Hazel.

"So, have any plans for Friday?" Hannah Ford, next to me asked, packing the last one of her belongings in her pearl purse. A gorgeous piece, indeed.

"Uh, no." My phone vibrated, signaling an incoming message.

"How about we have a girl's night out, just you and me?" She wiggled her perfect eyebrows. "It will be fun."

Tempting enough.

Over the last two weeks, I had grown close to Hannah Ford and I discovered she was an amazing person. Friendly to those she deemed fit to be in her circle of friends. At the rate we were moving, some people around the area would consider us Best Friends.

We got lunch and coffee together, and we did not have anything in common, but that did not get in the way of our friendship.

Armani was right, I had become a sucker for coffee in just over two weeks of working in this place. It was as though I couldn't focus without having a coffee for starters.

I got used to the 'usual drill' as Hannah liked to put it. Though tiring, I tried to wake up with new motivation and energy to face the day head-on and work just as hard for my salary. It would be sweet when the money would start coming in.

"That sounds fun." I narrowed my eyes at the broken phone screen. The top part had started turning blue. I needed a new phone.

Two messages popped up, one from my sister and the other one from Steven.

Arvin
*Coming over today, we need that makeover.

Steven 🔐
*Can't stop thinking about you.

With a smile, I turned back to Hannah, who swept her hair away from her shoulders and looked at me as though I were a stranger.

Hannah looked as good as she looked every day. Always.

I still wondered why I was in her friend's circle because I was nothing close to her level of perfection. She wore blazers and nice dresses, inches, and inches of heels while most of the time, I stuck to sneakers and flat shoes. I had graduated from wearing dresses, I only settled for jeans which I'd repeated twice a week if I got too tired to do my laundry.

"Are we going? I can pick you up."

"How about next Friday? My sister's coming over this weekend."

"That's fine. Next Friday it is." She smiled and we made it out of the office.

I hadn't seen much of Armani from the day she said we were done. We no longer had any businesses, so I stayed away from her and I think I had become invisible.

I liked my new world, even when part of it was successfully crumbling to the ground because of the stupid conflicting ideas. Somehow, we managed to get ourselves into a very disturbing entanglement with Steven. We convinced ourselves that it was nothing more, just sex which we had whenever he got the chance to come by. That was like every after two days. That aside, we both couldn't ignore the tiny bits of feelings hanging loosely around us whenever we cuddled after some good, mind-blowing sex.

I was comfortable with this and I wouldn't have it any other way. I couldn't get back to Steven but that did not mean I couldn't steal his body for myself.

"I will see you later." I waved at Hannah as she got into her red sports car. Honestly, I could not figure out why she worked when her life seemed good. She was rich or at least her parents were, that was what she told me. When I asked her why she wouldn't quit, she gave me a whole speech on how passionate she was about being an editor. I guess we all were, even the rich.

"I can drop you home." she smiled. I did not need that.

"Already called my Lyft."

She gave me a thumbs up and drove off, not long after my Lyft showed up. After I settled in, I replied to Arvin's message.

*Can't wait😑. I pressed send and waited a few minutes before a reply rushed in.

*Where's your fun face? We are going to have so much fun, I promise 🥳🥳.

I rolled my eyes and only sent a thumbs up. I knew the next day would be packed with us going out, shopping, and doing whatever she wanted. She'd turn this day into her day when in the actual sense, she was supposed to help me pick new and nicer clothes. I wasn't complaining, I liked to spend my days with Arvin.

Our mother did not like it when she was with me, she said that I'd teach her my weird manners and that wasn't good for her. Arvin would have to lie about this. I'm guessing the excuse would be going to sleep over at her friend's place or whatever teenager's did.

I was only twenty-three and I felt like I hadn't lived my teenage life.

Satisfied with our conversation, I re-read Steven's massage. I swiped to reply;

*Arvin's coming over, do you think we could have a quickie before then?

I giggled and waited impatiently for a reply.

*Now you're talking juicy mama 🤤.

"

We are here ma'am," the driver spoke.

"Of course, thank you." I gave him my card to swipe before I made it inside the warm place I called home. I slipped into a towel, readying myself for what was to come. As soon as I stepped out of the shower, I heard the front door squeak. Someone walked in and my stomach turned because I knew exactly who that was.

"In here!" I shouted from my room.

"There you're," Steven's deep voice echoed in the room before he roared and charged towards me. Throwing us both into my bed.

"Juicy mama." He kissed my lips.

"Yes Papi," I mumbled, removing the only barrier between us, the towel and his clothes.

Time to play wicked games.

##

I'd kill to have an Ex with benefits 🙈😂