Chapter 1
Losing a round of Truth or Dare, my boyfriend is asked to reveal the color of his underwear.
His best female friend answers for him, blurting out, "It's red!"
She then slaps me on the shoulder, like we were all frat brothers. "Don't sweat it. We're just buddies. He sees me as one of the bros.
"Besides, I do all his laundry. I know all his underwear."
I look at her. "Gross."
"Hey, watch your mouth!" my boyfriend snaps, his expression turning ugly. "We're just friends!"
His whole crew immediately jumps to his defense, muttering about how I was being petty and insecure, turning it into some kind of pathetic girl-on-girl catfight.
I covered my lips with my hand, feigning a small laugh. "Relax. My male bestie washes my panties. It's such a dirty chore for a girl to handle, don't you think?"
The room goes silent.
*****
After I dropped that bomb, you could have heard a pin drop in the room.
Eric Bennett, who had been in the middle of lecturing me, just froze.
It was Jessica Carter who broke the silence, shrieking, "You seriously let a guy wash your underwear?"
Her outburst seemed to snap Eric out of his trance. His brow furrowed as he glared at me.
"Natalie Brooks, what the hell? Have you no shame? That's completely inappropriate!"
I just shrugged. "Oh, please. We practically grew up in the same crib.
"I don't even see him as a man, so what's the big deal?
"Besides, we've known each other for twenty years. If anything was gonna happen between us, trust me, don't you think it would've happened way before you came into the picture?
"Relax, baby."
I ruffled his hair with a serene smile.
His face went gray with anger.
Seeing this, Jessica immediately pressed herself against Eric, pulling his head against her chest.
"There, there, don't you get angry, sweetie pie," she cooed. "Natalie's just being a typical jealous girlfriend.
"She's obviously just trying to rile you up. We're above this petty stuff, aren't we?
"If you keep making a big deal out of this, our friendship is over!"
Eric didn't push Jessica away. He just rested against her chest while looking at me.
"Why do you always have to make it a competition with Jess? It's pathetic.
"You're both girls. Can't you just try to get along? She's just brutally honest. That's all."
He spoke as if he were granting me a royal pardon.
His buddies all chimed in. "Yeah, Natalie, that's not something to joke about."
"Good girls keep their distance from other guys."
I gave them a pointed look. "What about Jessica then? Funny how none of you seem worried about her reputation."
Eric cut me off impatiently, "Jessica's different."
I widened my eyes and suddenly yanked up Jessica's skirt. "Oh my God, do you actually have a dick?"
Jessica screamed and ran away, her face burning red.
Eric immediately shielded her and confronted me. "Are you crazy?"
I shrugged casually. "We're all bros here, right? What's there to be shy about?
"Anyway, my bestie is taking me for a massage. Gotta run."
I had zero interest in hearing their pathetic excuses. I waved a breezy goodbye and turned to leave.
"Oh, by the way, my best friend has bigger pecs than you. Way more comfortable to cuddle with.
"Get yourself a girl with some actual curves, Eric."
Pointing at Jessica's flat chest, I laughed at the doorway and slammed the door behind me.
Eric spent six months chasing me, showering me with food, gifts, and attention.
The day we made it official, I got a flood of anonymous texts.
They all warned me not to date a guy with a possessive clique.
Whatever. He had his girl bro, and I had my guy bestie. It seemed fair to me.
Eric and I didn't talk for three days.
Then Jessica added me and asked me to go hiking.
Jessica: [Hey girl, you know Eric's always been moody. I've been managing his tantrums since we were kids.]
Jessica: [So on his behalf, I'm sorry.]
Jessica: [Couples should work through their issues, right? Want to go hiking this weekend?]
Looking at her weird way of addressing everyone, I blew on my freshly done nails and agreed.
At the base of the mountain, Eric, Jessica, and two other guys were all wearing matching athletic gear.
Eric approached hesitantly and took my hand. "Nat, I was so worried you wouldn't come.
"Last time went too far. My friends are feral and don't know when to shut up. Let's move on.
"I mean, we've already met each other's parents. We need to get used to this stuff."
Jessica sidled up, slinging a chummy arm around my shoulders. "Don't be so petty."
She then turned to the other two guys. "Apologize to Natalie right now. You made her mad."
The two guys exchanged glances and reluctantly muttered, "Sorry."
Eric nudged me and wheedled. "See? Are we good now?
"My guys have never humbled themselves like this for anyone.
"Nat, aren't you going to say something?"
He twisted the cap off a water bottle and held it out to me, clearly nudging me to soften up.
For his effort, I would play along. I cleared my throat.
"Thanks to your entire family."
"Natalie!" one of them barked, hopping mad.
I ducked behind Eric and dabbed at imaginary tears.
"Babe, look. They're so mean. They hate me.
"Maybe I should go."
Since I rarely played vulnerable, Eric was instantly hooked.
His protective instincts kicked in full force. "Enough, guys. Natalie's my girlfriend."
The two guys shut up.
But Jessica suddenly snatched the water bottle from Eric and started chugging it dramatically.
Water spilled all over her chest, soaking through her shirt.
She then unzipped her jacket, revealing the cleavage she had clearly worked hard to enhance.
And there was the ring hanging from a chain around her neck.
I recognized it instantly. It was my half of the couple's ring set Eric and I had.
"Hope you don't mind me drinking from Eric's bottle, do you?" Jessica smirked. "We've been sharing everything since we were kids.
"It's a pure friendship. You can't expect him to ditch all his friends just because he has a girlfriend."
Eric seemed oblivious, frowning as he looked for tissues for Jessica.
I caught Jessica shooting me a triumphant look.
When I didn't react, she deliberately toyed with the ring on her necklace.
"Anyway, we all apologized," she continued, pressing her advantage. "Isn't it your turn?
"You invented a fake boyfriend just to make a point, and you've had poor Eric miserable for days."
She postured as if she were his noble defender.
Eric turned to me, frowning. "Nat, she's right. You went too far."
I didn't say a word. Just then, a gorgeous man walked toward us. He was tall, with the broad shoulders and lean waist of an athlete.
He casually took the water bottle from my hand, tilted his head back, and took a long swallow.
He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and flashed a devastating grin. "Sorry I'm late. I'm Natalie's bestie."