Page 50 of Sack

“Four-thirty. I leave for the airport at two.”

“Sorry I can’t see you before you go.”

“I know you can’t miss practice.”

He was silent for a beat. “Right.”

What did that moment of silence mean?

“Besides, I’ll only be gone a few days. It’s not like I’m leaving to go on sabbatical with Greenpeace.”

His silence stretched longer that time. So long, she filled in the quiet. “Anywho, I better finish packing.”

“Right.”

There was the stupidrightagain. It was beginning to irk her as much as hisnope.

“Text me when you get to the hotel so I know you arrived safely.”

“Will do.”

Another beat of silence. “Have a safe flight.”

Somewhere in that conversation, she should’ve admitted she would miss him. But she figured that was against the fuck buddy TOS. And she didn’t want to cross any lines.

The sun was just starting to set by the time Ivy arrived at the hotel. She was so excited, she couldn’t get out of the cab and grab her suitcases fast enough. She looked forward to the event every year. Not only because of all the fun she would have, but because it was the one time a year she got to see her online friends Crystal, Jessica, and Tina.

They’d all met five years ago on a Star Wars forum and had become fast friends. This was their fourth Con as a group.

“There she is!”

It wasn’t hard to miss her three friends as they jumped up and down in excitement, pointing in Ivy’s direction. Ivy hurried across the lobby as fast as her two weighted suitcases and carry-on would allow, stopping just short of the trio to drop her bags and join them in a group hug.

“It’s so good to see you guys.” Funnily enough, Ivy lived closest to San Diego but was the last one to arrive.

They spent a few minutes talking over one another until Jessica said, “Come on, let’s get your stuff up to the room and get something to eat.”

Sounded good to Ivy. All she’d had were coffee and airplane peanuts all day since she’d been too excited to eat. They made their way up to their rooms. Ivy was sharing with Tina, and Crystal and Jessica where in the room next door with a connecting door that would likely never close.

She was just tossing her suitcases on the bed closest to the window when her phone beeped.

Poodoo. She’d forgotten to text Colt.

Did you arrive okay?

She typed back,Yep. Just got in.

“Who’s that?” Tina asked from over Ivy’s shoulder.

Crystal and Jessica entered the room.

“Oh, um…” What did she say? These women were her closest friends, but she still hesitated to tell them who Colt was to her. “He’s a friend.” There, that was mostly true.

Good. Check in before bed.

Knowing she was being watched she quickly typed backSureand shoved her phone back into her pocket.

All eyes were on her. “Well, I’m starved.” Ivy rubbed her hands together. “Where should we eat?”

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