Page 68 of Just Friends
“Because it’s a terrible idea,” he murmured, “and I hate it.”
“Your concern is noted,” I said coolly.
A sudden ball of nerves, Jax chewed his fingernails and bounced his leg, his heel tapping on the hardwood floor. Judging by his thousand-yard stare, something was weighing heavily on his mind, but he wasn’t sharing.
“Fuck it,” he said at long last. “Can I tell you something that’s been bothering me?”
“Sure.”
“It’s about the WAG party,” he said.
“What about it?”
“When I first brought it up to you, I wasn’t saying it should be part of the promo. But you were typing on your laptop, so you were only half-listening and you didn’t hear me right. And that’s how it turned into the promotion stunt when I never wanted to do that in the first place.”
Huh?
“Wait, what?” I murmured. “Then what were you trying to say?”
“I was trying to askyouto come with me, Pipes,” he said.
My foolish heart started to throb, even though I knew better than to get my hopes up.
“Really?” I asked.
“As friends, of course,” he clarified, his palms held up in caution.
Ah. Right.
“I know, I know,” he said. “I see the look on your face and I know what you’re thinking.”
You do?
“But it’s totally normal to bring a friend, Pipes. The single guys bring their friends and sisters all the time.”
Not what I was thinking, actually …
He continued his sales pitch. “The reason why I wanted to invite you in the first place was because the timing would’ve been so perfect. You’d been busting your ass for monthson Soulmate, and the WAG party was right after the launch, so I figured you’d finally be able to kick back and relax, and have a good time at the spa. Hang out with the girls at the pool. Get a massage, a facial, your nails done, whatever else you girls do at a spa.”
I had to admit, a weekend retreat at the spa did sound like the distraction I needed.
“Thatdoessound nice,” I said quietly.
But is it really a good idea?
“Doesn’t it?” he asked, smiling. “Besides, you won the promo, after all.”
My eyes rolled upward. “Ugh. Thanks for reminding me.”
His smile faded. “Damn. Sorry. I didn’t mean to bring that up—ah, hell. I’m an ass.”
“No, Jax, it’s okay.” I touched my hand to his forearm. “I know what you meant. I was just being a jerk. But I need to get over it.”
“So come with me,” he said. “I know the girls are excited to hang out with you and everything. They’re all asking if you’re coming or not.”
“I don’t know, Jax. Is it really a good idea?”
“It’s the only idea I’ve got,” he said. “Besides, it might be good for us to get out of this place.” He gestured at the walls that surrounded us. “If we’re ever going to go back to normal, we need to mix it up or something. I don’t know.”
