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“You don’t want to have sex with me anymore?” She took a deep breath and blinked away the tears.
“I’ll always want to have sex with you, Lacy, but it’s not fair to you. It won’t let you find someone who will keep you.”
Her eyes narrowed on him. “Shouldn’t I be the one to decide that?”
“We shouldn’t get attached. I may not stay here, but if I do, it could get awkward. I don’t want to end up hurting you.” He rubbed the back of his neck while looking down at the floor. He was hurting her, he knew it. But it was better now than when he actually left.
“What about hooking up while looking for this mythical beast of a man?” Lacy pulled her knees up, wrapping her arms around them. “Like Candy?”
“You were never like Candy.”
“Of course, I’m not like Candy. She’s gorgeous and I’m just me.”
Jonah reached out and touched her cheek. “You are so much more than Candy. I need to stop doing this and if I don’t stop now, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to stop.”
Lacy’s mouth opened and closed. She looked down at her knee and then up at the ceiling before she turned those beautiful eyes to him. “What about tonight?”
“With the happy hour and my early morning flight, I don’t think we’ll have the time.” Everything inside him wanted to scream yes. Sleep wasn’t necessary. He could spend the whole night making love to Lacy one final night. But he couldn’t slip. He had to be strong.
She nodded and stood, straightening her skirt. “Okay then.”
He felt like he’d been punched in the gut, but he stood up next to her.
“Still friends?” She looked up at him.
He nodded his head, even if it fucking killed him. “Still friends.”
* * *
“We wantto thank you all for your hard work on the Bradbury campaign.” Drew stood next to Morgan at the end of the bar table. He practically shouted to be heard over the din of the bar on a Friday night.
When Logan had steered Lacy to sit near him, she hadn’t protested. Sitting next to Jonah wasn’t an option because he’d basically broken up with her. Not that they had ever really been a couple. He’d been nice during the ride to work and then at work, but it wasn’t the same.
“Lacy!”
Her attention returned to Drew at the end of the table. Everyone turned to look at her and she could feel the heat in her cheeks. What did she miss?
“While it was a team effort, your idea put us over the top.”
She flushed with pride as Logan slung his arm around her shoulders and pulled her against him. She’d contributed before but nothing like this. This campaign was huge for their company.
“We’ll be buying tonight so don’t go crazy. Also make sure you have a designated person to help you home.”
Lacy’s gaze couldn’t help finding Jonah. He’d made sure to get her home before, but he’d given her so much more. He gave her a nod to let her know he’d see her home tonight. She sighed. She didn’t want just his protection. She wanted more. But they were still friends, so protection would be all she could get.
She swirled her straw in her glass, not really in the mood to drink.
Drew and Morgan sat and everyone started talking and passing the pitchers around the table.
“Still seeing that guy?” Logan said, drawing her attention.
“What?” Lacy bit her lip. No one knew about her and Jonah.
“Looks like you have a fresh love bite.” Logan nodded toward her neck and took a drink of his beer. “I’m just surprised you can find the time. I might need some pointers.”
“No, that guy isn’t in the picture anymore.” Lacy glanced at Jonah, who talked with Claire and Phoebe. He wasn’t close enough to brush his legs against hers and she missed it. Of course she was the one stupid enough to fall in love with the guy who offered her no strings sex.
“That’s a shame. If you need someone to talk to, I’m here.”
