A lot of sex. Sure, they’d started hanging out a bit too, in between the sex, and they were texting, and he was going to her cousin’s wedding but... That was all just because they were also connected through their friends. They weren’t dating. They were just exclusive fuck buddies.

Even in his own head, he knew how stupid he sounded, which was why he didn’t bother saying any of it out loud.

Sure, he liked her more than he used to, now that he spent time with her, but he still didn’t think they would work. Not long-term. It was best not to get anyone’s expectations up. Including his own. Eventually whatever this insane attraction was between them would have to die down and then they’d probably go back to bothering each other the way they had before.

“Yeah, that’s the other thing,” Patrick drawled, interrupting Jake’s inner excuse train. “You are not a fuck-buddy type person. In fact, I can’t remember you ever having a fuck-buddy before, because you’re not very good at casual. As evidenced by the fact that you don’t want your fuck buddy going to a wedding with someone else.”

Jake scowled, knowing his best friend had a point.

Dammit, he was getting attached to Sharon. Despite the fact that she wasn’t his type. Despite the fact that she annoyed and entertained him in equal measure - and sometimes for the same reason. Despite the fact that they’d agreed to keep things casual.

Well, that wasn’t good.

Although... She hadn’t seemed unhappy about him demanding to be her wedding date. A little unhappy that he’d done so in front all of their friends, but it wasn’t like he’d had a choice since she’d been about to ask her ex.

Maybe he could think of the next couple weeks as a trial run. Patrick and Lexie’s engagement party was next weekend; Sharon would be there. He could see what his parents made of her without introducing her as his girlfriend, since she wasn’t. And then he’d meet her family the week after that, as her date but not her boyfriend.

Patrick was right, she wasn’t his usual... Maybe that was why he found her so addictive. Maybe in a couple of weeks, after doing the more mundane relationship type things and no longer hiding it from their friends, it wouldn’t be as much fun for either of them. The newness would wear off and so would the thrill of sneaking around.

Pounding at the door had both of them looking up, Jake turning half around and frowning. He looked back at Patrick. “Did you invite someone along with you?”

Patrick shook his head, looking as perplexed as Jake.

“Open up, Jake, I know you’re in there.” The voice was muffled by the door, but completely recognizable.