Adley

I study the framed picture of Crew and his brother that's hanging on the wall near the kitchen in his apartment. I've walked past this spot countless times and yet, I've never noticed this particular image until tonight. It's no wonder. I'm always a tiny bit in awe when I come here. Crew's apartment is the quintessential bachelor pad, right down to the unobstructed view of New York City from the wall of windows that border this space and the dark furnishings that complement the expensive artwork.

My gaze skims over the photograph that looks like it was taken outside on a sunny day. They're standing next to one another, each with an arm over the other's shoulder. They're both striking to look at.

Kade, his younger brother, is attractive in a more subtle way than Crew. He's also completely different personality-wise. I should know. Crew set me up on a blind date with him last year.

"Hey." I turn to where Crew is sitting on his sofa. "Do you remember when you tried to get me to sleep with your brother?"

"Christ." He groans as he drops his head back onto the soft black leather. "Why the hell do you insist on reminding me about that? For the record, Kade is the one who asked me to set you two up as a favor to him."

I know that. Kade told me as much as soon as I arrived at the restaurant for our date. There was undeniable instant chemistry between us, but it was a brother /sister vibe from the get-go. We still text each other a couple of times a month to check-in.

"At least we hit it off better than you did with Tilly."

"Matilda was something else, Ad." He laughs softly. "Don't get me wrong. She's a sweetheart, but she could have held back with her list of must-haves in a future husband until we left the restaurant. I didn't make it halfway through dinner before I called it a night."

When I set up my co-worker, Tilly, with Crew months ago, I didn't give it a lot of thought. I half-expected they'd sleep together. I've known Crew for close to two years and his type has always been the same. If she's tall with dark hair and a pretty face, she'll catch his eye.

He has a reputation for being a savage in bed. I wouldn't know from experience. We made a pact early on that we'd stay out of each other's reach in that regard.  We're both too close to my best friend, Ellie, and her husband, Nolan, to screw up that match made in heaven.

If Crew and I crossed the line from friends to lovers, it wouldn't last. He's not interested in more than a night or two with the same woman and my sole focus right now is my career. Our friendship works for us and it's all we can ever be to each other. I know that even though sometimes my mind wanders into what if territory when I'm with him.

"She likes you a lot," I call from the kitchen as I grab a bottle of chilled water. "She still asks me if you're planning on taking her out for a second date."

"Tell her thanks, but no thanks." He appears at the breakfast bar that separates his custom kitchen from the rest of the open concept space.

We've always been transparent with each other, but not when it comes to intimacy. I don't go into details about the men I date and Crew keeps it to a minimum when he mentions the women he spends time with. It's part of our unspoken agreement to butt out of that aspect of each other's lives.

I asked him to stop looking for a man for me after my dinner with Kade. He requested the same regarding potential hookups the night of his date with Tilly. I want him to be happy, but I've learned that the only thing that keeps a smile on his face is keeping his libido sated. He does a good job of handling that on his own.

In fact, he has a woman waiting for him right now. I know that because I caught an unintentional glimpse of a text message that flashed on the screen of his phone back at the burger place. He got up to get the chocolate shake they forgot to give us when we picked up our food.

His phone vibrated on the table, my gaze dropped to it and I read the simple message.

I'm naked and waiting, love.  I need you.

His eyes skimmed over the screen when he sat back down and he hasn't responded even though his phone repeatedly chimed when we were at the Matiz offices and again three times since we've gotten to his apartment.

"I can take off if you have plans." I wash down the words with some water. "You don't have to entertain me. I'm sure Sydney's boyfriend has left by now."

"I don't have other plans." He sets his elbows on the counter and leans toward me. "My only plan is to hang out with one of my best friends."

I straighten. Crew doesn't know what his friendship means to me. Since Ellie and my other good friend, Brynn, have both found their happy-ever-afters, I've been on my own a lot more. It's not as though I need anyone to help me chart a path to a satisfying future. I don't.

I'm the first to admit that sometimes I'm lonely. Crew fills in that gap for me. We hang out like old friends and there's never a question about what I want out of my life. I'm bombarded with enough of that when I visit my folks.

I'm almost twenty-six-years-old. I have a stable job, a great place to live and good friends. I'm blessed as it is. Crew views his life the same way. It's one of the reasons we get along so well.

"What do you want to do?"

He narrows his eyes. "Not that fucking puzzle, Ad. I'll do anything but that."

"I can tell you about my list of must-haves in a future husband," I joke with a smirk. "My list is longer than Tilly's, so you better get …"

"There isn't a man on this earth who is good enough to be your husband," he interrupts me, his voice deep and smooth. His lips ease into a smile.

"Is that so?" I eye him suspiciously with a measured lift of my brows.

He turns to the left when the sound of my phone ringing cuts through the air. I stare at the chiseled lines of his jaw and the shadow of whiskers that have settled there. He's incredible to look at. I can't deny that.

It's not a crime to think your best guy friend is insanely gorgeous.

"You're not on call, are you?" His brow perks as he turns back to look at me. "You don't drink when you're on call."

I don't. I can't. It's part of the employment contract I signed when I took the job with Dr. Hunt at his clinic. I'm on call every second weekend and at least one night during the week. "No. It's not work. I have no idea who it could be."

"Let's find out." He pushes against the counter and jogs across the room to where I dropped my purse on the table in the foyer. He scoops it up and delivers it to me. "Answer, Ad. People don't call after midnight unless it's serious."

He's right. Ellie's in bed by ten most nights because her kids are up at the crack of dawn. Brynn's schedule has changed too now that's she engaged and pregnant. Getting a call after midnight that isn't work-related is a rarity for me. When it does happen, it's almost always a booty call. I stopped answering those when I realized that I valued sleep more than the shitty feelings I was left with after a quick fuck with a man who didn't even bother to offer to pay my cab fare back home.

I dig my phone out of my clutch and glance down at the screen before I answer. "Hey, Syd. What's up?"

I'm greeted with a sob, then another. "Adley, I need you."

"What's wrong?" I ask calmly because since Sydney moved in, I've become accustomed to her fragile heart and the consequences of that. She feels things deeply, loves fiercely and from what she told me about this latest guy, he's something special.

"I fought with Banner," she whimpers softly. "I need you to come home. Please, Ad. Come home."

I close my eyes. "Try to calm down. I'll leave right away. It won't take me more than twenty minutes to get there."

She whispers something inaudible before she ends the call.

"What's going on?" Crew's voice is even and gentle. "Has something happened to her?"

I tap my fingers lightly over the center of my chest. "I'd diagnose it as a broken heart.  Treatment consists of time with her roommate, followed by a night with a new man."

"Is that how you mend your own heart?"

It's a loaded question and one I don't have the time, or inclination, to answer. "Maybe I've never had a broken heart."

He surveys my expression, but he'll find nothing of substance there. I've learned how to hide my emotions, not only from the people around me but myself too. "I'll take you home. We can grab a taxi."

I appreciate the offer. I've always relied on myself to get around the city. I know it like the back of my hand and I have no problem telling a taxi or Uber driver which route to take. I did it earlier when we left Crew's office to come here. The driver of the taxi Crew flagged down was going to go around Central Park. I told him to drive through it. It cut ten minutes off our travel time. "You don't have to come with me. I'll get an Uber."

"I'm coming," he insists as he moves to pick up the suit jacket I was wearing earlier. "Wear this in the car. I'll walk you to your door and then I'll head back to the club for lock up."

I round the counter and let him drape the oversized garment around my shoulders. I want to ask him if he has a list of must-haves for a future wife but it hardly matters at this point. I'll nurse Sydney's bruised heart and he'll go to the club. He'll pick up a beautiful brunette there to bring back here or he'll respond to the text of the woman who is naked and waiting for him.

"You're such a gentleman," I say with a tilt of my head. "Do you treat all the women in your life this well?"

He reaches to tuck a strand of my hair behind my ear. His touch is soft as his fingertips linger on my cheek. "Only the ones who spill ketchup on my thousand dollar suit jacket."

"Oh shit." I swallow as I look down at the tailored black jacket. "I'll pay for dry cleaning. Can it be cleaned?"

"You'll pay for nothing." He leans down to brush his lips over my forehead. "I'm keeping the jacket as is. The stain is hardly noticeable and the jacket smells like you now."

I smile as I look into his eyes.

Flirtatious teasing has always been part of the dynamic of our friendship. This feels different. Maybe it's the rush from the drinks I had earlier. It might be the look of dark intensity that's settled over his expression.

Whatever it is, I like it.

"Let's get you home." He slips effortlessly back into friendship mode with a tap on my shoulder. "Sydney needs you and I need another scotch before I call it a night."

I think I might need one too. That or a date with my battery operated boyfriend.