked back to her to help.

  “What are we cooking this evening, chef?” he asked.

  “Wait until Mitch gets off the phone.”

  Chase nodded. She checked the cupboards to see what Mitch had bought from the grocery shop. When she opened the freezer and saw two tubs of chocolate ice cream she wanted to run and kiss him.

  The phone was put down as she turned to face him.

  “There is a big get-together in three weeks. All of our parents will be there, and they want us to come as well,” Mitch said.

  “What kind of get together?” Leah asked.

  “A barbeque.”

  “Hell no. I’m not eating your dad’s spare ribs again, Mitch. He makes them too damn hot,” she said.

  “My mom is doing the cooking, and both of yours are helping as well,” Mitch said.

  Leah sighed in relief.

  “What are you two doing back at the same time?”

  “Chase collected me from work. He was so sweet and charming. How did your dad sound?” she asked, diverting the conversation back.

  The kiss Chase had given her had really meant something. Her lips still tingled from the way he’d claimed her. She’d felt her whole body burning up from the kiss. Maybe she was going insane.

  “Dad watched the news about the burglaries, and he’s worried about us. I’ve told him not to be and that we’re always watching out for each other. I’ve agreed we’d all be going to this get-together. It could be fun.” Mitch did not sound optimistic.

  “Fun? I’ll be sleeping in my old bed,” she said.

  “Not to mention our peers being nosy about our lives,” Chase said.

  She knew there was a bet going on to see which one married first. Leah wondered if they knew about it.

  “It will be good to get away from here. A weekend without the city noise would be a treat to anyone.”

  Leah had to agree. “Great, we’re all looking forward to going back home. Now, what do you want to eat?”

  They settled on fried chicken seeing as Mitch had bought some from the grocery store. Leah marinated the drumsticks then went and changed out of her work clothes. She put on a pair of jogging pants and shirt.

  Friday night was the night where they sat on the sofa, watching movies, and eating really unhealthy food. She decided on oven chips instead of fried chips. They only owned one fryer, and she’d be frying the chicken, and the chips would get cold.

  Chase made up his special cocktail of drinks. Both men took it in turns helping her in the kitchen, and they got changed out of their work clothes as well.

  “I’ll do the laundry tomorrow morning,” Leah said.

  “I’ll come with you,” Chase and Mitch said.

  “You don’t have to stay with me. You can go out shopping while I get our stuff cleaned.” She carefully placed the chicken into the hot fat before stepping back. Leah bumped into a warm, hard body. Glancing up she saw Mitch was behind her.

  “They smell so good.”

  “Give it twenty minutes, and it will be even better.”

  He placed his hand on her hips and gave her a gentle squeeze. “I believe you, honey.”

  A squeeze of the hips was setting her on fire as well.

  She tried to ignore both of the men while she cooked. The last thing she needed was to hurt herself on some hot fat or something.

  After twenty minutes, she piled the fried chicken on a plate and the oven cooked chips into a bowl and then placed them on the coffee table in front of the television. She moved back, grabbed sauces for them to squeeze over their food, the plates, and climbed onto the sofa from behind. Mitch took her left as Chase took her fight. Leah handed them a plate, and all together they dove in.

  With the plates loaded full with fried chicken and fries, Chase fired up the television. Leah put her plate on the table as she bent down and put the movie into the DVD player. When she turned back to face her two friends they were giving her funny looks.

  “What’s up?”

  “Nothing,” they both said, looking past her to the screen. She settled down between them with her food in her lap. The movie fired up.

  Leah hated horror movies. Out of all the movies Chase and Mitch watched it was the horrors she couldn’t stand. She didn’t understand why people enjoyed scaring themselves. By the end of the movie she’d be sat in either of the blokes’ laps with her face hidden behind a pillow.

  After eating all of her fried chicken and the fries, she put her plate down on the table, picking up her cocktail.

  The moment the movie began, she started to hide behind the pillow. Mitch and Chase sat relaxed with one of their arms along the back of her. She loved this part. Leah only wished the comfort they offered was for more than an hour and a half’s movie.

  ****

  Mitch hated horror movies. Watching them repulsed him and scared the shit out of him. He preferred thrillers and action movies. This crap was just plain scary. However, with scary movies came Leah jumping into either his or Chase’s lap. Having Leah in his lap for a good hour or so was worth being scared.

  If she jumped his way, he’d be able to distract himself with her lovely scent and feminine curves. He leaned back and chuckled as she grabbed the nearest pillow. With her head locked behind the pillow he turned to see Chase stroking her hair. The touch was small but noticeable. Chase smiled at him, giving him a wink.

  Movie night had been going on for them as long as he could remember. They were his favourite time of the week. Every Friday without fail, they’d be in front of the television with a marathon of films.

  The music went high on the film, and Leah squeaked and ended up on his lap with her feet across Chase’s.

  “Sorry,” she said. “I don’t know how you two can stand this.”

  The pillow under her eyes, she continued to watch the film.

  The baggy clothes she was wearing did nothing to hide the figure underneath. He remembered the first time he’d seen her in a full bathing costume. Leah had never worn a bikini, but the full costume was enough. Chase’s parents owned a swimming pool, and most of their summers were spent in that pool. When they’d turned sixteen, Leah had stripped down to her full costume like she’d done millions of times before. Only this time, Mitch remembered the instant hit to his groin. He’d dived into the water, hoping the cold would stop his cock getting any bigger.

  From that day forward, he’d been nervous around Leah. She acted as if nothing was any different, but he’d felt it.

  The love inside him had started to bloom from the moment they all hit puberty. The fight with Chase and then the girlfriends along with Leah’s boyfriends stopped any chance of him trying for her. He loved his two friends and would do anything for them.

  He placed a hand across her lap stroking the side of her thighs. Mitch leaned back watching the movie while also trying not to picture Leah in a full swimming costume. She’d fill out one of those costumes and look superb.

  “Can we pause it? I need a refill,” Leah said.

  Chase grabbed the remote, pausing the film. Leah grabbed the pitcher of cocktail mix going toward the fridge. “Do you guys want a beer?” she asked.

  “No, I’m sticking to the cocktails. With no work tomorrow, I intend to get smashed,” Chase said.

  “Same here,” Mitch said, lifting up his glass.

  “Lucky bastard.” He turned to Chase seeing his friend smile.

  Chuckling, he glanced behind him to see Leah concentrating on the drinks. “You had her in your lap the last time.”

  “Whatever,” Chase said.

  “What are you guys arguing about?” Leah asked, filling their glasses and then sitting between them once more.

  “Nothing. Not long left on the horror.” Mitch smiled at her trying to reassure her.

  “Thank God. I hate these movies. I don’t see any appeal. I guess you guys do, though.” She shrugged her shoulders sitting between them.

  “What do you mean by that?” Chase got there first.

  “Well, you get to see a lot of hot, semi-naked girls running through houses. And don’t forget the big breasts. Every guy loves a pair of big breasts,” Leah said.

  Mitch stared down at her chest. She was in double letter bras. He’d seen her size and would forever keep her size in his memory bank.

  “Be careful there, misses. Not every guy wants a pair of big breasts,” Mitch said. He knew he and Chase were not one of those men, but there were men out there who preferred smaller breasts.

  “I know. Sorry, I don’t mean to put you all in one basket. Anyway, let’s get this movie finished, so I don’t have to hurt one of you by sitting in your lap.”

  Chase pressed resume on the remote. The pillow went back up, and then she was in Chase’s lap for the remainder of the movie. Mitch stroked her feet trying to offer her comfort. Several screams and a few jumps later, the credits rolled up.

  Leah jumped off Chase’s lap and clapped her hands. “My movie next.”

  ****

  Chase watched Leah swoon at the screen. She’d ended up on her butt on the floor. This is why he hated getting her the romantic chick flick movies. She rarely stayed between them.

  “Oh my God. He’s so sweet. She has to pick him. He loves her so much,” she said.

  Rolling his eyes he turned to see Mitch was glaring at the movie as well. The other guy’s arms were folded, and he looked pissed off.

  “Why?” he asked, mouthing the word.

  Chase opened his arms trying to show his friend that he didn’t have a choice. The credits rolled up over two hours later.

  She turned to them with a smile on her face. “See. True love does conquer all in the end.”

  “It was a movie, sweetheart.” Mitch unfolded his arms.

  Chase stared into her eyes. She looked so happy.

  “I guess you’re ready for bed.”

  “Nope.” She giggled covering her mouth.

  He frowned, staring at her suspiciously. “How many cocktails have you drunk?”

  She shrugged her shoulders. “Too many to count. Let’s play something.”

  Leah jumped to her feet. This was the problem with a semi-drunk Leah. She became very energetic whereas he and Mitch tended to become relaxed.

  “Come on, guys. I’ll make it worth your while,” she said.

  Chase was always a sucker for her begging. He relented first, and then Mitch followed suit. They really were in for it tonight.

  Chapter Four

  Her head was pounding. Leah opened her eyes, moaning as the world finally came back to her in one long rush. She couldn’t remember anything past the romantic movie they had watched. Putting a hand to her head, she tried to roll over. A male arm covered her stomach. She froze.

  Shit. What happened last night?

  It was Friday night. She never went out on a Friday. Turning her head she saw Mitch was in the bed with her. She squealed and jumped out of the bed. Mitch yelled, and Chase crashed into the room holding a baseball bat.

  “What the fuck is going on?” Chase asked. He held the bat high over his head. Leah stared down to see she was butt-naked. Squealing, she grabbed the quilt and did her best to cover herself.

  “Leah, what’s going on?” Mitch asked.

  “I don’t know.” She shouted the words, then touched her head as the pounding increased. “What happened last night?”

  “What do you mean what happened last night?” Chase asked.

  Wrapping the duvet over her body, she looked up at her two friends. Her whole body ached, and she was sure they’d done something last night. “I can’t remember anything.”

  Mitch and Chase looked at each other.

  “Nothing?” they both asked together.

  She took a step and winced as her body protested the sudden movement.

  “Oh crap,” Mitch said.

  Chase whacked him with the bat.

  “Why do I feel something did happen last night?” she asked, feeling uneasy.

  “I think you should go for a bath and get freshened up. We can all talk in the kitchen when you’re done,” Chase said, sounding the most logical.

  Leah felt tears spring to her eyes. Something had happened, but she didn’t know what. She was terrified. They were her best friends. Why couldn’t she remember what they’d done together?

  “Please, don’t cry, Leah,” Chase said. He put the bat down, going toward her and wrapping his arm around her.

  “I’m scared,” she said, staring at Mitch as he glanced at the floor. They were in Chase’s room. What the fuck had she done?

  “Go and get freshened up. There is nothing to be scared about. You’ll see. We’ll still be here.”

  Taking a quick glance between them, she nodded her head and then made her way toward the shared bathroom. Leah locked the door. It was the first time she’d done that in all the years she’d known them. She dropped the duvet wrapped around her and filled the bath with steaming hot water. While the bath was filling up, she walked over to the sink. Her mouth tasted awful. Opening the cabinet with the mirror on, she pulled out some painkillers and took two with the tap water. Leah washed her teeth before she even dared stare at her reflection.

  She gasped. On either side of her neck was a love bite. They were purple, and the skin showed the shape of two different lips.

  “Fuck,” she said, then covered her mouth so neither Mitch or Chase could hear her. “What the fuck have I done?”

  She’d never been good at holding down alcohol. It was one of the reasons she avoided drinking out. Closing her eyes, she tried to will the night before back to her. No memory resurfaced. She was all alone.

  A chill filled her body. Gazing down the length of her body, she saw other little signs of love-making. The most basic came with the unmistakable sore feeling between her legs.

  Biting her bottom lip, she climbed into the water. She loved Mitch and Chase, and she felt like they’d finally crossed that line last night. Only, she couldn’t remember a thing.

  She dropped her head into her hands, feeling like the world’s worst friend.

  ****

  Chase watched her go waiting for the sound of the bathroom door closing. When the sound came followed by the lock sliding into place, he felt like a complete shit.

  “She doesn’t remember, Chase.”

  He turned to his friend seeing the look of concern on his face. On the outside Chase tried to remain calm, but on the inside he was falling apart. Last night had been the best night of his life, and now the woman he loved more than anything didn’t even remember it.

  “I’ll see you in the kitchen,” Chase said. He needed time to think.

  Going through to the kitchen, he saw the celebration breakfast he was going to make. The bacon was now burnt and the eggs crisp. He grabbed everything and threw it all in the trash, making some coffee instead.

  Last night, she’d confessed how much she loved them. At the time he’d thought she had drunk too much, but he’d been taken in by the sincerity in her voice. He closed his eyes, feeling the first tear beginning to fall. Life was being unfair to him. If he’d known she was too bloody drunk he’d never have gone through with it.

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