Page 17 of Just One Season
“Well, sis, you should come visit, because I’m sure that could be arranged.” I groan and cross the room to my desk chair.
“Was Atticus there?”
“Thankfully, I didn’t see him. Why? Do you want to see his ass?”
“Gross, no, he’s your little brother. I still think about him puking in the bushes outside of our dorm.”
I laugh at the memory. “He made quite an impression on you and January from the first moment.”
“Sure did. Remember how he’d follow us around to parties when he was a freshman?”
“God, he was the worst.” My heartbeat slows down, and I slump in my chair. “Oh. RaleighDurham.” I emphasize the nickname January and I gave her during college. January has one too—Janny—and they gave me Lulu.
“What?” She huffs.
“I see what you did there.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Distracted me.”
“Did it work?”
“Yes, but I still want to hide under this desk for the rest of my life.” But I’m smiling now. Talking to Raleigh and January always makes things better.
“I’m sure it wasn’t that bad. But seriously, I’m coming to visit as soon as this divorce is final. As a celebration.”
“Yes! That would be amazing.”
“What do you think about around New Year’s Eve?”
“Really? Perfect.” I need my old college roommates. Who knows what other messes I’ll make while in Colorado?
“And I think January is planning on being in the US for the holidays, so she said she might be able to come too.”
I sink down into my chair and shut my eyes. Seeing them is exactly what I need. Raleigh and January are my best friends, and even though we haven’t lived in the same place since college graduation over a decade ago, we’ve stayed close.
Raleigh gives me the latest details on her (second) divorce, which is almost final. She’s been back in her hometown in Connecticut since college and has had two rough marriages.
January is the wild one of our trio. She wanders the world. Paris, Sydney, Bangkok, and London, her current location. I can’t even remember when she’s been in one location for her freelance consulting job for longer than six months.
I was the one who settled a few hours from JMU in Washington D.C., back home where I grew up. I didn’t think I’d ever leave.
I try to be a good listener to my old friend, but my mind is stuck on the way Kellen’s biceps rippled when he crossed his arms on his bare chest.
My phone buzzes, and I look down at a text from Atticus.
Atticus
What on earth did you do??
I will never live this down.
CHAPTER 6
Just Be Nice
KELLEN
