Share
Just an Update
Related chapters
Asking for a Friend The Blueprints
MARISSAAfter Layton stormed out of his office, I stood there gaping in the doorway. I knew I had screwed things up between us, but I hadn’t expected him to be quite such an asshole about it. On second thought, I really should have seen it coming.Sucking in a deep breath, I tried to come up with a different plan. The office was still quiet and it would be a little while before anyone came in and found me standing like an idiot half in and half out of Layton’s office.I was surprised by how much his cool, dismissive attitude hurt me. When I saw him last week, he was just as cold. I guessed I thought he might have thawed out over the weekend, for some reason. I had hoped he would, given that our first conversation after I’d told him we were done was over and the ice was broken.Sadly, I had let myself believe that the first time would be the worst and that it could only get better from there. It looked like I was wrong. Clenching my fists, I bit back a flood of anger.Yes, I had screwe
Asking for a Friend Ransom
MARISSAObviously, that approach didn’t work. The plan I was hatching now was more devious, but its chances of success were relatively high.The one thing I knew about him for sure was that the man was the ultimate perfectionist about his work. If he started with these blueprints, which a quick peek confirmed he had, he wouldn’t start over.What he was busy with would eventually become the perfect work for his client. Starting over wasn’t an option, because it was just right the way it was. Or it wouldn’t have been at all.And that was where Plan B came in. Walking to his desk with as much confidence as I could muster, so I looked like I was exactly where I was supposed to be just in case someone came in to ask what I was doing in here, I carefully rolled up the blueprints and tucked them under my arm.I carried them to my office, hid them safely away from potentially prying eyes and grabbed one of my sticky notes. After scribbling a quick message, I went back to his office and stuck
Asking for a Friend Scout's Honor
LAYTONAlem Seafood was an interesting choice for someone who supposedly wanted to talk. It was well-known enough, with reasonably priced, good food. Plastic table cloths covered white plastic tables yellowing with age.The multicolored tablecloths got replaced often enough and were practical given the amount of butter, garlic and other drips that came off the food. They were either green or red and white checkered, giving the place a real old-timey feel.It was almost always packed with locals, which made it an odd choice to pick for any kind of serious talking to take place. Alem was loud and lively, almost always having a live band playing into the night.If it was an intimate discussion you were after, you weren’t going to have it easily at Alem. But perhaps that was the point. Marissa was bubbly and boisterous and fun, just like the restaurant she chose.I wondered if she was more comfortable at this neighborhood favorite because it was more suited to her personality than the pla
Asking for a Friend About Annie
LAYTONAt the same time I made my suggestion that we order dinner, she said, “I’m sorry for the way I acted.”“I’m guessing that’s a no to ordering immediately, then?”She nodded, finally lifting her eyes to mine. There was genuine regret in them. “I should have told you that I have a daughter, and I shouldn’t have reacted the way I did. It was rash and stupid. I was a mess and feeling so guilty for missing a bunch of calls about Annie being sick and I took it out on you. Unfairly, I might add.”“Thank you.” I wasn’t above acknowledging how hard it must have been for her to not only admit she’d been unfair, but to have come to the realization in the first place.Over the last few days, I thought some about what Craig had said about his own mother’s protectiveness. I was by no means ready to forgive or to forget, but I had to get through dinner to get my blueprints anyway, and I was curious.“You having a daughter isn’t a problem, Marissa. I—”“I know,” she nodded hard, her golden curl
Asking for a Friend In His Arms Again
MARISSAElectricity sparked in the air between us as Layton and I stepped onto the elevator. My heart was pounding, my entire body on high alert for his nearness. We turned to face the doors when they closed, our hands brushing each other in the process.A tingle went through at the brief touch of his skin against mine. I looked up at him, curious to know if he’d felt it too. For whatever else had happened between us, we’d never lacked chemistry.Layton had warmed up to me again throughout dinner and given where we started, I was surprised the evening was ending with both of us at his place and not at odds anymore. I wanted to know if Layton still felt the chemistry too, or if it was just me catapulted back to a couple of weeks ago.He looked down at me in the same moment, and when our eyes met, I knew I wasn’t alone in this. The next thing I knew, his lips were on mine and his arms were around me, caging me against the back of the elevator car.His lips were as hungry and insistent a
Asking for a Friend Stay the Night
MARISSASnuggling into Layton’s side, my head rested on his chest. His heartbeat thrummed against my ear and I lifted my hand to rest it beside my head. I inhaled deeply, savoring the moment while I was still in it. When we got out of this bed, I didn’t know what would happen.Lying in his arms felt so right. Being with him in any way felt so right. Before this moment, I told myself I wanted to apologize to him because it was the right thing to do. I had been wrong and he deserved to know it and to know I was sorry about it.All this time, I’d been telling myself I didn’t want to get involved with him again, that I didn’t want to go back to how things used to be between us. But being here with him now, I knew I’d been fooling myself.I did want Layton, very much so. And not just in my bed, but in my life. It had taken me too long to realize he wasn’t at fault for what happened with Annie. Denise finally made me realize that I wasn’t really to blame either.At least four other kids in
Asking for a Friend Hankering
LAYTONFeeling lighter and happier than I had in weeks, I pushed through the doors of a new coffee shop down the block from my office. The place smelled bitter and sweet, coffee and pastries everywhere. Taking a deep breath of what promised to be worth the wait in the line I was about to join, I made my way to the back of the snake of people curling around the few tables in the shop.Everyone around me was raving about their picks, and despite the time this was going to take, I was glad I decided to make the stop. Marissa would be glad too.Just the thought of her made a grin spread across my lips. For the past four days since we’d made up, we’d been spending whatever time we could spare together. It wasn’t much, since Marissa headed straight home to Annie every day after work, but we’d carved out a little time to spend together each day so far.When we hooked up before, I wasn’t sure where I stood with Marissa and I hadn’t thought too much about it. I only knew that I liked her and w
Asking for a Friend Too Soon
LAYTONWhen I got back to the office, I found Marissa in hers. She stood up when I entered, a radiant smile on her lips. “You’re late today. You’re never late.”I held up the coffee and the pastries. “I brought you something.”“Yeah?” She rounded her desk and took the box first, opening it. Letting out an excited sound, she set it down on her desk and threw her arms around me from the side so as not to knock over the coffees. “Oh, Layton! Thank you. I’ve been meaning to try these, but the line is always so long.”“It’s a wait, all right. I hope they’re worth it,” I told her, putting the coffee down next to the box so I could hold her properly. “You’re definitely worth it.”Pink tinged her cheeks as she slid her eyes to her open office door. The blinds of her windows were already down, presumably she simply hadn’t opened them yet—because they were usually open. Reaching behind me, I felt for the door and swung it closed. “We’re alone now.”“Thank God,” she breathed just before I lowere
Latest chapter
Asking for a Friend Epilogue Part 2
Asking for a Friend Epilogue Part 1
Asking for a Friend Tiny Dancer
Asking for a Friend Sixth Months of Heaven
Asking for a Friend Living the Dream
Asking for a Friend We're a Family
Asking for a Friend Tasting Him
Asking for a Friend Raw
Asking for a Friend Prove It To Her
