17. Friends? Lovers? Friends with benefits?

I do. I really do. But do you, really? I will always be here for you, no matter what. Will you? - Alex.

~~~

17. Friends? Lovers? Friends with benefits?

(Alexandra)

"Kiss me." He said and she didn't know why she was very fast to do as he asked, but she did. Maybe it was because she had already started counting the day that this would come to an end. But she was not going to waste it away by pretending that her feelings were not there. She couldn't afford to waste her time with him, so she was going to take as much of him as she could.

And when you walk away, you know it will hurt more. This will hurt more.

I know, but I can't do anything about that.

"Alex." He groaned her name as her lips fanned over his. Touching. Teasing. And giving in.

He grabbed her to him as if they weren't already close enough. She knotted her hand inside his hair and her fingers were lost in them, and so was she, lost in him. So lost. So lost she couldn't find herself no matter how hard she looked for.

Is it really a good idea?

No, it wasn't, but this was the only idea.

When he pulled away, she was breathless. And hot. He looked like he was too.

"This isn't in the contract, you know." She said, her voice husky. He nodded as he leaned back and took a deep breath.

"I know. I drafted it." His voice was hoarse and his eyes were fastened on hers. He made her feel like that she was the only woman in the universe for him, but she knew it wasn't the truth. She knew it was all in her mind, it was all her wistful thinking.

Because all she was to him was a byline in a lumpy documents full of legal words. That was all.

"So why are you always kissing me, you jerk?"

"What, don't act like you don't like kissing me. I know you do."

"Whatever."

"We are both adults and if we want to kiss each other, it is totally okay. We don't have to make a big deal out of it." There he was, always cool and collected. Never for a second doubting himself or his feelings. Never for a second thinking that this might be something.

"I am not, but I don't know, maybe we should stop with all the kissing. I don't think this is making it any easier. I don't want a mess."

"This is not going to be messy, Alex. You are my friend."

"As I said before, friends don't kiss each other like this." She pointed between them. "Friends don't kiss. At all. Period."

"Okay. I am attracted to you and I know you know that. So why can't we enjoy it for an year. Totally casual. Friends with benefits if you can. No strings attached."

"I understand what you are saying. I get it, okay. You don't have to keep using different words to drive the nail deep inside." She rolled her eyes. "And friends with benefits? What are we? In high school?"

"High school is not bad." He smiled. "And I am just- you know, I am just testing it out. Casual. It doesn't sound so bad."

"I have never been in a casual relationship and I don't think it is for me."

To be honest, she had never been in a relationship much longer than five months. But he didn't have to know that. She couldn't just show him all her hands and hope to win, either way.

The only way to keep playing was to pretend that she had pretty good cards. She knew she didn't. The game, as far as she was concerned, was already lost. But here she was, still so stringently playing along.

So... That was that.

"To be honest, I have never been in such a serious relationship. After all, this is going to be my first marriage."

"It is fake."

"So, let us make the best of it." He shrugged as he ran his fingers through the hair she had already mussed.

In his dark jeans and tee, he looked equally casual and sexy. Appealing. Whatever he did do or didn't do, she found him attractive and arousing. And that was almost disturbing.

"Are you listening to yourself right now? Everything that comes out of your mouth is an utter nonsense." She waved her hands. "I can't do that, Logan. I don't think I am ready."

"You weren't ready when you kissed me just minutes ago?"

"I don't know, okay? I am not ready anymore."

"Wow. Really Alexandra? You are going to give that shit to me now? For all I know, you wanted to kiss me just as much as I wanted to. So why are you fighting this?"

"Insufferable jerk. I am not fighting this. I am just trying to think like a rational adult, when you are acting like a tween."

"Yeah, no tween can kiss like this." He winked. Smug little jerk. "Are you saying that your decision is final? That you don't want to kiss me again?"

"Yes. I am exactly saying that."

"Oh, we will see, Ms. Steele."He winked as he walked away, not before bending down to press his lips on her cheek.

She groaned before she took a glass of lemonade for Eliza and followed him out.

"So, what were you two discussing about?" Emma winked when Alex sat next to Eliza.

"Um, nothing?" She stuttered.

"Oh, don't worry. I have had discussions of nothings once too. God we were so young." Emma sighed.

"How old are you now, Grammy?" Alex smiled at her and they laughed and after that, amid teasing Alex, Emma and Eliza asked about what Alex wanted for her wedding and they discussed about flowers and cakes and everything. It was a little bit fun, except for the fact this was all a waste of time. And money. For something that was going to last only for an year.

But Logan didn't look like he cared. In fact, he was really engrossed in talking with his sisters.

Later that night, when his family was gone and as she was searching for suppliers in her laptop, Logan came out with bunch of files and a plate of lasagne his mom had left for them.

"Lasagne?"

"Of course." She said as she grabbed the plate from him and shoved in a forkful. It was yummy and cheesy, and it tasted like home. Alex had wished for her dad, a thousand time that day as she had seen how happy and lovely Logan's family was.

They were fun and big-hearted and kind and she had missed her mom and dad when she saw them together. The bond between them was unbreakable, and it showed. Even when they teased and fought.

He sat down next to her and opened a file that was at the top.

She looked at him with heart thudding closer to her throat. The top two button of his cotton shirt was unbuttoned and the sleeves were folded up to his elbows, showing how strong he actually was, and she could feel his arms wrapped around her as he kissed her. And she knew she was the one who had tried to be sensible and said no to kissing, but at that moment, she wanted nothing but to be wrapped up in those arms and be kissed by those lips, which were now in a frown, as he stared at those files.

No one had ever looked that gorgeous just flipping files. At least never to her.

"Take a picture. It will last longer." She jerked up. "What?" He sounded amused as he quirked his brows. He looked so self-satisfied.

"Um, what are you talking about?"

"If you want a kiss, all you have to do is ask." He taunted.

"You are delusional." She said and tried to hide her flaming cheeks. Oh yeah, he already had such a big head and she wasn't going to feed his ego with her lusty thoughts. No, sir.

"I am not. But let us talk about that another time." He winked. "So, did you call Mathilda? How is it going?" He asked.

"Oh yes, we finalized deals with Lowell Lightings. They have agreed to give us 10% discount and all. It is a really good deal and I am glad it all worked out."

"Whoa! Who did you talk with?"

"Rose Lowell. She is amazing and nice. She saw one look at my proposal and she was all for it. She gave the discounts all on her own, too. It was awesome doing business with her."

"No, she is not at all nice." He said as he shook his head. "Are we talking about same Rose Lowell? Tall, redhead, and strict like a Math teacher?"

Alex nodded. "She looked strict, but it is not arrogance. It is strength."

"Whatever. Rose Lowell is always trying to rip us apart. She rejected our proposal saying it is too low, when it was just right." He said as he flicked his pen in his hand.

"Maybe she doesn't like you." Alex smirked. "I mean, you are very unlikeable."

"Everybody likes me, Alex." He said as he frowned at her. "What are you talking about?"

"Have you looked at yourself in the mirror? Huh?" She shrugged as she switched on her laptop.

"I have and I can see why you like me very much."

"Wow. Your head is bigger than a blue whale." She chuckled as he took a bite of his lasagne and gave her a smoky look. "Don't do that!" She giggled.

"What?"

"You- God, just stop."

"What? I am trying to be sexy." He tilted his head and gave her a look that made him look like he had just eaten something very sour.

"That wasn't sexy. That was scary." She laughed as he shook his head.

"Brat." He said. "So what were you whispering with my sisters?"

"Ah, this and that. Emma and Eliza are bringing me to buy a dress tomorrow and bouquet." She said. "El's friend own the most amazing bouquet shop in the whole city, according to El. Emma says it is just bleh." Alex shook her head.

"No, you aren't going anywhere with them to buy a dress. Not alone. I am coming with you."

"No. You are not. Remember you have a meeting at ten. And then a site search."

"Oh, yes, thanks for reminding me. Then we can go sometime else." He said.

"Nag. Nag. Stop. Emma and Eliza are bringing me and that is that."

"Don't trust them, Alex. They will make you wear an unicorn onesie and make you believe it is a tux."

"When did they do that to you?" She laughed as his contorted face.

"When did I say it is about me?"

"I saw that constipated look on your face, Logan and it only meant one thing." She laughed as she searched through furniture catalogues for Mathilda's house. He grunted next to her.

"Okay, okay. It was when I was too young to realize they were pranking me. I was at a tender age of seven and I had a crush on this girl and Eliza and Emma convinced me to wear that, because it makes me look handsome and strong and the rest... I still regretted that day."

She laughed. "Do they have a picture? God, they have, don't they? I am messaging Em right now."

"No, don't do that."

"What? Messaging? I already did." She said.

"Not that. You, brat, you are imagining me in an unicorn onesie, now and it doesn't suit my manly appearance." He winked at her and she laughed as she swatted at him.

"But it does. You look adorable, dork."

"I am not a dork."

"You are."

"Brat."

"Onesie-Patootsie."

"Haha. Very funny."

"Yes. It is." She laughed and as she looked at him, she prayed that he would always find a way to laugh.

Maybe she wouldn't. But she was enjoying every moment with him and she wasn't going to let her own thoughts put a damp on them.

They might be friends. Might one day become friends with benefits. Might one day become nothing.

But now he was here. She was here. And that was all it mattered.

~~~

(Logan)

Logan was here, but he wasn't really here. It was true that he didn't like shopping. He never liked it. Sometimes Emma and Eliza would bully him into going with them and he had always hated how much time they would take to buy two tank tops and then keep arguing about how it was totally wrong.

But today he wanted to be there with Alex, he wanted to see how she would look in the dress and damn, was he distracted!

And Tom wasn't Tom, if he didn't give him shit for that.

"You know boss, you look like someone has just put a bagful of itching powder in your suit. Twitchy. And I wonder why that is!"

"Well Sherlock Holmes, if you are done wondering, I need this contract typed."

"When do you need that?" Tom asked.

"Yesterday." Logan said as he closed the file. Tom shook his head and gave him a look. "What?"

"It is not my fault that you are stuck here, boss. But you have to finish it all if you want to go on your honeymoon. So don't whine."

"You are such a pain in my ass." Logan grunted.

"I am." He looked almost proud to admit that.

"That is not a compliment. And call Amelia in, Mitch McConnell will be coming in here with a revised budget and I want her to be on point."

"Done. Done. She will be. Now boss, I still haven't met the lady boss, you know." He wagged her brows, looking like a clown. "And you asked Daniel to be your best man. He was so wrong for that."

Sometimes Logan wondered if this man was made in a shop instead, but what did he know...

"Lady boss? What the heck, Tom?"

"You are my boss and that makes her--"

"Nothing of that sort to you. God. Where the hell do you dig up these ideas from?"

"From somewhere deep inside."

"We have to give Alice Nobel Prize for putting up with you."

"Whatever you say, boss. But I know you love me." He winked. "And about that best man stuff."

"And Em would kill me if I choose you. You want to fight her?"

"No way. That woman is a menace."

"So Daniel it is."

"So boring it is, boss." Tom sulked.

"Whatever. Now the contract." Logan waved him off as he walked out whistling a tune and Logan shook his head with a smile.

His phone rang. He shrunk his eyes as he answered the phone.

"What?"

"Hello to you too, Logan."

"What do you want Leo?"

"I heard you are getting married. I haven't received an invite, you know."

"I am not sending you any. Now if that is it, I am hanging up."

"I am coming, anyways. Alex invited me."

"Why in the world would she invite you?"

"Ask her. We have this-how do I say it, a connection. And it is all wonderful. It is so bad she is marrying you."

"You called me to taunt me into a fight with you, don't you?"

"Yeah, can't sleep at night without that. Tata." He hung up, leaving Logan gritting his teeth.

"Tom, where the hell is that contract?"

"Who is on the phone?"

"No one. We are going out right now."

"Where?"

"Just come." He said as he dialled Alex number. She picked up in the second ring. He heard giggling and shouting in the background.

"Where are you?"

"In a cake shop? Want to come?"

"Dress and bouquet?"

"Done."

"Did you like them?"

"They are beautiful. So will you be here? I can wait."

"Ok, I am coming. Wait, who the hell is that? Is that Leo?"

"Yeah. We went to Mathilda's house to iron some minor problems with the project and Leo said he had a Baker friend who bakes world's best cakes. So he brought us here. It is a nice place. Warm and cozy."

"Stay right there. I will be in a minute."

"Logan, don't drive fast." She said and he heard her giggling to something someone said. "Em, ask him to stop. Leo, you are going to--" She stopped. "Oh hey, bye Logan." She said as she hung up.

"Tom, damn, the contract? Now." As Tom handed, he quickly checked it and signed. "Mail it to Courtney. I an all done for the day."

"Boss, Hansen called."

"Tell him I will call him tomorrow. Now I don't have time."

"Where are you off to in such a hurry, boss?"

"Cake tasting."

"Cake tasting?" Tom looked bewildered.

"Yes. So?"

"Nothing, boss. You should go, before they finish all your cakes."

"Yeah, very funny. Bye."

"Adieu."

~~~

(Alexandra)

"You keep looking at the door." Emma asked as she took a bite of the macadamia nut cake. "Good. But..." She shrunk her nose. "Not good enough."

"Logan said he would come." Alex said as she took a bite of the coffee cake. She liked it.

"Aww. So sweet." Leo cooed. "Isn't it so cute?"

"He is high on sugar." Eliza said as she grabbed the plate in front of him. "None for you. We still haven't officially started it and you are already looking loopy."

"Why are you marrying him, Alex?" Leo asked with a pout. "I am way more handsome than him."

"Yeah?"

Alex smiled when she heard Logan.

"Tell that to the poor mirror that committed suicide." He said as he say next to Alex. "Hello sisters. And you."

"And you." Leo mocked, making a face.

"So, have you decided?" He looked at her and she nodded.

"No. But I am thinking chocolate and coffee."

He leaned closer to her and whispered a no.

"Why not?"

"And then you will become high on sugar and begin to say things like impotence, intercourse, and geeling freat. No way in hell you are saying those in our wedding."

Her face heated as she glared at him.

"Ssh." She shushed him and he laughed.

"They are way past caring." He said looking at the trio.

They were.

Leo and Emma were already singing pat-a-cake pat-a-cake Baker man, and Eliza was half snoring.

"You jerk... You promised to not talk about that."

"But you look so beautiful when you blush."

"Shut up." She whispered.

"You wanna make me?"

"Annoying." She said as she pushed a spoonful of cake into his mouth and laughed as he blubbered and shook his head.

"There is cream there." He said once he finished eating.

"Where?"

"Right here." He said as he wiped the cream away from the cake in front of him before he smeared it on her nose.

"You just didn't do that." She glared at him.

"I did. I can help clean it up, too." He looked at her and smiled.

"What are you thinking?"

He smiled. "Dirty girl." He laughed.

"Guys, stop eating each other by your eyes and start eating the cake." Emma said. She was finally done with singing rhymes. And so was Leo. But his eyes we're still bright as he took a bite of his cake and moaned. He did.

Emma shook her head and Alex chuckled.

"What? This is cake-gasmic." He defended. "Hey, Alex, here eat this." Leo put the fork in front of her. "It is heavenly. You should definitely go with this."

She took a bite and nodded. "It is." She almost moaned, but she controlled herself.

"Almond butter cake. Simply amazing. We can add elegant decor and this will be the winner." Emma said as the man who owned the bakery came out.

"Kale, my man, it is your traditional Almond butter cake. Can you show us some design." He showed them some and Alex loved the one with four tiers and roses, with white cream. It was beautiful. It made her mouth water just thinking about it.

"What do you think?" Alex turned to look at Logan and found him glaring at the fork in Leo's hand. He looked angry. Dangerous.

She leaned closer to him. "What?"

"Nothing. You like that?"

"Chocolate or this."

"It is fixed, then. Come on let us go home." He said as he pulled her up.

"Yes. Home. I am tired." She said as she turned to three goofy looking faces.

"Enjoy." They said and Alex blushed a bright red.

"Get your minds out of the gutter, guys."

"Naughty girl, Alex. It looked like your mind is the one that is drowning in the gutter."

"Bye." She gritted and as they laughed, she walked out, a smile on her lips, only to be stopped by Logan.

"Don't get too close to him. Okay?" His voice was edgy as he opened the door for her.

"What?"

"You heard me."

___

Me: Logan? Stop being an ass.

Alex: When has he ever stopped being that?

Logan: I hate Leo Shine.

Alex: He is my friend.

Me: it is not wrong to be his friend. It is Alex' choice.

Logan: How long do you know him?

Alex: Shut up, Logan. Why are you always gearing up for a fight?

Logan: I don't know. Maybe because you look too cozy with him and I don't like--

Me: *Sneaking away* God. These two are unbelievable.

___

Hi guys. So as I was searching for Alex and Logan's wedding idea, I stumbled across my Logan and Alex.

Tell me what you think... (Are they perfect or what? 😍😍)