Sugarlips (Beefcakes Book 2), Katana Collins [ebook smartphone .TXT] 📗

it’s me,” I said, pinning the phone between my ear and shoulder as I locked my front door behind me. “I don’t want to fight. I’ve got a bag of Oreos and I’m on my way over.”

Tanja’s apartment complex was literally a five minute drive from my house. I got there in three.

Throwing my car in park, I ran up the stairs to her front door and rang the bell.

Nothing.

I balled my hand into a fist and knocked loudly. After another thirty seconds or so, I pressed my ear to the door. I could have sworn I heard mumbled talking and footsteps.

But still no answer.

I turned to leave when I heard the door click open behind me. I swiveled to find Tanja in a short, silken robe, clutched between her breasts. Her long, slender legs were perched atop feathery heels and even though her makeup was flawless, her hair was messy and tousled.

“Chloe,” she said, her eyes wide. She tossed a quick glance over her shoulder before pulling the door closed behind her. “What are you doing here?”

I smiled at her. “I got your message. I just… I wanted to see you.”

Her eyes shifted to the closed door. “I wish you’d called me first.”

This made so much sense. Tanja and I were both extroverts… but in times of distress, where I reached out and enjoyed dancing and drinks and time with friends as a release, Tanja’s go-to was sex.

“I did, but it went to voicemail.” I reached out, tugging on the hem of her sexy robe. “And I think I know why now.” I dropped my voice to a whisper. “Is it the financial analyst guy you met last week?”

But my best friend didn’t laugh. She didn’t spill the beans and dish about who was currently wrapped in her sheets. She didn’t twirl around and show off her sexy robe and shoes to me like she normally would. Instead, she wrapped her arms around her torso, hugging herself.

Tanja sniffed and her chin quivered. “You’re here. I can’t believe you’re here. I wanted to do this right. This apology. I wanted to see you and get pizza and spend all night together.” Tears filled her eyes and her teeth came down over her bottom lip. “I’m so sorry about Liam—”

“I know.” I shook my head, cutting her off. She was a trembling mess. “It’s okay. I know you never would have… with Liam… if you knew I cared about him.”

Her cheeks went pink and more tears filled her eyes, one spilling down her cheek. “You said you two were just faking the relationship for the publicity. But still, I—I don’t know what to say. I thought I’d lost you for real this time and I feel horrible.”

I pulled her against me and hugged her. “You haven’t lost me.” This was what I wanted. I wanted to make up with my friend. But Liam’s words about Tanja still resonated in my head, echoing like whispers from a cavern. “But I do think some things need to change. I can’t always pay for every bill. And I think you use me sometimes without realizing it.”

I pulled back from the hug, searching her frowning face. She didn’t seem all that much more relieved.

The muscles in her throat constricted, but she nodded all the same. “I know. I’m sorry. I was getting really jealous—you’re making this whole new life for yourself and it didn’t include me at all.”

“Your acting and auditions don’t include me. And that’s okay. We’re friends. We don’t need to share every aspect of our lives. But I do need you to support me. And maybe, if you like someone who’s a good friend of mine, just talk to me before kissing him? I’d do the same for you.”

There was a thump on the other side of the door and a deep, male voice drifted through. “Who is it, Tanja?”

The rims of her eyes went tight and her hand shot to the doorknob as the voice continued to call out. “Whoever it is, tell them to go away, and get your hot ass back in here!”

Blackness dotted my vision and I stumbled backward, struck by that voice. I knew that voice.

“Who’s in there, Tanja?” I managed to ask.

“No one,” she squeaked, terror knotting at the center of her brow. “It’s uh, just a, just a guy I met.”

We both knew that was a lie. I narrowed my gaze. It didn’t take a lot of force to push past her and slam the door open. It cracked against the wall behind it, rattling the bookshelf.

There, standing in the kitchen wearing only his boxers… was Dan.

Acid rolled up my throat and I swallowed it back down. “Well. Okay, then.” I crossed my arms and glared at Dan. “How long has this been going on?”

He stuttered, just like he did when I first found out about him and Raina. His face ruddy and pink, mouth flapping and stuttering, but not saying a single word. “Uh, it’s, um, it was only this one time.”

I slid my glare to Tanja who at least had the decency to look contrite. “Chloe—”

“How long?” I asked again.

“Eight months,” she whispered.

Eight. Months. Long before Dan and I ever broke up, my “best friend” had been fucking my fiancé.

I curled my arms around my stomach, shoulders slumping, like I could hug away the painful punch in my gut. When I straightened, I exhaled the breath I’d been holding—and to my surprise, a laugh escaped.

A loud, barking laugh.

It grew—the laughter shaking my whole body. I couldn’t seem to draw in a deep enough breath to pause or stand straight or stop laughing.

The whole scene was just so ridiculous. How could I be so fucking dumb? For years, Tanja had been showing me who she was. Only, I didn’t see it. I didn’t listen when she told me time and time again that she wasn’t a good friend.

I so badly wanted to believe in the good in her, I was blind to the