Free Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Ann Cory Page A

decade later, the relationship with her parents was still strained. They’d been considerate enough to send her a card when she graduated, but didn’t bother to show up in person. Funny considering they lived the next state over. However hurtful, Tiffany came to realize she didn’t require their approval. She had Marcus and Shane.
    They were good for her confidence and often talked her up on low days. She confided in them about her dreams of the future and often sought their advice. Plus they were devastatingly handsome and possessed intelligence and sharp wit. The total package. If only she could find the courage to convey that she envisioned her future to include them, as more than friends.
    * * * *
    Shane Anderson pumped his arms to keep pace with his friend’s swift stride. The cool morning breeze licked at his face. Since January, they made it a point to get up and jog to stay in shape. Even on the weekends. At first he hated it, much preferring to sleep in, but after a couple months it turned into a habit. Now he used the time to reflect on his week, and try to make sense out of all the weird stuff that filtered into his head. Which nine times out of ten the weird stuff had to do with his quest to understand the female mind.
    “Remember when Billy Crystal said something like men and women can’t be friends?” he blurted out. “I think it was in that movie When Harry Met Sally? ”
    His best mate Marcus Zimmerman nodded beside him. “Sounds familiar. What about it?”
    “I thought the guy was nuts at the time.” He dabbed at his forehead with his sweatshirt sleeve. “I can’t even count how many girls as friends I had back in high school.”
    “I take it you have a different view now?”
    Shane rolled his shoulders. “Sort of. I mean, depending on the situation it can be possible, but as an adult I find it doesn’t work the same way. Especially in an office situation.”
    His friend frowned. “It’s a bad idea to see someone from work.”
    “I know.” Bad ideas didn’t necessarily dissuade him. “Lately, when I start out friends with a woman, it moves right into more, and then turns into a big complicated mess. The only female friends I’ve managed to keep are either engaged or married. Not a single one in the mix. Aside from Tiffany, of course.”
    “Dude, I’m the same way.”
    “Remember that new administrative assistant I told you about the other week?”
    His friend cocked a brow and then grinned. “Ah yes, Monica.”
    Shane winced at the mention of her name. He worried the sky would open up and send down lightning bolts at him. “Yea, Monica, the she-devil in fishnet stockings. Well I made small talk with her a couple times, just to be friendly and make her feel more comfortable.”
    “I can see where this is going.”
    “You’d think, right? I didn’t want to tell you, but it’s killing me not to. About five nights ago she showed up at the door wearing nothing but fishnet stockings and a man’s dinner jacket.”
    Marcus groaned. “Whoa. Where was I?”
    “At a staff meeting.”
    “Damn. Talk about timing.”
    His lips twisted. “Believe me, I considered sending you a text.”
    “Why, to share?”
    “Why do you think?” His words were more of a statement than a question. “So nothing would happen.”
    “Did you at least try to keep things platonic?”
    Shane shot him a look. “Fuck no. Did you hear what I said? She had nothing on but the stockings and a jacket. The raging hard on I got took my brain hostage and turned it into paste. I was helpless.”
    He ignored his friend’s chuckle.
    “You’d have done the same thing in my shoes.”
    Marcus flashed him a wide grin. “Damn straight. But you didn’t stand a chance. She came over with an agenda.”
    “Exactly,” he agreed. “And for three days she followed me around everywhere, and even flirted with me in front of the boss. Finally I took her aside and told her I didn’t want a relationship, and she put some sort