Page 72 of Just Friends
“How’d you sleep last night, anyway?” I asked.
“Pretty okay. But if you’re too tired to drive, we can take the Jeep and I’ll drive.”
“No way,” I said, erasing the idea with a wave of my hand. “Your Jeep doesn’t have A/C.”
She gasped. “And you call yourself a farm kid, Jax Cameron? We’re supposed to betough, remember?” she said, poking a finger into my shoulder.
“It’s a hundred degrees out. I’d rather not show up to the luxury spa retreat with swamp-ass.”
“But you won’t even feel the heat once we’re flying down the highway.”
“Let’s just take my truck, okay? I’ll be fine once I get that coffee in me.”
“Deal,” she said, her eyes glimmering. “But only if you admit that I’m the tougher one.”
Of course it was cool to see that she could be normal around me again: cracking jokes, teasing, and talking shit like we used to. But that only highlighted the fact thatIwasn’t anywhere near normal.
“You’re the tougher one,” I admitted without a fight.
Her eyes narrowed with growing concern. That wasn’t how our game worked; I was supposed to battle back, not give in and admit defeat.
“Are yousureyou’re okay?” she asked again.
“Yeah, sorry,” I said. “I’m just a little out of it, that’s all.”
“Youpromiseyou’re just tired?”
“I promise,” I muttered. For all I knew, it was true—I wasn’t lying if I didn’t actually know what was bothering me, was I? With a growing heat at my neck, I glanced at my watch. “You ready? We should head out soon.”
“Just gotta grab my bag,” she said, hurrying back to her bedroom.
I took the moment alone to reset my mood.
Wake the fuck up, Jax,I scolded myself.You’re weirding her out. Cut the emo crap and at least try to act normal around her, or this is going to be a long ass weekend.
She returned a second later, dragging a wheeled suitcase behind her.
Determined to be normal, I pointed at her bag and snickered. “Are you serious with that?”
“What?” she asked innocently.
“You know this retreat is only for one night, right?”
“Hey, it’s the smallest bag I own!” she fired back.
“Yeah? Well, it’s too big.”
She frowned. “I won’t look weird bringing this, will I?”
“Nah, I’m just teasin’. It’s big but no one will care.”
She stared at her suitcase and stroked her chin. “The sad thing is, I packed this thing full, and I still feel like I’m forgetting something.”
“That’s normal. I feel the same way, but everything I need fits in this little bag.” I picked up the small duffel bag I’d packed and slung it around my shoulder. “Ready?”
“I guess so!”
I opened the door for Piper and locked up. We took the elevator down to the basement, where my pickup truck was parked and waiting.I tossed my duffel bag into the bed. After hoisting Piper’s suitcase into the bed, too, I pulled the passenger door open for her.
