Chapter 26
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
JADE
“If looks could kill, my date would have been stone cold dead on the floor.” - Clara Foss, Painted Inferno
“Jade, I’m going to need a weekly update on what’s going on between you and Matty.”
My lips tug into a frown as I stare back at my best friend, emotion welling in my throat. Ellie lets out a deep sigh, her head turning to look at Nicole with the same degree of sadness that’s consuming me.
The three of us met for lunch today at our normal spot. The one café that’s halfway between all our apartments. The place that has the best brunch menu and mimosas.
Next week, it wouldn’t matter anymore. It will just be Ellie and me left for lunch dates.
Nicole will be in New York, starting her new life there with Ben.
“I don’t know that I’ll have much to update you on, but sure,” I say after a moment, clearing the emotion from my throat. “It just sucks we won’t be able to do this anymore.”
“I’ll only be a few hours away,” Nicole smiles, her gaze drifting between Ellie and me. “We’ll still make time to see each other, okay?”
Sadness settles in my chest, because I know exactly how things like this go.
There’s always a hopefulness when someone moves away.
Hope that you’ll still make plans to see each other.
But then, as time goes on and as you grow apart, the opportunities to get together seem to dissipate.
I know from my own experiences with my family.
“You’re right,” Ellie says after a moment, lifting her glass in the air. “As much as it sucks, I think this is really a good thing for both you and Ben.”
Nicole’s smile spreads and I swear, it looks like she’s glowing. There’s excitement that bubbles from her. I know she’ll miss us, but I also know she’s equally excited for this new chapter in her life.
“I think so too.” Nicole lifts her glass, holding it toward Ellie’s.
I lift mine. “To New York,” I say as the three of us clink our glasses. “To a new chapter, a new city, and new beginnings for you and Ben.”
“To Ben becoming a corporate powerhouse and forgetting us completely,” Ellie adds.
Nicole laughs softly, shaking her head as she rolls her eyes. “He wishes. I’d never let that man forget my two best friends.”
As much as I’ll miss my best friend, I am excited for her. It just…it isn’t going to be the same without her here.
“I can’t believe it’s actually happening,” I say, quietly, draining the rest of my mimosa. “It seemed so far away and now it’s here.”
Nicole’s smile grows softer. “I know. It feels like we blinked and here we are.”
“Time just disappears without us even realizing,” Ellie muses, shaking her head as her eyes grow distant. Our server comes back to the table with three salads, setting them in front of each of us, along with fries we ordered to share.
When I said their brunch menu was amazing, I didn’t mean we’d order anything but our normal meal we get when the three of us are together. Girl dinner can be had at any time of day, honestly.
“Just think,” Ellie starts as she pierces some of her lettuce with her fork. “You’re going to a brand new city, with new people who don’t know every embarrassing thing you’ve done.”
“I’m pretty excited about that. They’ll know the version of me now, not all the cringy versions I’ve been in the past.”
I tilt my head to the side, chewing a bite of salad and swallowing it before adding, “So, are we just baggage now?”
Nicole laughs, her eyes turning glossy for a fraction of a second before she blinks it away. “You two are my favorite baggage.”
“The highest compliment,” I smile, amusement dancing in my expression.
“It truly is,” Ellie says, nodding.
“I’m going to miss you guys,” Nicole says after a moment, her voice barely audible. “More than either of you understand.”
Emotion washes over me and the corners of my eyes burn. I will not cry here in the middle of the café. “Like you said, we’re only a few hours apart.”
“And we’ll talk every day,” Ellie adds before taking a sip of her water.
Nicole slowly nods in agreement. “You guys will have to come visit too.”
“Girls weekend in the big apple?” Ellie smiles, glancing at me with a mischievous grin.
I smile back at her. “We’re so there.”
The conversation shifts as we finish our salads, our mimosas, and argue over who gets the last fry. The server comes over to clear the table and refills our waters, not the mimosas.
Nicole leans back in her chair, giving me that look that says I’m about to be the center of attention. And I know exactly what it’s going to be about.
“So,” she says casually, a smirk toying with her lips. “You never did tell us about the gala.”
“Oh yes,” Ellie says eagerly, leaning forward in her seat as she sips her water. “You must tell us everything.”
“I mean… there’s no law that says I have to.”
“Oh, please,” Ellie rolls her eyes. “Only the first rule of best friendship says that.”
“Come on,” Nicole presses, raising her eyebrows. “You’re the only one dating a swanky, professional athlete. Indulge in our fantasies, babe.”
An exasperated sigh escapes me. “You two are so annoying.”
“You love us,” Nicole retorts.
“Spill,” Ellie says at the same time, swirling her straw in her water, creating a cyclone shape with her ice cubes.
“The gala was great.” I tuck my hair behind my ears. “It was a masquerade ball, which I didn’t realize until we got there. The venue was amazing, the food and drinks were so good, and it was just a lot of fun.”
Nicole raises an eyebrow. “What a generic answer.”
“There was an annual charity auction where they auctioned off a ‘date’ with the players, but really it’s just for time spent with them doing something they both agree to.”
Ellie’s face lights up. “Did you partake in the auction?”
“I did.” I smirk, the facade of coolness finally breaking. “I bid on Matteo and won.”
“My girl,” Nicole smiles with satisfaction, nodding her head. “What are you guys going to do, since you won?”
Heat creeps up my neck. “Ah, well.” I pause, swallowing. “We already did something.”
Ellie raises her eyebrows, eyes wide and eating up every tidbit of that night I’m giving them. “Do tell.”
“It was a spur of the moment thing.”
Nicole tilts her head to the side. “Yeah? The suspense is killing me.”
“Um, well… we had sex in the coat closet during the auction.”
Nicole spits her water out and Ellie’s jaw drops. “Shut the fuck up,” Ellie laughs in disbelief.
“Oh my god,” Nicole says, her eyes wide. “Like in the middle of the gala?”
I smile sheepishly, my cheeks burning. “Yeah.”
“That’s so hot,” Ellie says, fanning herself dramatically. “Did anyone try to come into the closet?”
“No,” I admit, breathing a sigh of relief. “That would have been horrific.”
“Could you imagine?” Nicole laughs, shaking her head. “Thank God no one saw you guys.”
“I know,” I chuckle, sucking in a deep breath as I push the memory of last weekend from my mind. “It wasn’t exactly planned, but it was definitely worth the risk.”
“I’d say so,” Nicole smiles.
Ellie pulls out her phone and taps away on the screen. “Adding that to my list of things I want to do.”
Nicole and I lock eyes before we burst into laughter, Ellie joining us after she adds “public sex” to a list neither of us knew she was keeping.
“How are things with him?” Ellie asks. “He’s good to you, right?”
“Of course,” I say without hesitation. “Too good sometimes. He’s very thoughtful and kind…
nothing like I imagined he would be.” I laugh and shake my head.
“I thought he’d just be a fuckboy, you know?
But he’s not. He has that persona, although I think it’s just a mask. The Matteo beneath it is a great guy.”
Ellie and Nicole both stare at me, slow smiles lifting their lips.
“What?” My stomach does a gymnastics routine as I lift my brows at them.
They share a glance. “You’re in love,” Nicole accuses.
“I—what? No,” I swiftly shake my head. “No. We agreed we wouldn’t catch feelings.”
“Oh, babe…” Ellie gives me a sympathetic look. “I think it’s too late.”
My breath catches and my eyes grow wider as I stare back at both of my best friends. Ellie’s right. It is too late. “Fuck,” I mutter, letting out a breath as I close my eyes. “I caught feelings.”
Nicole reaches for my hand and gives it a gentle squeeze. “It’s okay. It happens.”
“I mean, how could you not?” Ellie offers. “With everything you said about him and the way he’s come through for you.”
“And the two of you are sleeping together,” Nicole adds.
I open my eyes and press my fingers to my temples. “Fuck,” I say again, dropping my elbows to the table. I hold my head in my hands. How the hell did I let this happen? And what the heck am I supposed to do about it now? “What do I do? I can’t tell him.”
“Why not?”
I look at Ellie. “Because we agreed this wouldn’t happen.”
“Okay,” Nicole cuts in. “This is what you’re going to do. You’re going to play it cool and feel him out. If it seems like he might have feelings too, subtly say something to him.”
“Subtle never works with men,” Ellie says, shaking her head. “You have to be direct. Don’t beat around the bush. When the time feels right, just lay down your cards.”
The thought of being that vulnerable makes my skin prickle.
“What if the time never feels right?”
Ellie sighs. “I say life is too short. If you’re feeling something, say something about it. And if he’s not feeling it too, which I’d doubt that’s the case, then you just say goodbye and move on.”
Nicole tilts her head to the side. “Just do what you feel is right, Jade.”
“What if I don’t know what is right?”
What if he rejects me completely? What if I’ve gone and ruined it all?
Nicole smiles. “You will. When you see him, when the time is right, trust me… you will.”
The server comes back to us, and we order dessert that none of us need, but we do it for the sake of extending our lunch date. I’m the one who shifts the conversation to Ellie and her job. Now is not the time to spiral over the feelings I have for Matteo. The feelings I swore I wouldn’t have.
Dessert comes and goes, then the server comes back with our bill and our time is up. Like all good things, the moment comes to an end. We head out to the sidewalk, the three of us lingering, tears threatening to spill as we all come together, arms wrapping around one another.
“New York isn’t that far,” Nicole says again and I’m not sure if she’s telling Ellie and me or herself.
“We’ll talk every day,” Ellie chimes in, her voice thick with emotion.
“This doesn’t change our friendship,” I add, sniffling as Nicole pulls back from us. I wipe the tears away from my face.
Whether our friendship changes or not, everything will look a little different after next week.
Her eyes glimmer with hope and excitement as she smiles at the two of us. “Love you, besties.”
“Love you too,” Ellie and I say in unison, smiling back at her, knowing it’s only fair for us to feel the same excitement for her.
Nicole deserves nothing but happiness. Nothing but all the good things life has to offer.
And honestly… I think we all deserve that, too.