Bridgette said hello to Luke’s doorman and told him he was expecting her. Thankfully he knew her and didn’t think twice about letting her in the elevator and up to his floor. She knocked furiously on his apartment door “Luke we need to talk! I know you’re in there.” She had just raised her hand again for another round of aggressive pounding when the door swung open. She didn’t think twice about pushing her way into his apartment demanding they talk.

“I don’t know what the hell is going on anymore Luke but I’m tired of this. I have done nothing wrong and yet I keep getting the sense that you’re upset with me and pushing me away. I value our friendship enough to actually address things. We need to talk about this like adults. Or is this just all in my head?”

Luke sighed and shut his apartment door. He gestured to the living room, “I agree. Let’s sit.” Bridgette nervously walked into his living room and sat on the edge of the couch. It was a room she’d been in a hundred times but tonight she felt like a complete stranger. “You’re right I have been distant lately, I’ve been frustrated and I haven’t handled things well.”

“What are you frustrated about? Since the reunion you’ve been this way. You’ve met Paul once and you didn’t even talk to him, I had to introduce you two and you spoke maybe three words?”

Luke was starting to get frustrated, he stood up off the couch and paced the floor. “If you’d let me get a word in I could explain!” Bridgette rolled her eyes and crossed her arms across her chest. “You took me to the reunion as your date and then you basically upgraded me for Paul once we got there. You barely even noticed me or talked to me the rest of the night. It was just rude, I thought we were going to have fun and spend time together!”

Bridgette shot up off the couch, “Are you freaking kidding me right now?! YOU offered to go as my date. YOU did! I did spend time with you, it’s not my job to babysit you Luke. I was having a great time and I thought you were too. I met someone who was interested in me and I was taking a chance, why do you have to make it about you?!” She was angry at this point, her voice was raised and she was gesturing wildly with her hands.

“You just got out of a relationship two seconds before for god’s sake, I didn’t expect you to hook up with the first guy that paid you some attention and I certainly didn’t expect you to ignore your best friends for the entire night for him. Don’t act like I’m the only one that was annoyed by it, Harper and Grant noticed it as well Bridge.”

His comments stung a little, she hadn’t actually thought about it from that point of view but he didn’t need to be so rude. “I didn’t just ‘hook up’ with some guy Luke, we were having a genuine adult conversation. Unlike you I don’t fuck random people then tell them my name afterward.”

Luke lost his shit, “Why the hell do you always say shit like that? You think nobody else has any feelings? I don’t hook up with strangers Bridgette, I haven’t even gone out on a date in over six months but you’re too wrapped up in your world to notice that. You think I’m the same dumb 19 year old college dude that could be led around by his dick. I have standards but you’re so god damn judgmental and have your head so far up your ass you can’t see that!”

She let out a long sigh and hung her head for a moment. “I’m sorry…you’re right that was out of line. I’ve asked you about your dating life but you never share anything with me anymore. It’s like you’ve started shutting me slowly out of your life and I don’t understand why.” Tears began to well up in her eyes, she did NOT want to cry, she promised herself she wouldn’t. “What did I do? I don’t understand.” She was wringing her hands and looking at her feet as she spoke.

Before she could register what was happening Luke walked toward her, placing both hands on either side of her neck he pulled her towards him and pressed his lips to hers. She stood motionless, stunned at what was happening as Luke began to move his mouth against hers. His hand slipped around her neck and into her hair, anchoring her head in place as he kissed her softly. Her hands were awkwardly on his arms, still unsure how to respond. Her body felt electrified, her nipples were instantly hard straining against her bra as her breathing quickened.

Luke pulled back and slowly dragged his eyes from her mouth to her eyes. She could see his pulse in the dip of his neck, she wanted to kiss him again urgently. Her hands moved from his arms to his chest, she balled his shirt in her fists and pulled him back towards her mouth. This time they were both fully engaged in the kiss. His tongue caressed her own as he hand slipped around her waist pressing her tighter against his rock hard body.

She could feel the wetness pooling in her panties as he deepened the kiss. She had never been kissed like this before and she had certainly never had this kind of physical reaction to someone. She moaned into his mouth as her hands wandered further down his chest toward his belt, she wanted him.

Her fingers fumbled with his belt but he quickly pushed her hands away and stepped back from her, breaking the kiss. He ran his hands through his hair in an exasperated manor and dragged them over the scruff on his unshaven face. “Bridge. Bridge we can’t, I’m sorry I shouldn’t have done that. I don’t…I don’t know what came over me but you’re seeing someone and we’re friends and it would be wrong.”

Bridgette stood there numbly for a moment, trying to grasp what just happened. She had come here to confront Luke and get clarity on their relationship but she was more confused than ever now and on top of it she felt like an idiot standing here being rejected once gain. She couldn’t even gather her thoughts enough to reply, she briskly moved past him to grab her purse and then stormed out of his apartment without a word.

Bridgette made it just inside her apartment and fell against the door, tears began streaming down her face as she slumped to the floor. It had been almost 6 years, how was she right back in the same place she was in college? Emotionally exhausted and confused, she began to sob uncontrollably as she hurried her head in her hands. Would this pain and confusion ever go away?

Harper couldn’t help but notice the blank stare on Bridgette’s face as she punched and jabbed her way through tonight’s bootcamp. The class finished up and she made her way to the back where her friend sat on the floor fiddling with her shoe laces. The room had cleared out so Harper sat down next to Bridgette and let out a long sigh. “So…You going to tell me what happened?”

“I really screwed the pooch this time Harper.” She flopped back dramatically on her yoga mat.

“Okaaaay? Elaborate please.” Bridgette explained the events that had unfolded last night, making sure to keep the tears in check…for the most part.

“Hold up, hold up. Luke kissed YOU.” She emphasized the point by thrusting her finger towards her friend. “This isn’t on you, you didn’t screw anything up! He knows you’re in a relationship and he still made a move, that’s pretty shitty to put you in that position.”

“Harper I kissed him back, trust me I knew what was happening and I made sure to encourage it. I’m pretty sure I shoved my tongue down his throat while I reached for his belt! Which is when he promptly rejected me I might add.” She covered her face as she relived the embarrassment from last night.

“So what’s the real issue here Bridge? Is it the fact that Luke kissed you when you’re dating another man? Or is it the rejection?”

“It’s both but if I’m honest…the rejection really sucks. I mean why start something if you’re just going to reject me and make me feel like shit?”

“Bridge I’m sure he realized after he started kissing you and things got heated that he was in the wrong. He didn’t have a right to make a move on you, you’re dating someone else. At least give him that.” Bridgette agreed, she knew she was reacting to her pride being hurt. “On another note…I KNEW he was in to you!!! Oh my god I so called it! So how was it?”

Bridgette rolled her eyes in frustration, “Harper now is not the time. He’s not IN to me it was just hormones and rage trust me, it was a very tense situation. Honestly it just makes me realize how lucky I am to be with someone like Paul ya know? He has integrity and character and he would never fucking do something like that!” She stood up and grabbed her yoga mat, rolling it up furiously.

Harper put her hands up, “Okay Bridge god! I understand your frustration and I’m sorry I made a joke out of it. You’re right, Paul is a great guy and if he makes you happy and treats you well then I think you should pursue things with him. Maybe it’s time you put some space between you and Luke, might be good for both of you and it certainly might be even better for you and Paul.” Brigette stopped in her tracks letting those words sink in. “Just something to think about Bridge. Now let’s go get some food.”