"Just when I had you off my head…your voice comes thrashing wildly through my quiet bed…why you wanna break my heart again…why am I gonna let you try…when all we ever do is say goodbye…"

"What time is your flight?"

Stephanie glanced over her shoulder as she fiddled with the buttons of her blouse. The soft satin material easily glided along her sweaty hands. The digital clock on his nightstand read 4:57 in luminous green. It was so bright it made her eyes squint. "Seven."

Paul absently scratched his bare abdomen. His eyes followed her every movement, watching as she walked from the edge of the bed in search of her panties. If he looked away just before she bent over it would be better for both of them. But he couldn't. He watched shamelessly, letting his eyes run over her backside as she scooped the lacy garment off his bedroom floor. Far too quickly she was covered up in the tight charcoal skirt he had been so desperate to get off.

This was new for him. Usually he was the one picking his clothes up off the floor. Stephanie didn't frequent Boston that often but he had business in New York every now and then. And every time he did she was the first person he called. This time she was in his neck of the woods for a quick business trip and the inevitable happened. He tried to ignore the fact that she didn't actually tell him she was coming. It had been Shane who let slip that she would be visiting on business. When he questioned her about it she played it off, acting like she just never got around to telling him but Paul knew better. He knew her. This little game of theirs had been going on for too long, they had known each other for too long, and he saw right through her.

"I'll be in New York in a couple of weeks."

Paul sat up against the headboard, his legs shuffling under the messy navy sheets. Why was she being like this? A few hours ago he couldn't get her off him and now she could barely look his direction. "Steph?"

She took a deep breath and momentarily closed her eyes. Every time this happened it was harder and harder to say goodbye. It always started out playful, flirty. Then it got heated and heavy with desire until it reached the point of desperation. Nobody ever fucked her like he did. It's why they always went running to each other the second either of them were within touching distance. In the beginning it was just incredible sex. The more it happened the more she realized that maybe it was more than that. They barely lasted two drinks these days before mauling each other in the back of a cab on the way to a bedroom. But she dare not think about it because deep down she wasn't ready to admit to herself what it meant.

Her body shivered at the feel of his warm fingers running along her arm. She could feel him moving behind her, feel the heat of his body as he kneeled behind her on the bed. "Yeah?" she whispered in spite of herself.

"I'm coming to New York in a couple of weeks." Paul chewed on his lip for a moment. She hadn't even left yet and he already missed her. Fuck.

Stephanie's eyes glanced at the clock once more and she finally found the resolve she needed. If she didn't hurry up and get the hell out of there she would miss her flight and end up back in his bed. With a falseness that surprised her, she quickly turned around and gave him all the makings of a flirty, seductive smirk. "I look forward to it. You have my number Paul and I know you're not afraid to use it."

He simply stared at her. Unsure what to make of her sudden chirpy attitude. But there was no point making something out of nothing, especially when she was about to walk out the door. With a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, he nodded his head and let go of her arm. "I'll give you a call a few days out."

She had no time to react to the lingering kiss he laid on her, not that she minded. Her inability to resist his lips was the reason they were in this mess in the first place. It didn't matter that he was in Boston and she in New York. She just had to have him. It was as simple as that…at least that's what she told herself.

"Thanks for tonight. You sure know how to show a lady a good time."

Her tone was light and playful and Paul could only watch as she straightened herself up and tapped at her phone. It buzzed signaling her Uber cab was on its way. "You want me to walk you down?"

"I'll be fine. It'll be here in two minutes anyway. Go back to bed." She grabbed his chin and promptly pie faced him backwards, admittedly enjoying the view of his still naked body entangled in the sheets.

Paul grinned and offered a wink. It seemed neither of them were willing to let things get overly serious between them. Maybe it was better this way. "Have a good flight. Let me know you make it. And tell your dumbass brother I'll be seeing him soon."

Her soft laughter carried through the apartment until the door quietly slammed shut. There was deadly silence as he flopped back into the pillows and grasped his head with both hands. What the fuck was wrong with him anyway? They had gone through this routine a million times. Why was tonight any different? 'Because you miss her' the little voice in the back of his head chimed in but Paul quickly pushed it away.

No.

It was just sex. Not-so casual sex between two long time friends who enjoyed the others company between the sheets. He was best friends with her brother for fuck sake. It couldn't be anything else. But if there was nothing to it then why did it create an ache in his chest every time they said goodbye? With a frustrated sigh, Paul punched the pillow and tried to push all thoughts of Stephanie McMahon out of his head.

New York City - 6 Months Later

"I still can't believe this is really happening."

"What? You didn't think your brother would ever get married?"

"No…I never thought you'd trick Marissa into saying yes."

Marissa laughed as her soon to be husband grabbed his sister and playfully pulled her into a headlock.

"Shane! SHANE! Let me go….you're ruining my hair! Let…GO!"

"Alright! Shit, you didn't have to bite me Steph! Fuck."

Stephanie glared at her brother and made an attempt to fix her mussed up hair. "It took me almost an hour to get my hair like this."

"Stephanie's right," Marissa interjected. The two women had sat together while getting pampered and beautified for the rehearsal dinner. "If you tried that on me right now you'd lose your hands."

"Alright, alright! No headlocks…at least not today."

"Not ever," Stephanie corrected. She wasn't really annoyed but he didn't have to know that. Besides, tonight was the rehearsal dinner and after that it was all systems go. These were her few remaining hours to be a jerk to him before he could claim his wedding as a reason for everybody to be nice. His big brown eyes met hers and they both laughed.

No matter how old they got Shane hoped he never lost the playful relationship he had with his sister. It made him burst with happiness to see Stephanie and Marissa share a similar relationship. After all, by the end of the week they were going to be family. He playfully bumped Stephanie's shoulder and let his eyes travel across the grand ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria. It was empty for now, except for the staff busy running around making the finishing touches. In a few hours the place would be packed with their closest family and friends. He couldn't wait. After tonight the next time they came here would be as man and wife.

A small commotion at the double doored entry way caused three sets of eyes to turn and look in confusion. Shane quickly got to his feet and walked across from his seated position on the stage, fully prepared to tell whoever it was to go to hell when his face broke into a massive grin. "Paul! Holy shit man, you made it!"

"Told you I knew the groom!" Paul couldn't resist a parting shot to the rude staff member who refused to let him in. But he quickly ignored the guy to embrace his friend. "And I told you I was coming. Did you really think I'd miss your wedding?"

"You know better, asshole."

Paul grinned. "So where is the lovely Marissa….ah….there she is….and look who's with her." He tried to keep his eyes on the bride to be but it was hopeless. The second he saw Stephanie sitting there he was gone. She smiled at him, that wicked little smile she only ever seemed to use with him. Before he had a chance to react Shane grabbed his arm tightly.

"Play nice."

"I always play nice with Steph."

"That's the problem," Shane muttered to himself as his best friend walked on to greet his fiancee and sister. He loved them both dearly, loved their company both separately and together. But with the latter…they were trouble. He didn't know what one was the match and what one the gasoline, he just knew that every time they were around each other, there was fire. Best friend and sister or not, all he could do was hope that their bullshit cat and mouse game wouldn't ruin his wedding.

Credit to John Mayer for the lyrics and title.