"What the hell were you thinking?" I roll my eyes as my brother starts pacing the room. "I mean, bloody hell, Mark. You booked the whole restaurant! I don't know who are you trying to impress but we can't afford this kind of stunts!" He runs a hand through his hair.

He's got a few gray hairs now and I've been teasing him about them for a while. "I've been working really hard to lower our budget, without trying to disturb our lifestyle, and you do this. And now, of course, the whole press is talking about it!"

I purse my lips. I hate the fact that the press in on my toes. I want to keep things quiet with Kate, but it seems like that's gonna be another challenge. Tired of seeing my brother pulling his hair out, I breathe out. "I'm sorry, okay? It's not like I took her to Paris for the weekend or something!" That shuts him up.

He takes a seat. He looks tense as he gazes out the window. "Times have changed."

I smirk. "Careful Scott, you're sounding like our father."

He glances at me with a serious face. "Well, someone has to be the grown up, Mark."

"I said I'm sorry." Geesh. It's not like I'm such a bad person.

His eyes narrow for a second before he starts blinking. "Who are you trying to impress? I'm surprised at the fact that you're not flaunting her around."

I cross my arms. "I don't flaunt girls. You're making me sound like a man-whore." Scott raises an eyebrow. "I'm not," my lips quirk up, "that cynical."

My brother shakes his head, but a small grin plays on his face. "You must really like this girl, then."

Uncrossing my arms, I shrug. "Sort of."

Scott stares at me for a moment before his eyes widen. "Holy shit! It's Kate, isn't it?"

My shoulders slump. "And she's not impressed!" Scott cracks up. "It's not even funny." I show him the finger and he laughs harder, bumping a fist against his desk. I rub my brow, feeling a headache coming soon.

When he calms down, he chuckles lightly. "She wasn't impressed at all? I mean, not even a little?"

I shake my head. "She friend-zoned me."

He bursts laughing once more. I clench my jaw until he finishes. "I'm not sorry, Mark." I roll my eyes. "She's gonna make you pay for every little thing you've done."

I know.

Bloody hell. Why do I want to go out with her in the first place?

"Fuck you." I glare at him as he tries not to laugh anymore.

He's still coughing as he adds, "sucks to be you, man."

Tell me about it. 

It's been a week since I saw Mark. Not that I'm counting. It just dawns on me as I take a break from the advice column and I have some free wandering time to ramble through my mind. I got my new laptop yesterday and I'm avoiding to google him. However, my hands are itching to. 

Damn it. 

I don't even like the guy. 

Like, for real. He's a douchebag most of the time.

He does have his moments. They're scarce but man...they're sweet.

And it's disturbing. Like right now. Why am I thinking of him?

I scroll through my emails and find the little bantering I had yesterday with the Enthusiastic Devotee. I had to give it to him. He was fun to chat with, but I wasn't stupid. He could be a weirdo for all I knew.

Sighing, I start to type my answers to a girl who just found out that her boyfriend was cheating on her. Seeing so many failed relationships makes it hard to believe in them anymore. Especially after Scott, Hugh's cousins. Hugh is a doll, though. He never mentions him, but I know that they are close. I know Scott. We were together for two years. I snort at that. Correction, I thought I knew Scott. He surprised me when he broke up with me. 

My chest tightens. The last I heard of him is that he's happily married.

My eyes slid to my hands. I'd dreamed of having a ring on them by now.

I start tapping against the desk. I glance at the phone to my right and I try to fight the sudden urge to call Mark. He's an idiot, but I enjoy his company. Too much, maybe. Yet, I know we're just friends. I mean, the fact that he doesn't want to show me around like all the girls he flaunts, is a clear indicator.

And you can call your friends.

I bit my lip after I exhale.

He's probably busy. He's likely going out with one of his usual bimbos.

Oh my Gosh. Stop thinking about him.

I reach out for the phone and dial my mom's number before I end up calling him. The phone beeps four times and I'm about to hang up when she picks up. "Kate, honey! Are you okay?"

Leaning back in my chair, I suppress a smile. "Hi, Mom. Why wouldn't I be?"

"I don't know. You never call at this hour."

I glance at the clock. It's almost six. Time to get out of the office, at least. "I'm fine. I just wanted to know how you are doing."

"I'm actually busy, sweetie. It's Bingo night, remember?" I nod to myself. My mom has a socially active life, unlike me. She owns a pub in a little town three hours away from London, and she recently came up with the idea of making a games night. Apparently, it's quite a success.

"Sorry, I forgot about it. Have fun, Mom."

"I'll call you tomorrow!" she says before hanging up, but I hear the ruckus on the background.

A soft smile plays on my face. Maybe I should go visit her soon. We were always close and even though we talked regularly, I missed her. 

For once, I clean up my desk. Everything looks organized twenty minutes later, and I'm still bored. 

For fuck's sake.

I grab the phone and dial Mark's number. The phone rings once. My pulse accelerates and I cringe before I hang up. 

Resigned to binge on Netflix once more, I grab my jacket and close the office. The building is almost empty. It's Friday, after all. Everyone else does have a life.

As I make my way out of the building, I decide to drive to Mom. I mean, even Bingo sounds more interesting than watching TV right now.

When I get home, I pack a few clothes for the weekend. I think about calling Emily, but she's been moody as hell lately, and I need cheering up.

I'm putting away my suitcase in my trunk when I hear a man's voice behind me. "Where are you going?"

My heart leaps to my throat as I turn around. The first thing I notice is the camouflage uniform. Mark's not wearing the usual green beanie on top of his head, but he looks like he had a rough training. His hair is all over the place but his stare is as playful as always.

"You scared the crap out of me!" I place a palm on my chest as he chuckles.

"Sorry." He glances behind me. "Where to?"

I close the trunk quite aware that my heart is still racing. I'm not sure if it's just because he scared me or because he's here. "I was thinking of visiting my mother."

He nods. I try not to swoon at him because that soldier uniform looks good on him. "You called me."

"I did?" I play dumb. "It must have been a mistake, sorry."

Mark raises both eyebrows, almost as if he isn't surprised that I'd say something like that. "Of course."

Trying to deflect the attention from me, I twist it to him. "But wow, you were quick to come," I smirk, while I lean against my car.

He smiles before scratching the back of his neck. "I was close enough."

"Right."

He cracks up. "And anyway, when a friend calls a friend, they usually let the phone ring more than once."

A blush is creeping up my face. "It was an honest mistake." It was. Sort of.

He leans on my car too. "I was thinking of taking the weekend off. Bransbury sounds good to me."

My chest tightens. "What do you mean?" Are you coming too?

"Sounds like fun." He shrugs, standing straighter. "I mean, that's what friends do, right? They spend time together."

I almost choke on my own saliva. Is he a mind reader or what?

"I guess..." I trail uncertain.

Marks smirks. "Awesome. We're just gonna have to stop by my house so I can get clothes. You don't mind if I drive, right?"

It happens so fast. One moment I'm closing the trunk of my car and the next thing I know, Mark grabs the keys from my hands and opens it again to take it my suitcase out. "Okay. Let's go."

His blue eyes are twinkling as he rubs his hands. "This is going to be a friendly weekend."

I blink at him. Did I just agree on passing a whole weekend with him? "The whole point of this is spending time with my mom. And like, you can be around. Wait. Are you going to be around?" Shut up Kate! You're not making any sense!

His chuckle is rough and somehow sends my heart on a frenzy. "I don't want to impose but I'd love to spend time with my friend. Because friends have fun." He steps closer to me and I feel like I'm out of air for a second.

My stomach tightens at the emphasis he puts on the friends part. It shouldn't bother me because it's true. Yet, it does. But I can't deny the fact that the weekend is looking much promising now. Mark's on to something. He is fun to hang out with. And I rather be with him than play Bingo with the town's knitting club. I mean, any sane person would choose the same thing.

Right.

It's a matter of logic.

He rubs his hands after he sits beside me. "This is gonna be so much fun!"

I crack a smile, but I turn to the window. I don't want to show him how excited I really am. 

OMG I'm overwhelmed at your enthusiasm! I love it. Thank you so much. I promise to update again this week to make it up for taking so long  to update :) (and I'm sorry. I have to stop signing up to anthologies. I swear I'm writing all the time!).

Also, I'm not sure about Indiana Evans as Kate. I couldn't find any gifs for her. I think we need someone more popular or something. 

Thank you  xThePineappleGirlx for the awesome cover :) If you like it more than the one I have, let me know and I'll change it. 

Love you guys!