“So have you spoken to Luke lately?” Harper asked as she took a bite of her pizza. It had been a few weeks since the kiss incident and the friends group had yet to resume it’s normal hang out practices.

“Uh no actually, not at all. It’s weird I won’t lie but I think it’s for the better. So what’s going on with you? A little birdy told me that you hung out with Grant the other night…how was THAT?!” Both girls burst out laughing at Bridgette’s question.

“It was nothing, just super casual. It was the night that you guys all canceled on us, we had nothing else going on so he just text me and asked if I still wanted to hang out…so we did.”

“Oh yeah? Hang out huh?” Harper’s face flushed red as a huge smile spread across her face.

“I’m serious nothing happened! We just hung out and had a few drinks and talked. Oh and by the way he said Luke isn’t doing great. He said he’s mopey and super ‘un-fun’ to hang out with now so I think you may have broke him.” She said as she lifted her beer to her lips.

Bridgette rolled her eyes and dropped her pizza on her plate. “He’s an adult, he’ll be fine. And for the record, I have reached out to him twice and he didn’t respond to me so the ball is very much in his court. But tell me more, are you guys going out again? Did he kiss you?”

The girls laughed and continued on with their night. Harper let it slip that she was crushing on Grant pretty hard and hoped that it might turn into more dates and that she’d keep Bridge informed if it progressed. They left the restaurant and headed outside arm in arm enjoying the still balmy summer nights.

“Hey Bridge can I ask you something? Please, don’t be upset I just need to ask as your friend. Are you in love with Paul? Does he make you happy?”

Bridgette took in a long breath, “Yeah, yeah Harper I’m happy. Things are going well and he treats me well. You have nothing to worry about.” She said as she patted her friend’s arm.

“Good otherwise I’d have to kill him.” Harper nudged her friend back as they laughed and walked on through the night.

It was still early when Bridgette got home, she sent Paul a quick message to let him know she made it home and that she was heading to bed early. She drew herself a bath, sprinkled in some lavender salts and lit a few candles. She just wanted to relax and let the last few weeks of tension and stress disappear. She dipped a toe into the water to test the temperature then lowered her body into the warm bliss.

Harper’s question resonated in her brain…was she happy? She closed her eyes and let her head fall back against the edge of the porcelain tub. She let her mind wander, she wanted to be honest with herself but it was hard to face the truth. She knew she wasn’t happy, she knew Paul wasn’t the love of her life but maybe if she gave it enough time it could turn into more. It could turn into the kind of love Luke’s parents had. That happiness and fulfillment you could just see when they looked at one another. She wanted that more than anything.

Paul was a great guy, he was kind and thoughtful. He was always so calm and collected, there hadn’t been a single argument in the several weeks they had been dating. It was all very…sterile. She didn’t know why that word came to mind but it was pretty accurate. She didn’t have the passionate arguments and heated conversations that she had with Luke and he definitely didn’t make her almost pee herself laughing like Luke did. Why was she even comparing them though? Why did it always feel like she was wondering what Luke would say or how he would react to situations she was in with Paul.

She thought back to the night Luke kissed her, she could still feel him against her lips. The way he tasted lingered on her tongue even after she had stormed out of his apartment. She had never had the kind of reaction she had with Luke with anyone else. It felt like electricity ran through her entire body when his lips touched hers. When he had jokingly kissed her at the the reunion she didn’t have time to register what was happening, the kiss at his apartment was different. His intentions were clear last time, he wanted her.

Her hands slipped below the water, she closed her eyes and let her fingertips go where they wanted. She lingered on her breasts, rolling her nipples between her thumb and forefinger as she imaged Luke sucking and nibbling his way across her chest. She knew she shouldn’t be thinking about him in this way, it was wrong. He was her best friend and she was dating someone else. She couldn’t stop, she didn’t want to stop.

Her lips parted as her breathing quickened, she could feel her pulse pounding in her neck as her fingers slid lower down her body. She gripped the edge of the tub with her left hand as her right hand began to explore between her thighs. She slowly stroked herself, bringing to life every nerve ending in her body. She couldn’t help but whimper as the intensity began to build, she gripped the tub wall tighter as she grew closer and closer to the edge. Unable to hold back, she allowed herself to plunge into the abyss of pleasure as waves of ecstasy rolled through her body.

To say Bridgette was tense was an understatement, she gripped Paul’s hand in the cab as they headed to the guys softball game. It was the playoffs so tonight’s game meant a lot, even if Luke was still avoiding her she wasn’t going to miss it; besides, she missed hanging out with the group. Tonight’s stress though was brought on by the fact that she was bringing Paul to the game. She hadn’t been in the same room with him and Luke for several weeks and she was hopeful tonight would help mend some broken fences.

The game was a close call, the guys managed to pull it off though with a two run homer in the top of the ninth and clench their spot in the championship game. The crowd erupted with cheers as the guys hugged on the field. Bridgette caught Luke’s eye on the field and offered him a shy smile with a wave. She felt her heart physically hurt when she saw the small twinkle in his eye, she missed more than she wanted to admit. He was her best friend after all, someone with whom she had conversed with daily for the past 10 years. He gave her a weak smile and head nod back, not what she’d hoped but she’d take it.

Everyone gathered at their regular watering hole after the game and offered cheers and shouts of congratulations. Bridgette stood next to Paul and Harper chatting about their weeks as the guys strolled over to their table. She couldn’t help but notice Harper’s eyes light up looking at Grant, she hopped off her stool to give him a high-five when he pulled her in for a hug. Noticing the group’s reaction he quickly turned toward Bridgette and offered her a warm embrace as well, “Great to see you Bridge, been a minute.” He said with a wink.

She turned towards Luke, “Congrats!” She said not knowing how to proceed.

He gave her a tight lipped smile with a quick thank you before turning his attention toward Paul. “Paul so great to see you man, I’m sorry we haven’t had much time to connect before this.” He gave Paul a genuine smile and hearty handshake as they quickly launched into a conversation about the game.

The evening carried on smoothly, Paul chatted with the guys and Harper was right along side him vying for Grant’s attention, casually touching his arm and throwing him flirty smiles every so often. Bridgette smiled to herself as she quietly stepped outside to get some fresh air. She closed her eyes and took in a few deep breaths, she was happy to see Luke being friendly with Paul and making an effort to make him feel welcome. She should want that right? Why didn’t she feel better then? She placed her hands behind her head and massaged her own neck hoping to relieve the tension. “Need some help?”

She instantly felt flush hearing Luke’s voice behind her, she turned around slowly to see him leaning against the doorframe of the patio. She wanted to hug him, to tell him that she wants everything to go back to how it used to be. Instead a slow smiled spread across her face as he pushed off from the door frame and walked toward her. “I’ve missed you sweetheart.” She looked up at him as he pushed a strand of her hair behind her ear.

“I’ve missed you too.” She said as he pulled her in for a long hug. Neither of them spoke for a few moments as they basked in the familiarity and comfort of one another. Luke ended the hug and stepped back from her about to speak.

“Bridgette?” Just then Paul stepped out on the patio. “Sorry to interrupt but I’m needing to get home, my shift starts early tomorrow.” He pointed to his watch as he spoke.

Bridgette was about to respond when Luke squeezed her elbow and made his way back toward the inside of the bar, “Great to see both of you, have a great night guys. Thanks for coming out for the team.” He gave a quick wave and then disappeared back inside.

“I called an Uber, he’s almost here so we should head out front. Let’s walk around the building, it’s a little too crowded in there.” The trip back to Paul’s place was quiet, Bridgette stared out the window completely lost in thought. “He’s in love with you.” She whipped her head around to meet his gaze. “Don’t tell me that surprises you. It’s obvious the way he looks at you.”

Bridgette’s heart felt like it was about to beat out of her chest. She didn’t know what to say, “Trust me Paul he only see’s me like a sis—“ before she could finish her statement he interrupted.

“You’re in love with him too Bridgette.” Her eyes filled with tears as the Uber came to a stop in front of his building. He thanked the driver and the exited the car, stopping on the curb. She stood staring at her feet not sure how to proceed, “Bridgette I’m not angry. In fact, I could see it between you two at the reunion. I didn’t know the story between you two but I wasn’t going to not take a chance on you. I’ve loved spending time with you, you’re an amazing woman but I can see that I’ll never have your heart because someone else already does.” She didn’t know what to say. She apologized for leading him on and wasting his time but he assured her that he knew what he was getting in to and that he didn’t regret one second of the time he spent with her.

The Uber he called her arrived and she gave him one last hug before climbing in the back. “Hi ma’am, you didn’t have an address in your destination, where are you headed?” She didn’t even think twice before answering with Luke’s address.