Just Friends Read online

  Just Friends

  Jennifer

  USA Today Bestselling Author

  Sucevic

  Copyright 2019 by Jennifer Sucevic

  Smashwords Edition

  All Rights Reserved. This book is licensed for your enjoyment only. This e-book may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author except for the use of brief quotations in critical articles or reviews.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, places, businesses, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, actual events or locales is purely coincidental.

  Cover by The Reading Ruth

  Also by Jennifer Sucevic

  Claiming What’s Mine

  Confessions of a Heartbreaker

  Don’t Leave

  Friend Zoned

  Hate to Love You

  If You Were Mine

  King of Campus

  Love to Hate You

  One Night Stand

  Protecting What’s Mine

  Stay

  The Breakup Plan

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Epilogue

  Love to Hate You

  The Breakup Plan

  About the Author

  Chapter One

  Reed

  With a sigh, I collapse onto the couch in the living room of the house I share with a couple of guys from the hockey team and pop open a can of cold beer, guzzling down half of it in one thirsty swig.

  Goddamn, but that hits the spot.

  Know what else would hit the spot?

  Yeah, you do.

  It’s the second week of September and Coach Richards has us skating two-a-days, lifting weights, and running five miles for extra cardio.

  As if we need it.

  Oh…and he added yoga to this year’s regimen.

  Fucking yoga.

  Can you believe that shit?

  Let me be perfectly clear about this, I’m not into contorting my body into a pretzel and breathing deeply from my diaphragm. Sure, I get it. He wants us to work on our flexibility. And I’ll do it, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.

  Coach R is a total masochist.

  Or is it sadist?

  I can never keep those two straight.

  No matter. Whatever kind of ist he is, the man thoroughly enjoys working our asses over. The only amusement I get is from listening to all the incoming freshman piss and moan about what a tough schedule we have.

  Welcome to Division I hockey, boys. Buckle up, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.

  Pile on fifteen credit hours and I don’t have time for much else.

  “Reed, baby, I’ve been waiting all night for you to return.”

  A curvy female drops onto my lap like an angel falling from heaven before she twines her slender arms around my neck and pulls me close.

  I stand corrected. There’s always time for that.

  Hell, half the time, that’s what gets me through the grind. Sex is an amazing stress reliever and don’t let anyone tell you differently. I’m way more chill after I’ve blown my load. And if I’m fortunate enough to do it twice in one night, then it’s like I’ve slipped into a damn coma.

  Pure bliss, baby.

  Luckily for us, the Red Devils hockey team has its fair share of puck bunnies on campus who are always willing to provide some much-needed stress relief on a regular basis. God bless every last one of those ladies. They have no idea how much their team spirit is appreciated.

  That being said, there are always exceptions to the rule.

  And the girl currently cozied up on my lap is the exception to my rule.

  Megan thrusts out her lower lip in a sexy pout. “How is it possible that we’ve never hooked up before?”

  The answer is simple. I go to great lengths to avoid her like a particularly nasty case of crabs.

  Megan flutters her mascara-laden lashes and tilts her head. Her voice becomes lispy and toddlerish as she twirls a dark curl around her finger. “Don’t you think I’m pretty?”

  Pretty?

  No, Megan is flat out gorgeous.

  Her long black hair is as shiny as a crow’s wing as it floats around her shoulders in soft waves. She has dark eyes that are tipped at the corners giving her an exotic look. And her skin is sun-kissed all year round. If that weren’t enough to have any guy giving her a full-on salute, she’s got gravity defying tits and a nice round ass.

  Have I imagined fucking her from behind and smacking that bubble butt a few times before blowing my wad?

  You bet Megan’s perfectly round ass I have. The girl is a walking wet dream.

  And from what the guys on the team tell me (because they’re a bunch of loudmouth assholes who like to brag), she can suck a dick like nobody’s business. That being said, I won’t be finding that out firsthand anytime soon. I’ve made it a point to steer clear of Megan because every time I look at her, I see Emerson.

  And imagining that I’m nailing my best friend is a definite no-no.

  When I don’t immediately respond, Megan grinds her bubble butt against my junk. Unfortunately, just the thought of Emerson is enough to have me popping wood.

  It’s a messed-up situation.

  One that Em is blissfully unaware of. Which is exactly the way it needs to stay. She can’t find out that I’ve got the hots for her. Emerson Shaw is one of the first friends I made when Mom and I moved to Lakefield the summer before freshman year of high school. And we’ve been tight ever since.

  While I enjoy having a casual, friends-with-benefits relationship with a number of girls on campus, I’ve never considered sleeping with Em.

  So maybe I’ve considered having sex with her. It would be hard not to imagine stripping her naked and getting jiggy with a girl who looks like that, but I’ve never done anything about it.

  I’ve screwed too many women not to know that getting naked changes a relationship. And I like Em way too much to risk sleeping with her. She’s the one person who has always had my back. And let’s face it, I can be a hell of a lot more honest with her than my teammates.

  Can you imagine me baring my soul to those assholes?

  Exactly. I’d never hear the end of it.

  My friendship with Emerson also gives me all this insight into the female psyche that I wouldn’t otherwise b
e privy to. It’s like taking a peek behind the magic curtain. I’m not willing to throw that away when there are plenty of random chicks I can get my rocks off with.

  Moral of the story—friends are a lot harder to come by than hookups.

  “Reed?” Megan nips my lower lip between her sharp teeth before giving it a gentle tug and releasing it.

  I blink back to the girl wriggling around on my lap. “Yeah?”

  Her hands flutter to my shoulders before settling on them. “You’re so tense.”

  Damn right I am. All I can think about is Emerson and that is all kinds of wrong.

  “Let’s go upstairs.” Her tongue darts out to moisten her lips as she whispers, “I know exactly what will fix that.”

  If any other girl were making the offer, I’d already be dragging her up the staircase to my bedroom. But that’s not going to happen with Megan. There’s no way I can fuck around with someone who is a dead ringer for Emerson.

  I just can’t do it. Maybe I’m not technically doing anything wrong, but it still feels like I’m breaking some kind of friendship rule. She may not realize I’m thinking about her like that, but I do.

  And that’s all that matters.

  Guess I’ll have to find a different girl to get busy with. Preferably a flat-chested blonde with big blue eyes who doesn’t resemble Em. Or maybe a redhead, just to mix things up a bit.

  Megan’s eyes light up when I set my beer down and wrap my hands around her waist before carefully removing her from my lap. “Sorry, sweetheart. I’ve got homework to finish up for tomorrow.” I tack on the lie to soften the blow. “Maybe another time?”

  Her face falls. “Sure, no problem.”

  Before she can pin me down on a time and place, I beat a hasty retreat from the living room and head upstairs. Once I’ve taken refuge in my room, I fire off a text to one of my go-to girls.

  Fifteen minutes later, my booty call for the evening strolls through the door.

  Know what I like most about Candace?

  The girl gets right down to business. There’s no need for small talk and that, I can appreciate. I’m in the mood to fuck. Not debate world politics or climate change.

  The door hasn’t even closed and Candace is already shedding her clothes. Since she hasn’t bothered with a bra, her titties bounce free as soon as her shirt is discarded. Her nips stiffen right up when the cool air hits them.

  It’s a beautiful sight to behold.

  Except…

  Nothing stirs south of the border. Not like it did when I was thinking about a certain someone downstairs who shall remain nameless. But I’m not concerned. I just need to harness my mental capabilities and focus on the task at hand. Which is getting my dick to work properly.

  I yank off my T-shirt and toss it to the floor as Candace flicks open the button of her teeny-tiny shorts before unzipping them. With her gaze locked on mine, she shimmies out of them.

  And wouldn’t you know it…

  No panties in sight.

  Just a gloriously bare pussy.

  Works for me.

  Well, that’s what normally works for me.

  At the moment, limp dick-itis has set in.

  Once Candace has stripped down to her birthday suit, she struts her sexy stuff toward the bed where I’ve made myself comfortable. Her eyelids lower as a knowing smirk curves her red slicked lips. I rake my gaze over her toned body.

  The girl is absolutely perfect.

  “I’ve missed you.” She crawls across the mattress until her hands are resting against my bare chest. “I’m glad you texted.”

  She says that now, but it probably won’t be the case when she gets her hands on my junk. I keep waiting for my dick to rise to the occasion, but it doesn’t stir.

  What the hell is wrong with me?

  I thought this kind of thing only happened to older dudes. I’m way too young for Viagra. I’ve seen first-hand how that shit can mess you up.

  No, thank you.

  As a joke last year, one of the jackasses on my team got his hands on a couple of those little blue pills and slipped them to one of the freshman players. The poor guy was sporting wood for days. Unfortunately, a trip to the emergency room became necessary. When Coach R was apprised of the situation, he reamed our asses good and threatened to bench the entire team for the season. We skated suicides until our legs practically fell off.

  Candy trails her purple tipped fingernails down my chest before pushing me against the mattress and straddling my torso. Then she leans over and licks a wet trail down my body until reaching the waistband of my athletic shorts. This encounter is going to nosedive real quick if I can’t get it up in record speed. Not knowing what else to do, I squeeze my eyes tight as an unwanted image of Emerson pops into my head.

  Dark hair, lush curves, bright smile.

  Candace chuckles as she pulls my hard length from my boxer-briefs like it’s a much-anticipated Christmas gift. “There’s my big boy!”

  I groan.

  I am so screwed.

  Chapter Two

  Emerson

  “Just remember, you agreed to come with me tonight,” Brinley reminds as we walk to our last class of the day.

  Make that last class of the week.

  TGIF, baby!

  I stifle a groan. I won’t admit it to Brin, but I’d much rather stay in and veg out. School started less than a month ago and it’s been a long week. Already I’m knee-deep in homework. In a moment of weakness, I promised Brinley that I would attend the Alpha Delta Phi party and spend some much-needed quality time with my bestie. Our schedules are so crazy-busy that sometimes we’re like ships passing in the night.

  Brinley is majoring in pre-law with a minor in art. It’s a weird combination but it works for her. Art is her creative outlet while she studies politics and history. She’s already taken the LSAT and is busy putting together a list of law schools to submit her application to. This is our fourth and final year living together and I’m sad to see it come to an end. Next year, who knows where we’ll end up. More than likely, different cities.

  I nod as a brawny arm slips around my shoulders and hauls me close. Then I’m inundated by a clean woodsy scent that is entirely male. Reed drops a kiss on my forehead just like he always does when we see each other.

  “Hey, good looking,” he greets before giving Brin a chin lift in acknowledgment.

  “Right back at you,” I respond with a smile.

  “We were talking about the Alpha Delta Phi party tonight,” Brinley cuts in. “I assume you’ll be making an appearance?”

  “Was planning on it,” Reed says as the three of us walk across campus. “It should be a good time.” He sends a sly smile in Brin’s direction. “I’m sure Colton will be there.”

  Brinley’s face blanks as she gives him a bit of side-eye. “And you’re telling me this because?”

  “No reason.” A full-on grin slides across Reed’s lips before he shrugs. “Just thought you might be interested in that information.”

  She sniffs and keeps her gaze focused straight ahead. “Well, you were mistaken.”

  “That’s too bad,” Reed continues. “I think he’s into you.”

  “Him and every other guy on this campus,” she shoots back with an unladylike snort.

  That might sound egotistical but it’s straight up facts. Brinley is gorgeous with long blond hair, bright green eyes, and a curvy figure. She oozes confidence from every pore of her body. Guys have been chasing Brin since I met her freshman year. And she’s happy to go through them like sticks of chewing gum.

  It took me a while to figure out that Brinley thinks more like a dude. She doesn’t bother with relationships. And I’ve never seen her sit around and cry over a guy. She sleeps with whoever she wants and doesn’t look backwards when she walks away in the morning.

  Brinley has two rules when it comes to the male species. She doesn’t sleep with anyone more than once. Twice, if it’s really good. And she doesn’t get attached. If that doe
sn’t sound like a guy’s way of thinking, I don’t know what does. I can’t say that it doesn’t work for her. She seems perfectly happy. Like me, she’s focused on her future.

  My guess is that Reed is right about his friend having a thing for her, but Brinley refuses to give Colton the time of day. I’m not sure why. He’s good looking in a clean-cut sort of way with dark hair and eyes. Even though he’s on the hockey team, he’s super nice. A lot of the guys around here are players, but Colton isn’t one of them.

  Reed hoots with laughter. “Is it difficult walking around with such a massive ego?”

  Brinley flutters her lashes. “I don’t know, you tell me.”

  “Ha! Touché.”

  Now that Reed has joined us, heads snap in our direction. I glance around, noticing all the covetous looks aimed at us. It’s kind of hilarious. With Reed by our side, our invisibility shield has been lifted. What these girls don’t understand is that I’m not competition where they’re concerned. Most people assume I’m one of Reed’s bunnies. But nothing could be further from the truth.

  This kind of female attention isn’t unusual. Reed has always been a fan favorite when it comes to the ladies. They’re drawn to him like bees to honey.

  And who can blame them for being interested?

  Reed Philips is gorgeous with long, dark blond hair that grazes the collar of his shirt and brilliant blue-green eyes. If that weren’t enough to bring the female population at Southern to their proverbial knees, he’s six feet four inches of pure muscle and the star defenseman for the Southern Red Devils.

  The moment Reed stepped foot on campus freshman year, he was a hot commodity. Some guys come here for hockey and crack under the pressure, fading into oblivion. That hasn’t been the case with Reed. If anything, his talent and celebrity have only multiplied. It’s a given that he’ll get drafted to the NHL this spring.

  Reed squeezes my arm and changes the subject. “Hey, I thought we were going to hang out and watch that new horror flick on Netflix. Why’d you bale?”

  I blink back to the present.