Friends

Chapter 15

Marc's POV:

"Bro, I think Jasmine tried to fuck me last night," I tell Jaylin while on my way to work the next day.

"What do you mean 'tried to fuck you'?" he asks, his confusion obvious.

"We were sitting on the couch, and I... Well, I was already hard. Then she started doing that subtle move—you know, the infamous 'butt scoot' thing that women do," I explain, leaning into the memory.

"Get the fuck out! Really??" Jaylin's voice is filled with disbelief.

"I'm being deadass. We even ended up play fighting, and I swear, man, she was giving me those unmistakable 'fuck me' eyes," I reply, feeling the excitement all over again as I think about it.

"Please tell me you didn't do it, Marc," Jaylin says, and just like that, my excitement fizzles.

"I mean, I didn't, but why shouldn't I have done it?" I ask, feeling a little letdown. I expected him to share my excitement, not shut it down.

"Bro, she just got out of a four-year situation that was extremely toxic. And before she even apologized last night, she made it pretty clear she's still got her own issues to work through," Jaylin explains. "She needs time to heal, man."

"But that's the thing, she told me she was going to therapy," I argue, hoping that might make him ease up a bit.

"Has she actually started going yet?"

"No, she hasn't," I admit.

"If you just wanna fuck her, then, yeah, go ahead and fuck her. But I know you, Marc. I know how you feel about her. You want more than just a hookup. Having sex with her right now will only leave you hurting in the end. Just be there for her; talk to her. It's actually a good sign that she tried to fuck you, that means you're not stuck in the friend zone. But right now, she needs support, not romance. Focus on being there for her emotionally and mentally," Jaylin advises. He's making a lot of sense, though it's hard to accept. Part of me loved knowing she was finally showing interest; it felt like my feelings weren't one-sided. But maybe he's right. Maybe I need to be patient.

"What if she develops feelings for another guy?" I ask, the thought stirring up a creeping sense of fear.

"If her therapist is doing their job—and if she's actually listening to them—she won't just bounce from one relationship to the next," Jaylin assures me, his tone steady.

"Should I tell her that I like her but I want to take things slow?" I ask, searching for some way to express my feelings without overwhelming her.

"No, that's not smart."

"Why not?" I feel another wave of disappointment washing over me.

"She's dealing with enough as it is," Jaylin explains. "Don't add to her stress. She needs to focus on her own healing and growth—not on guys or romance." His words hit me with a sobering clarity.

"So basically, what I need to do is be her best friend that flirts with her," I say, settling on a middle ground that feels safe for now.

"Exactly," Jaylin replies, a hint of a laugh in his voice.

"Bro, I'm going to be honest. She's the hottest woman on the planet. I don't know if I'm going to be able to resist her like that again," I confess, feeling the frustration simmer beneath my calm.

"As a man, you should be able to give up temporary pleasure and instant gratification if you want something real—a future that actually means something," Jaylin hits me with another dose of his wisdom.

"You're right," I admit with a sigh.

"Now, you said she was putting her ass on it?" he says, his tone shifting to match my excitement.

"Yes, bro, she was literally grinding on my dick," I tell him, feeling my excitement come back.

"That's insane."

"But honestly, it's not just about how sexy she is. Last night, for the first time, we really talked. I saw her as a whole person—with all her flaws and everything. I've spent the last year just watching her from a distance, but now... now I'm really seeing her. And she's even more incredible than I imagined. So what should be my next move?"