Friends With Benefits by Kelly Jamieson Page B

other,” Kerri said in a small voice. “We like to tease each other.”
    “There’s teasing and then there’s tormenting. I don’t get it. What’s going on?”
    They were both silent, again glancing at each other.
    “Nothing,” Mitch said finally. “Kerri, I think Sela and your parents are trying to get your attention.”
    She looked across the room where they beckoned her over. “Excuse me.” She flashed an apologetic smile at Jack then separated from the group and went over to talk to their parents.
    Hailey and Miguel also excused themselves.
    “Wow,” Jack said under his breath as he and Mitch both watched Kerri walk away, the straps criss-crossing her smooth bare back, hips swaying under the filmy black skirt. “She’s hot. She single?”
    She’d kill him, but… “She is, but she’s kind of flaky,” he told Jack. “Not your type at all.”

Chapter Twelve
    Hailey caught up to Kerri and grabbed her arm.
    “Like, what is the deal with you and Mitch?” she challenged Kerri. “You guys are our friends. Everybody noticed you two going at each other last night.”
    Kerri swallowed, her throat tight. “It’s complicated,” she whispered.
    Hailey nodded, slowly released her arm but gave her hand a squeeze. “Okay. But if you want to talk about it at all, I’m here.”
    Kerri just nodded. She couldn’t talk about this. She didn’t even understand herself what was going on. That kiss had messed everything up, and much as she tried to pretend it had never happened, everything was different now. It was like seeing things through different eyes.
    She looked around and found Mitch across the room still talking to Jack, but watching her. Her tummy did a little flip and she slowly turned and went over to her parents where Sela had joined them.
    “Hi, Kerri.” Her dad gave her a brief hug. “We were just telling Sela what a great party this is. The place looks awesome.” He smiled at his eldest daughter. “You’ve done a great job, honey.”
    A corner of Kerri’s mouth turned down. Yeah, Sela had done a great job. The few things she’d allowed Kerri to help with were insignificant. The fact that Kerri, too, had a successful business was once again overlooked. She forced a smile as Kerri’s two teenage daughters joined them, looking startlingly grown up in their fancy dresses and makeup.
    “You two look very sophisticated tonight,” she told them, giving them big hugs, which they returned. “Are you enjoying the party?”
    “It’s cool, Aunt Kerri! And I love your yoga studio,” Claire said.
    “Thank you.”
    Sela’s husband, Doug, appeared and put his arm around his wife.
    “I don’t know how you do it,” he told her admiringly. Sela smiled happily and reached out to smooth a lock of hair off her younger daughter’s cheek.
    Sela’s daughter Jasmine snorted. “Dad! Last night you told her she was a controlling b—”
    “Oh, Jasmine, never mind that.” Sela said with a light laugh. “Why don’t you and Claire go find your brother?”
    “But…” Jasmine started to protest, but Sela was shepherding everyone across the room for an impromptu tour.
    Kerri watched them all disappear, left alone. She could have gone with them, but all the fun had been sucked out of the evening. She sighed. Much as she wished she could just leave, she was stuck there for the duration. Time for another glass of wine.
    As she waited for her drink, Mitch appeared beside her. He leaned his elbows on the bar, beer bottle clasped between his hands, head bowed.
    “Are you having fun?” he asked.
    “No.”
    “Me neither.” He looked at her. “I hate this, Kerri.”
    Her heart tightened painfully. “Me, too,” she whispered.
    “What do I have to do to fix things? Just tell me.”
    She tilted her head up to look at him, and laughed humorlessly. “Hell if I know.”
    He put an arm around her, hand on her waist, and pulled her closer to his side.
    She tried to pull away. “I don’t think this is going