Free Friends With Benefits by Alaina Marks

Chapter 1 “What do you mean I can’t move in?” Brandi screamed into her cell phone. “He rented the apartment to his cousin? But I already gave you a deposit! I already gave my notice—I have to be out of my apartment!” Brandi paced the floor. Are you serious?

“I can’t believe this!” She wiped the tears with the back of her hand. “Yes….yes, I can meet you tomorrow. Just text me where to meet you and what time I should be there. I know you’re sorry. It’s not your fault... Thanks. Bye.”

Brandi pressed the end button on her cell phone. How could this be happening right now? A sharp pain shot through her left temple. She flopped down on her couch and closed her eyes. This definitely called for a glass of wine. Brandi dragged her feet into the kitchen. She poured a glass of her favorite wine, Moscato. She filled the wine glass to the brim and quickly gulped it down. She poured another glass full. She turned to put the bottle back into the fridge. She paused for a few seconds. She kicked the fridge closed with her foot, walked into the living room with the wine bottle in one hand and her glass in the other.

She sat down on the couch, indian style. She sipped on her wine as she reflected on how she got to this point. She had moved to New York from Atlanta, Georgia, five years ago, with the hopes of starting a brand new life. She was born and raised in Georgia and just wanted a change of scenery. New York did not live up to her expectations of living life in luxury. She found herself working at a job that she loved but she could definitely use a salary boost. She’d been living on her own for the past five years, which was an accomplishment in itself in New York City, but at what cost? She had no savings, high rent, and a major need to get away from the city.

A month and a half ago, Brandi decided not to resign her lease. She made up her mind that she was tired of living just to pay rent. She wanted to start saving for a house and to be able to travel more with her girlfriends. She had not been on a girl’s trip, or any trip for that matter, since moving to New York.

On top of letting her apartment go, Brandi also let her fourteen month relationship with Jason go. It had been about a month since she ended things with him. It was very dramatic and she definitely put in more than she got out. Sometimes you just got fed up with being taken advantage of and Brandi had reached her breaking point. She made a vow to herself to take a year off from dating. She was done with men…for now.

Brandi was determined to take back control of her life; focus on her needs for once. She was twenty-seven, beautiful, educated, and deserving of living the best life possible. Her first step toward that goal was releasing things that she felt were holding her back: an overpriced apartment and a one-sided, dead-end relationship, hence the reason she was now single and looking for a roommate situation. In two weeks Brandi had to be out of her apartment. There was only one problem….she had no idea where she was going to go. ~oOo~ Neal walked through the door a little after one in the morning. Being the CEO of one of the top architectural firms in New York City had its perks but it also kept him on the road more than at home. Normally when he returned home from his business trips, Yoanna was there to greet him. She would give him a massage, a nice glass of wine and some sweet love making, welcoming him home. This time, the only thing that greeted Neal was the humidity that filled the room. Neal left his suitcase by the front door, walked over to the thermostat and turned on the central air to get some much needed circulation going. He grabbed a Heineken out the fridge, popped the top with the mini bottle opener on his key chain, kicked off his black Stacy Adams, and sank comfortably on his leather, brown sofa he’d purchased recently from Jennifer Convertibles.

“Home sweet home.” He raised his beer in the air, toasting an