I frown, my brows furrowing. That’s a lot of work when we could text. “Come on.” He bounces his eyebrows. “It will be fun.”
“You’re something else. You know that?”
“Yep. You love it.”
“Okay. Fine. I want Valentine’s Day to be included as a holiday. You can be my not-so-secret admirer.”
“Done. But I’ll be back by then.” His wide smile warms my heart, but a nagging feeling settles in my chest, and I can’t put my finger on what it is.
One thing’s for sure. I’m going to miss him.
Jack never came back.
I was right. His Australian coach didn’t need him. Why would he?
His family did.
His parents had been in an accident. They’d died. His coach didn’t want to worry him for the fourteen-hour flight home since there was nothing he could have done.
Not that he told me that until we were two years into our letter exchange. He kept up the charade of his lie, until he was finally able to talk about it. Or write about it. He refused to give me his number, saying it was easier that way. And maybe he was right. Either way, our letters continued for eight years after he left.
Letters of friendship, support. Always innocent.
Until today.
God am I confused. And a little turned on.
Grabbing my phone, I shoot off a text to my friends, Blair and Hayley, hoping one of them is free to talk.
Me: Why the hell do my two closest friends live in San Francisco? I need you
Blair: I’ve just walked in the door. Give me five and I’ll call
Me: Thank you. You’re a godsend
I breathe a sigh of relief and fall back to the couch, covering my face with my hands. Blair’s my voice of reason. She’s the Zen in my crazy-ass world. I have no doubt she’ll ground me, because what I really want to do is board a plane to Australia and ask Jack what the hell is going on, while waving the letter in his face. I’m a live-in-the-moment kind of girl.
While I wait for her call, I read the letter again and my body heats. It’s been a long time since someone surprised me in the bedroom, and if Jack can really do the things he says he wants to do… God damn. My core pulses just thinking about it. I’m taking this letter to bed with me later.
My phone buzzes across the table, pulling me out of my horniness as I rush to grab it.
Blair: Change of plans. I’m coming to LA. I’ve got two days off. What do you say we have a girls’ weekend mid-week?
My heart jolts. I really do have the best friends. Blair and I met last summer when she moved here with her douchebag ex. Now she lives in San Francisco with her new boyfriend. Or rather, her old boyfriend, after they reconnected a few months back. Itsucks not having her here, but Zane is perfect for her, and since he plays for the San Francisco Storm football team, it made sense for her to move there.
Lucky for me, she visits often and I travel to San Francisco any chance I get.
Me: Blair, I love you! How does Zane feel about that?
Blair: It washissuggestion
Me: Zane, my man. I knew I liked him
Blair: I’ve got a few things to do tonight but I can be there by lunchtime tomorrow
Hayley: Ooooh. I’m in LA too. I can meet you both for dinner tomorrow night. If that works?
And Hayley Jackman enters the conversation. Otherwise known as bestie number two. Though I would never rank them. They’re equally amazing. Hayley’s a big-name Hollywood actress, and also dating one of the guys from the Storm football team. But surprisingly, we didn’t meet through Blair. I met Hayley on the set of a psychological thriller we starred in together. She had a guest role, and I was one of the regular cast—at least until they killed off my character.
