Page 18 of Just Friends
“I was a little worried when Big Rig told me about you,” she said. “But once he convinced me that you two weretrulynothing more than friends, I assumed you’d be—I dunno—bigger, or something.”
Jax’s wide jaw tensed and he shot her a glare. “Hey, what the hell?”
She shrugged her small shoulders. “Just saying. Guys and girls can’t be friends. Only way itmightwork out is if one friend is way,wayout of the other’s league. Even then, it never works out. Someonealwaysends up catching feelings.” She added in a tone that let you know she wasn’t wrong, “Just my experience, of course.”
“Well … wearefriends,” I said. “And we have been for five years.”
But why did proving her wrong make me feel like Isomehowlostthe argument?
Then again, it’s not exactly a ground-breaking revelation that Jaxisway out of my league—he’sa famous athlete, andI’ma girl with neurological issues. Ofcoursewe could be best friends without feelings getting in the way—his hookup was right.
“Anyway, Roomie, sorry if myscreaming kept you up,” she said, though her apology sounded more likesorry, not sorry. “Big Rig was so worried about waking you, he clamped his hand on my mouth to shut me up.” She ran her greedy fingers down his rigid abs. “Which I liked, by the way. Alot.”
“Piper doesn’t want to hear all that,” Jax said, and began to escort her out my bedroom once more.
“Oh no, did I say something wrong?” she asked with a note of phony concern. “Because I talk like that allthe time aroundmybest friends. Unless—”
“Enough.” Jax cut her off, his patience having worn thin. He sternly pointed across the condo. “Go back to my room and wait for me,” he said, his voice firm.
“Mm.Yes, Daddy.” She scampered out of sight, an electric shiver dancing up her spine. “Love it when you get all gruff and serious.”
We were alone again.
“ ‘Daddy?’ ” I asked with a snicker. “She must be a real freak in the sheets.”
He groaned, embarrassed. “Sorry about that.”
I laughed it off. “I don’t care. But what’s her deal? Sounds like she has it out for me or something.”
“No idea.”
“Well, breakfast tomorrow ought to be interesting with her around,” I joked.
He shook his head. “She won’t be around for breakfast. I’m gonna call her a car.”
“Too bad,” I said with a sarcastic snap of my fingers. “I was really thinking you’d found the one.”
His large hands went to his narrow hips and he gave me a sidelong glare. “Yeah. Right.”
A silence came between us. We stared at each other, as if we both had something to say, but we were waiting for the other to say it first.
I let out a deep breath.
“Jax.”
“Yeah, Pipes?”
Truth was, I didn’t even knowwhatit was I wanted to say.
I sighed. “Nothing. Nevermind.”
“Alright. Sorry again about the noise.” He ducked under the door frame again.“G’night, Pipes. Get some sleep, okay?”
“Thanks. I’ll try.”
He pulled the door shut.
And I went back to tossing and turning.
