Page 1 of Just Friends
1
Piper
As soon as Jax got the call, I jumped in my Jeep and raced to our friends’ house to share the breaking news. Stopped at a red light, I looked west to the Rockies. The sun met the mountains, a blueberry haze beneath a peach sky.
I’ll miss the view,I thought.
I stomped on the gas when the light turned green. Theicy winter frost seeped through the Wrangler’s soft top like a breeze in a drafty old house.
Won’t miss the cold, though!
I whipped into the Bradfords’ driveway and stomped on the brakes, the tires chirping to a halt. I hopped out, ran to the front door, rang the bell and banged my fist against the door until it finally cracked open a wary inch.
Once Camille saw it was me, she yanked the door wide open. “Piper! What is it?”
“Jax got traded,” I blurted out.
“What?” She gasped and her jaw unhinged. “When?!”
“Just a few minutes ago,” I panted.
“Oh, no!”
A deep voice boomed from another part of their giant house. “What’s going on, honey?” Beau, her husband, yelled.
“It’s Piper!” Camille yelled back. “She says Jax just got traded!”
“WHAT? We tradedJAX?!” Somewhere in that house, theathlete slammed his fistagainsta tabletop. “AW, HELL!”
Camille waved me into her beautiful home. “Get in. It’s freezing out.”
I stepped inside, shed my winter coat, and my friend comforted me with a hug.
“I’m so sorry,” she said, squeezing me tight. “You must be shocked.”
Was I? It was hard to say. “It doesn’t even feel real yet, honestly,” I said.
Beau emerged from the hallway, his brow heavy, and joined us in the foyer. “Hi, Piper.” He gave me a hug, too. “Who’d we trade him to?”
“Dallas,” I said.
“TheDallas Devils?” He let out an agonized groan. “The thought ofourJax wearing that atrocious red-and-black jersey makes me sick.” He whipped out his phone and started typing up a storm, no doubt contacting the other Colorado Blizzard players to see if they’d heard the news, too.
“What’s going to happen with your guys’ condo?” Camille asked.
The condo Jax and I bought together in LoDo was my first big ‘adult’ purchase after Camille and I sold Velvet Bakery, the vegan bakery we started together a lifetime ago when we’d lived in New York City.
“I don’t know,” I admitted. “Maybe we’ll sell it? Honestly, I haven’t even had time to think about that yet. Hejustgot the call he was traded, and I raced over here to tell you guys. He’s at the arena right now packing his bags, because his flight to Dallas is in just a few hours.”
“Damn. Just like that, huh?” Beau hissed. “Not even enough time to say bye.”
“I’m going to miss him so much,” Camille muttered.
“I know,” I murmured. “It’s socrazy.”
“I’m sure you two will keep in touch, though.” Camille proffered a reassuring smile. “If your place is feeling a little too empty without Jax, you can stay with us for as long as you want.”
Beau said, “Yeah, you’re always welcome to stay here, Piper.”
