Page 34 of Just Friends
“Kids always rebel against their parents, right? Well, I drove my parents crazyby rebelling against the alternative lifestyles they preached. When I was a little girl, I wanted to wear cutesy pink dresses and play with the dreaded Barbie dolls. Once I got a little older, I talked about how I wanted to have a high-powered office job and make millions of dollars, and have a monogamous marriage and lots of babies, too. That kind of thing.”
I laughed. “Wow. Y’know, I never would’ve expected that. But the way you describe it, yeah, it makes a ton of sense.”
“Glad you get me,” she said with a wink.
We stared at each other, smiling, and I wanted to take a second crack at this thing.
“So how many dates will it take?”
She laughed. “Until I’m ready to sleep withyou? Is that really what you’re asking me?”
“Two dates? Three?” I grinned. “We’ll be back in the city next week.”
She rolled her eyes playfully. “You don’t actually want to date me.”
I gave an uncertain shrug. “Well—sure I do.”
“You don’t mean that, Jack. You’re just trying to get laid. It’s too obvious. And even if youdidwant to date me, I wouldn’t be interested.”
A girl wouldn’t be interested inme?
“Why not?” I asked, a strangely prickly sensation under my skin.
“For one, I live here, and you live in Colorado.”
I shrugged. “So?”
“That’s a decent distance, sweetheart,” she said. “Two, you’rea pro athlete. I bet you’ve got pretty girls chasing after you everywhere you go.”
I played coy. “Maybe. Maybe not.”
“Uh-huh. Right. Oh, I can see it in your eyes, pal. You’ve got girls from all over the country trying to jump your bones.”
I gave a guilty chuckle. “Seriously though, Piper, you’re cool. One date; that’s all I’m asking for. I’ll be back here in seven days.”
“You’re persistent, I’ll give you that.” She shook her head. “But you don’t really mean it.”
“Sure, I do.”
“Nah. You even said it yourself a little while ago—you don’t have time for a girlfriend. You’re too busy focusing on hockey, remember? You have to make a name for yourself and earn a big contract.” She smiled sweetly. “And I respect that, Jack. Really, I do. I’ve got goals of my own.”
“But …” I gnashed my teeth. “I dunno—I can do both?” Sealing my own fate, I added in a small voice, “Maybe?”
She laughed. “Oh, bunny.” She touched her palm to my cheek. “You’re not used to hearing girls tell you no, are you?”
My sweltering cheeks burned hotter. “I’m serious. I—I like you.”
“Jack … you’ve neverhada serious girlfriend.”
“So? That doesn’t mean I’m inexperienced.”
“I’m not talking aboutthat,” she said with a roll of her eyes.
“Then what are you talking about?”
“Before you know what youreallywant in a partner, you have to get your heart broken first.”
I laughed. “What? That’s the craziest thing I’ve ever heard.”
