We’re also over halfway through March and closing in on playoffs, which means every match-up is getting more crucial. Not having my head in the game isn’t really an option.
My phone buzzes, dragging my attention away from the suits in front of me. Looks like Ellie sent me that podcast. She says Zoey recommended it.
Suddenly an idea comes to me. Two ideas, actually.
I grab two suits at random and throw them in a garment bag. I know I have to leave in a few minutes to make the team flight, but I now have some calls to make and need to download a different type of podcast. The sci-fi one will have to wait.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
ELLIE
“I’ve decidedto forgive you, on one condition.”
I narrow my eyes. “I wasn’t aware I was in need of forgiveness.”
“Yes, we’ll get to that. So this condition is simple.”
I raise my eyebrows and brace myself. Zoey’s idea of simple is not usually the same as mine. The last time she declared our itinerary for the group vacationsimple, we barely had enough time to eat between activities. “All right, hit me.”
“Take me to The Bar.”
“That’s it?” I raise my eyebrows. The simplicity of the request has me suspicious.
“That’s it.”
“Okayyyy…” I say, still perplexed. “Now?” It’s just after eight and Zoey got in a few hours ago. From a flight and subsequent car service Matt set up. My insides go all melty thinking about him and everything he did to orchestrate this surprise.For me. All I’ve been able to do was text him a massive thank-you so far and a selfie of me smooching Zoey’s face. I think my excitement was palpable.
She was only able to get two days off and I work Sunday, so we really only have the rest of tonight and then Friday and Saturday to hang. I plan to make the most of it.
Matt booked her return flight for Sunday morning. He’s the main topic we haven’t gotten to yet, and I have a feeling Zoey is trying to figure out how to ask me about him. I mean as far as she knows, myfuck buddyfreakingflew her out here. She’s got to have questions.
It’s been a while since we’ve really caught up and all she knew up to this point was I was casually seeing someone.Sleepingwith someone. By now she knows who he is and probably that it’s more than casual sex, based on everything he did to get her here. I’ve been struggling with that fact myself, so I haven’t wanted to bring it up then or now.
“Yeah, let’s do it! If you’re up for it?” she asks hopefully.
I’m still not sure why she wants to go to Matt’s bar, but it’s walking distance and it’d be nice to see Nate, if he’s there. Maybe I can apologize for last Sunday.
“Let me just change out of my sweats,” I tell her, hopping off the bed we’ve been lazing around on to search for some jeans. I grab a pair and drop my sweatpants to pull them on. “I can’t believe you flew in a cute outfit. I always go in, like, the most comfortable thing I can find. I usually look like a hot mess. Minus the hot.”
Zoey looks at her own jeans and shrugs. “The flight’s only a few hours and I thought I should look less like a plebe in first class. Though I totally fucked that up anyway.” She sighs.
I pause buttoning my pants and look at her, already grinning. “What did you do?”
Zoey rolls her lips together, hesitating. “They handed me what I thought was like a mint or something. In my defense, they didn’t sayanythingand they used tongs, so I figured it was edible. I didn’t realize what it actually was until I tried to bite it.”
Oh no.“What was it?”
“A fucking warm towelette,” Zoey cackles. “I wanted to melt into the floor when I realized.”
We both laugh so hard we end up in tears.
“Ellie, good to see you again.”Nate taps the bar with his knuckles and slides a napkin in front of me. “And you must be Zoey?” He slides one to her as well and flashes a crooked smile.What a flirt.He must have talked to Matt. “What can I get you ladies?”
“Ooh, how about?—”
“If the question involves tequila, the answer is no,” Nate interrupts with a straight face. I stare at him with an open mouth. “Matt already thinks I gave you too much.” He puts his hands up.
“I was going to say ‘how aboutsomething fun,’” I huff. “And apologize for Sunday.” It comes out as a grumble. Maybe if he hadn’t started that way, the apology would’ve been nicer.
