Attracted To My Sister’s Bestfriend

A Familiar Stranger

Lennox walked outside and walked toward the parking lot to call a cab that would take him home to his parent’s. Leaning against a car, he held his phone, glancing at the screen.

The night was cool, and the city was alive with movement all around him. He just stood there, letting his mind wander, when a voice cut through the noise.

“That bastard… I’m going to beat his ass.”

He looked up just in time to see a woman stumbling toward him, her steps uneven, her voice loud and slurred. “I… what a wicked man, breaking up with me like that.”

She staggered towards him, struggling with the bag she had across her shoulder. He hadn’t really seen her face because she wasn’t close yet, and she was backing the light from the front of the bar, so…

“All men are just the same. I’m done… done with them all, scums.”

He froze, unsure of what was happening, but the voice was unmistakable, full of drunken enthusiasm. He didn’t have time to react before she was close enough to almost bump into him.

Lennox grabbed her shoulder to steady her, turning her slightly to the light see her face now. Oh f**k…

She was gorgeous, even in this state… and she seemed so familiar, but he couldn’t know her. That wasn’t possible. He would never forget her face if he had met her. She had green eyes, ones that looked like he had seen before but he wasn’t sure where.

She had a cute button nose, and her lips… well, he wasn’t even sure how to describe them. They were full, and pink, but maybe it was a lipstick, he couldn’t tell. But her lips were all shiny.

She had her hair in a bun, and… a green line in her hair caught his eyes and he froze again. Wait, he had seen that somewhere… right, at the precinct. She must be that woman.

It couldn’t be a coincidence that he met two women with green highlights in their hair on the same night, and oddly enough, they made him feel a kick in the bottom of his stomach.

She was now staring at him, her eyes blinking, then she continued to talk, slurring her words still. “Don’t touch me, I’m not interested in men, anymore. My asshole boyfriend just broke up with me.”

“Oh, I see. That’s sad.” He said.

“Right? He’s… He, huh…” she slurred so bad he couldn’t even understand her anymore.

She wasn’t wearing that dress he saw on her anymore, and this was slightly less bigger than that one. But still, he couldn’t tell what her shape was like. Maybe she had a thick waist, and big stomach, but he didn’t care right now.

He was more interested in her pretty features, and funny slurred words. She hated that she was out here by herself all drunk though, because he knew people could be cruel, and could take advantage of her.

As if she could read his thought, she said. “Don’t worry. Just go and leave me alone. My friend is coming over. She should be here soon.” As expected, the words were slurred but he heard her all right.

Lennox sighed. “Well, that’s good to hear. I’ll wait here with you until she’s here.” He said.

She looked at him, giving him a skeptical look, then she shrugged, wobbling slightly on her feet. He couldn’t just leave her. Something about her… whether it was her delicate energy or the fire in her eyes, even in her drunken state… made him stayed put.

He stood there in silence, watching her try to balance the strap of her bag, thinking that this was probably the last time he would see her. If she was the woman from the precinct, maybe he would catch a glimpse of her here and there whenever he went to visit Sean.

Or maybe not.

Either way, she didn’t know him, and he didn’t know her. She was just… a moment.

Just as he sighed, he heard the sound of a car pulling up a few feet away. He glanced toward it, wondering if it was his ride. Before he could figure it out as he look back at the woman in his arms, a familiar voice rang out.

“L.J., is that you?”

Lennox looked up so sharply to see Luciana standing there, her eyes wide in surprise. “You’re back?” she asked, looking from him to the woman he was holding.

He opened his mouth to explain, but Lucy beat him to it. Her gaze darted to the woman, and her jaw dropped slightly. “Wait a second. You met Zara first? You didn’t even call your family about your return, but you saw my best friend before us?” she asked.

He frowned, his brain trying to catch up. “Holy s**t, this is Zara?” He blurted.

Lucy rolled her eyes. “Yes, this is Zara. My best friend. You don’t recognize her?” she asked.

Lennox looked at the woman again… at Zara. Memories hit him like a brick. The last time he had seen her, she was eighteen and awkward, with braces and glasses too big for her face. He was fifteen, a punk kid who barely noticed girls unless they were beating him at video games.

Then she had went to live with her grandmother for five years, and came back only after he had left for Paris.

“She doesn’t look anything like she did back then!” He said defensively. “No wonder I didn’t recognize her. I’ve been out of the country for years. Plus, she’s drunk, and I wasn’t exactly studying her face.” He added the last part for a reason he didn’t even understand.

Zara groaned, leaning into him slightly. “Don’t talk about me like I’m not here,” she muttered, though the words were more slurred than coherent.

“Sorry,” he said, trying not to laugh. “She was drunk and alone out here. I was just trying to help her. I didn’t know this was your Zara.”

Lucy snorted, crossing her arms. “My Zara? She’s not a pet, Lennox. And why the hell didn’t you call me or anyone else about your return?”

“It was supposed to be a surprise,” he said, shrugging. “And I just got here today. Sean was supposed to meet me for a drink, but he bailed last minute.”

“Classic busy Sean.” Lucy muttered, shaking her head. Then her face softened as she looked at Zara. “What’s wrong with her?”

He glanced at Zara, who was now humming something incoherent. “I was about to ask you the same thing.”

Lucy sighed. “She called me crying about that asshole boyfriend of hers. Apparently, he dumped her tonight, and she’s been drowning her sorrows ever since. I told her I would come get her. I’m just asking if something else happened in there.” She gestured behind her to the bar there.

“Oh wow.”

“I never like that ass. But Zara thought he walked on water.” Lucy said.

He clenched his hands into fists, wishing he could beat the crap out of whoever the man was, but he said nothing.

“I told her he was a jerk from the beginning. She wouldn’t listen. And now look at her.” Lucy gestured toward Zara, who was now fiddling with the strap of her bag like it was the most fascinating thing in the world.

“Well, she’s lucky you’re here,” he said. “I wasn’t sure what to do with her.”

Lucy raised an eyebrow. “Where were you going to spend the night, anyway?” she asked.

“I don’t know,” Lennox admitted. “I was thinking about heading to Mom and Dad’s, but it’s late.”

“Come to my place,” Lucy said. “It’s closer, and I’m sure Mom and Dad won’t mind waiting until morning to see you.”

He hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “Yeah, that sounds good. Thanks, Lucy.”

She smirked. “Don’t thank me yet. You’re carrying Zara inside when we get there.” She said. Lennox didn’t mind doing that at all, but he groaned like he didn’t want to, and she just shook her head, then she started to walk to Zara's side to help her towards her parked car.

Before they got to the car, Zara turned towards her, yanking herself from Lucy and then she pressed into Lennox, and he couldn’t help but feel her soft body all over him now, only the barrier of their clothes hindering him from feeling the heat of her skin.

He knew right there and then, that he was in trouble.