Blog Archives
Best Friends, Chapter Six
Here’s the final chapter of my short story, Best Friends. Hope you’ve enjoyed this sweet escape. 🙂 Please make sure to read the first five chapters before this last chapter.
Chapter 1: Link
Chapter 2: Link
Chapter 3: Link
Chapter 4:Â Link
Chapter 5: Link
Best Friends
Chapter Six
For the entire month, Ryan did not try to reach her. She missed being able to talk to him about nothing and everything. She missed running with him, asking for advice, watching movies with him, and most of all, arguing with him. She hadn’t realized how much Ryan had become a permanent fixture in her life. Now, without him, she was utterly lost and empty. Nobody knew her better than Ryan. Hell, he probably knew her better than she knew herself. Some days, it got so unbearable that she couldn’t help but try to contact him. She tried everything from calling, texting, and even liking every single one of his pictures on social media, just so he would receive a ton of notifications from her. Each time, though, he ignored her.
As far as Jeff went, he was angry with the rejection and did everything he could to ruin her at work. But, to her surprise, she was promoted. Her boss told her she was one of his top attorneys, and she deserved the recognition.
Her colleagues from work insisted on celebrating with her. They were taking her out for dinner and drinks the next Saturday evening. On impulse, she texted Ryan.
Hey Ryan. I wanted you to know that I got a promotion at work. They’re taking me out to celebrate on Saturday. I would rather celebrate it with you. It would mean a lot to me if you could stop by. We will be at Jon’s Karaoke Bar at 10pm.
Most of the coworkers from her firm joined them, including Jeff. She had avoided him for the last month and still had no desire to be anywhere near him. She knew he came to celebrate just to save face.
As the night progressed, she couldn’t help but keep checking to see if Ryan walked in. It was hard to even enjoy herself because her focus was on the front door. Just when she was about to give up, she saw his tall frame standing at the entrance. He was wearing black jeans, a white, button-down shirt, and a black, casual blazer. As soon as she saw him, Kat’s heart jumped. His hair was the same messy look, but seemed to be longer than last time she saw him, making him look even sexier.
Noticing her, Ryan stopped for a brief second before heading toward their group. Kat wanted to run to him and jump on him. In the last seven years, she had never gone this long without seeing him or talking to him. As soon as they were done with college, Ryan had contacted her, and instantly they’d become best friends once again.
Kat left her friends and met him halfway. “Thanks for coming,” she said, restraining herself from pulling him into her arms. She hadn’t seen him in over a month. All she wanted to tell him was how much she missed him not being in her life.
“I can’t stay long. Maybe about half an hour,” he responded. He leaned down and kissed her cheek.
Kat’s heart skipped a beat as his soft lips caressed her. Although it was a brief kiss, the burning lingered.
“That’s fine. I’m just glad you came,” she said, her voice sounding breathless even in her own ears.
“Jeff got you the promotion?” Ryan suddenly asked.
Kat narrowed her eyes at him. “Is it that hard to believe that my promotion was from my own merit?”
“Not at all. Apparently, you had a hard time believing that when you thought you needed him to help you move ahead.”
“Jeff is a nobody to me, Ryan. And yes, I was promoted because of my hard work.” Kat turned to walk back toward their group.
Ryan grabbed her arm and swung her back toward him again. “Hey, I’m proud of you.”
Kat smiled, knowing the truth in his words. “Come on, have a drink or two before you head out.”
Once at the table, everybody swarmed around Ryan, glad to see him. Of course, Jeff kept his distance.
“Our next singer is Katrina Tyler,” the MC announced.
Everybody started clapping and screaming for her. Kat squeezed Ryan’s hand and headed to the stage. Although she was nervous, at least she knew she looked good. She had her tight leather pants on with her stilettos, and her sequined, tan blouse revealed just enough of her cleavage to leave any hot-blooded man begging for more.
Taking the mic, she cleared her throat. “Hello!” Kat paused and cleared her throat again. “This song is dedicated to my best friend. He knows how much I hate putting myself out there, but he’s worth it.”
The crowd hollered for her while her work colleagues turned their heads toward Ryan. Getting up from his chair, Ryan left the group and leaned against the pole, watching her.
When One by Ed Sheeran began playing, Kat lost herself in the song. She changed the word “man” to “woman” in the first line instinctively. She sang the song to Ryan with all her heart, never looking away. Ryan remained motionless, but kept his focus on her…only her. Neither noticed the crowd had gone silent, lost in the magic that was unfolding before their eyes.
When the song finished, people whistled, clapped, and sighed. Kat made her way where Ryan remained standing by the pole, watching her every move.
“Nice song,” he said, as a slow smile played on his lips.
Caught up in the moment, Kat leaned forward and kissed him on the lips while everybody cheered. “I love you, Ryan Stark,” she said, once she stopped kissing him.
“I know,” he answered as he reached to put a lock of her hair behind her ear.
“You do?” Kat asked, feeling like her legs were going to collapse.
“Kat, I’ve been in love with you since the first time I saw you. You know what I remember? The first time you popped my zit. Now, that’s true love. You wouldn’t have done that for me unless you loved me.” Ryan smirked, cupping her chin to look at him.
Kat laughed, remembering that incident all too clearly. They must have been twelve years old, and she had pinned him down to get at his zit. He didn’t want her to do it, but she’d insisted, and finally had to tackle him down to get to it.
“You know what I remember? When we were in kindergarten, and we were in the same soccer team. I fell and scraped my knee. I’m sure I must have cried.”
“You not only cried, but you let out a bloody scream, Kat!”
“Anyway, I was on the ground, and you were all the way on the other side of the field dribbling the ball. You were about to score when you heard my scream. Instead of kicking the ball to get that goal, you ran toward me all the way across the field, helped me up, and brought me to my parents. All that in the middle of the game. Now, that’s true love.”
Ryan kissed her again. “Yes, it is. Let’s get out of here.”
Holding each other’s hands, both escaped the crowded bar. Although it was raining outside, neither cared. They both ran in the rain, laughing.
Suddenly, Ryan stopped her. “I’m ready to collect my debt now.”
Confused, Kat said, “Huh? What debt?”
“You owe me, remember? When I agreed to be your pretend boyfriend. You said you’d do whatever I asked.”
Kat laughed. “Yes, I do remember. Okay, name it. Your wish is my command.” She then bowed dramatically in front of him.
“Marry me.”
Kat’s legs buckled and would have tumbled down if it weren’t for Ryan grabbing a hold of her.
Pulling her close to him, he continued, “I don’t want to be friends with benefits. I don’t want to be your boyfriend in some silly relationship. I’ve always known I was going to marry you one day. I want you in my life forever, Kat. Marry me.”
Unable to hold the tears back, Kat wrapped her arms and legs around him as he spun her. The rain danced with them as they lost themselves in their past and the new memories yet to be created in the future.
*****
“You wander from room to room, hunting for the diamond necklace that is already around your neck.” -Rumi
That’s Best Friends. I absolutely loved writing this story. So many times, special relationships are right in front of us, and we don’t even notice.Â
If you’re interested in reading any of my books, here’s my Amazon page. Link
They are also free on Kindle Unlimited!
Best Friends, Chapter Five
Ryan and Kat’s story is getting a bit complicated, huh? This is Chapter 5. Please make sure to read Chapter 1-4 before you read this chapter. I would put this short story in contemporary romance and romantic comedy categories. Hope you’re enjoying it. 🙂
Chapter 1: Link
Chapter 2: Link
Chapter 3: Link
Chapter 4:Â Link
Best Friends
Chapter Five
During their drive home, Ryan was back to himself once again. She was quiet, though, confused about her encounter with Jeff.
“Okay, what gives? You mad at me for not having sex with you?” Ryan teased.
Kat couldn’t help but laugh. He always knew how to make light of awkward situations. “No, you were right, of course. It would totally complicate things. I think it must have been just that intimate setting.”
Ryan reached for her and caressed her cheek with his finger. “No biggie. I know I’m hard to resist.”
Kat shoved his hand away, groaning. “Ugh, you’ll never let me forget that incident, will you?”
“Seriously, though, I can tell you got a lot on your mind. Is it Jeff?”
Kat sighed. “He came into the room when you went for a run.”
“That prick!”
“He said a lot. Basically, he said he wants me back and he made a mistake.”
“Hope you told him to shove it up his ass,” Ryan said, frowning angrily.
Kat remained quiet.
“Kat, please tell me you did.” His frown got worse if that was even possible.
“It’s complicated, Ryan. You know I cared about him a lot at one point.”
“Yeah, and then you saw his true colors! What is wrong with you? You don’t need somebody like him in your life. He’s going to hurt you again.”
“Wow, thanks for the optimism. You can try to be a little more supportive, or at least understanding.” Kat turned back to stare out the window.
“You just don’t want to hear the truth. You’re so much better than him. He doesn’t deserve you. Please tell me you know that.” Ryan was gripping the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles turning white.
“First of all, outside of my feelings for him, you know he’s a big shot at the firm right? He’s a big deal, Ryan.”
Ryan turned to her, his eyes wide with shock. “You want to date him because he’s a big shot? Are you serious? Guess not much has changed since high school.” He turned back toward the road, staring straight ahead.
“That’s not fair. It’s a different world where I work. You wouldn’t understand because you’re a teacher. I mean you teach third graders, for God’s sake. It’s cutthroat where I work. Jeff could ruin me if he wanted to.”
“I can’t believe what I’m hearing right now. Maybe I was wrong about you. Maybe I don’t really know you after all,” Ryan mumbled.
Kat reached for his hand. “Just hear me out, okay? It’s not just that.”
Snatching his hand back, Ryan interrupted. “Stop talking to me. I don’t want to hear anymore, and I don’t want to talk to you right now.”
Kat had never seen him this angry. While she was always more emotional between the two of them, Ryan was always cool and collected. Knowing he meant it when he said he was done with the conversation, Kat remained silent the rest of the ride home.
Once he pulled in front of her high rise, Ryan pulled her luggage out and handed it to her. “Look, I want some time to myself for a while.”
Kat frowned. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, I don’t want you to call me or contact me in any way. If you must know, I see you in a different light right now. And I just don’t really feel like hearing all your drama with Jeff.”
“Wait, so what are you saying? How long do you want?” She couldn’t fathom the thought of not being able to talk with Ryan whenever she wanted.
“Take care of yourself, Kat.” Ryan turned back to his car and screeched away.
*****
True to his word, Jeff called her that evening. Kat ignored his numerous calls, not ready to deal with him. All she could think about was how long she had to wait before she could contact Ryan again. But after Jeff continued to call her for almost the entire week, she finally agreed to allow him to come over Friday night.
He wasted no time with bringing up his feelings again when he arrived. “Have you thought about what I said?”
“Jeff, I just don’t know,” Kat whispered, hesitant to trust him.
“Of course you know. Look, I broke up with Angel as soon as we got back because I knew my heart was with you. You remember all our special times together, right?” Jeff pulled her into his arms and led her to the sofa.
“My feelings are all over the place, Jeff.”
“Let me help you remember.” He lowered his lips to hers and showed her how much he had missed her.
Kat closed her eyes and relaxed against the familiar kiss. Soon, she felt him unbutton her blouse and slip his hand inside.
Instantly, she pulled away. “No, stop. You’re going too fast.”
“Too fast? What are you talking about? It’s not like we’ve never had sex before. And if I remember correctly, you made me wait a long time before you finally gave it up the first time.”
Jumping up from the sofa, Kat distanced herself from him. “I made a mistake. Sorry, Jeff, but you need to leave now.”
“No, wait, Katrina. You’re right, maybe I was too fast. I can wait. Please give me a chance. Hope you left that boyfriend of yours. He can never meet your needs like I can.”
All this time, Kat had put Jeff on a pedestal, but she finally saw him for his true colors. Jeff craved attention. He couldn’t stand the thought of her being with Ryan. Not because he cared about her, but because it was a challenge to win her back.
“Please leave, Jeff. There will never be us. I don’t know what I was even thinking, but I know I made a mistake.” She walked to her front door and opened it, waiting for him to exit.
“You’re going to regret this decision,” he hissed as he rushed past her.
After he stomped out of there, the first person Kat wanted to call was Ryan. She wanted to tell him he was right all along–that Jeff was a prick. She knew Ryan would be proud of her when she shared how she’d kicked Jeff out. But when she called his cell, he didn’t pick up. Kat’s heart suddenly felt unbearably heavy. It had been almost a week since she’d last talk with Ryan. Didn’t he miss her? They typically spoke to one another every day, even if it was briefly. Taking a deep breath, she texted him to call her back.
Ryan didn’t return her call or her text.
*****
That’s chapter five, folks! Chapter six will be posted next week. Any predictions on what you think is going to happen to these two?Â
If you’re interested in continuing with this story or any other short stories, you can get Loving You Hurts So Good on Amazon. It’s also free on Kindle Unlimited. Amazon
If you’re interested in reading any other books, here’s my Amazon page. Link
Best Friends, Chapter 1
Hello, good people! Happy 2018! I have decided to share some of my short story collection right here on my website. Most of these stories are in Loving You Hurts So Good, which is available on Amazon.
I will post a chapter at a time. Hopefully, you guys enjoy reading the stories as much as I enjoyed writing them. Today, I’m posting Chapter One of “Best Friends.” It’s a contemporary romance/romantic comedy. I just think it’s really a cute story, and literally, I laughed out loud writing some of the parts. I totally fell in love with Ryan and Kat and their story.
Best Friends
Chapter One
“You drag me to dinner with you just to watch you mope around? Come on, Kat, you’re acting ridiculous.” Ryan watched her play with her food.
“Ryan, you don’t understand how serious this is. I have to go to this stupid retreat with my firm. There’s no way I can get out of it.”
“Can’t you just say you caught the flu at the last minute or something?” Ryan took another bite of his steak.
“No. You see, that’s what everybody is expecting. They think I’m going to back out. I just can’t give Jeff that kind of satisfaction.” Kat slammed her fork down onto her plate.
“Then go there looking hot and show him what a mistake he made. Show him you don’t even notice him.” He cut another piece of his steak and brought the fork to her mouth. “You’ve got to try this. It’s freakin’ delicious.”
Kat opened her mouth and accepted the tender meat. “Mmm, yes! That’s sooo good.”
“Told you! Here, if you don’t like your food, you want half of mine?”
“Nah, I’m too worried about next weekend to enjoy it. I’m sorry, Ryan. I’m a terrible company.”
“Yes, you are. You need to stop letting this loser make you feel like this. You guys have been broken up for over six months now.”
“I know! I know! This is definitely not me. But damn it, I have to see him at the office every day. And now that he’s got a new girlfriend, it’s just that much harder. He’s bringing her to the retreat, so I’ll have to watch him flaunt her around. Why me?”
“If you had started dating again, you could have brought your new boyfriend to the retreat and shoved it in his face.” Ryan’s eyes were dancing as he teased her.
“You know I’ve had a hard time moving on after Jeff. But yes, that would have been the perfect revenge. He dumped me after an entire year of dating. I’ve never dated anybody that long for God’s sake. And this is exactly the reason why I don’t.”
Ryan smirked. “You broke your own rule on this scum, Kat. Hope you learned your lesson.”
She rolled her eyes. “You think this is funny, don’t you?” She snatched his plate. “Give me this. I change my mind.”
As she began eating his food, all Ryan could do was laugh at his friend. He was happy to see her eating something. “So, what are you going to do?”
“I like your idea of bringing a boyfriend. But there’s no way I can find one by next weekend. I’m screwed.” She continued to devour the food. Suddenly, she stopped eating. “Wait a minute. I got an idea.”
“Oh, no. I don’t like the sound of that. One of your ideas usually means trouble.”
“Um, okay. Let me think. Remember when you told me you owed me big?”
“No, when did I say that? I think I remember you saying that to me.”
“Ryan, of course you’ve said that. You say it all the time to me.”
“You have a very selective memory, Kat. But okay, what do you want?”
“Just hear me out with an open mind, first, okay?” Ryan nodded hesitantly, worried what she was about to say. “I want you to come with me to the resort. You know, as my new boyfriend.”
Ryan laughed. He couldn’t help it. His friend was going nuts through the years. “I know you’ve lost your mind now.”
“Why not?” she whined.
“I’m not going to this boring retreat and pretend to be your boyfriend, Kat. It’s not going to happen.”
“Why not? I would do it for you.”
“No, you wouldn’t.”
“Yes, I would! If I knew you were desperate, I would do it. Why wouldn’t I do that for my best friend? Like best friends are supposed to be there for each other. Through thick and thin. And you said to go with a hot boyfriend. You’re the perfect hottie! Everywhere we go, the girls drool all over you.”
“It’s not going to work, so you might as well stop. Besides, everybody at your job knows me, including Jeff. And let’s not forget, I have a girlfriend.”
“It’s just for three days. Sarah doesn’t have to know. Just make something up. Or just tell her the truth if you’d like. As far as my work goes, I’ll just tell everybody we realized that we had feelings for one another all this time.”
“I would not tell Sarah anything, Kat. You really think she would support the idea? She’s already jealous of you.”
“Yeah, why does she hate me so much? How long have you been dating her? Two months now? Isn’t that your time limit with girls?”
Ryan couldn’t help but laugh. It completely sucked that Kat knew him so well. But he wasn’t tired of Sarah yet, and he certainly didn’t want to break up with her just to be a “pretend” boyfriend for Kat.
“What’s in it for me?” he finally asked.
“My company isn’t enough?”
“Nope, I can get that anytime. If I went along with this stupid idea of yours, I’d have to deal with your uptight colleagues for three whole days. If that’s not torture, I don’t know what is.”
“Fine, I’ll give you that. What do you want?”
Ryan rubbed his chin, narrowing his eyes. “Let me think about this. I’m going to make sure this is well worth it for me.”
“I’ll tell you what, Ryan. You don’t even have to tell me right now. You do this huge favor for me, and I’ll do whatever you ask of me.”
A sly smile began to form on Ryan’s face as his eyes danced in mischief. “I like the sound of that. Hope you know what you’re getting into.”
Okay, that’s Chapter One. I will post the second chapter next week. If you absolutely can’t wait and need to read this one and other stories, you can get Loving You Hurts So Good on Amazon. It’s also free on Kindle Unlimited. Just click here.
Jalpa Williby 