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Chapter 4
Charlotte
After a hectic morning, my spirits brighten the minute I see Piper walk into the busy French restaurant, flicking her perfectly styled blonde ponytail while scanning the crowded dining area looking for me. Her usual strict expression slips off her face just for a split second when she sees me waving at her. Piper then catwalks over to where I am like she owns the place and only breaks character when she finally reaches our table and gives me a huge hug.
“I’m still pissed that I had to make an appointment with your assistant to see you for lunch,” she says before releasing me from our embrace and taking the seat opposite me.
“Is that your subtle way of saying you missed me?” I bat my eyelashes at her.
“You know I did. I always do.” She smiles, her usual cold, blue eyes taking on a softer hue.
“I missed you, too.”
I’m probably one of a handful of people who can see through the hard-nosed mask that Piper likes to wear and bring out the sweet, caring woman that lies dormant underneath.
I get it, though.
The sports agency world is still very much a male-dominated field, and since women make up for less than a quarter of agents in the US, you need to do everything you can to stand out from the crowd. For Piper, this means there is no room available for even the slightest appearance of weakness or vulnerability. Not if she wants to succeed in such a hostile and competitive work environment. She has become a pro at always keeping her hard-edged exterior intact, alerting the vultures that dare to swarm around her high-level clients to keep their claws to themselves, or else. But then again, she’s had plenty of time to practice such prickly behavior. Even when we were kids, Piper was known for two things—keeping people at arm’s length and her hard-shell exterior.
However, any time Piper and I are together, she knows she can relax and just be herself. Even after all these years of being friends, I’m still humbled by the privilege that she feels safe enough with me to let her guard down. Not a lot of people can say that. I don’t think Piper has a lot of friends aside from me. Come to think of it, I’m not sureIhave many friends that I feel completely at ease with. Sure, I have a bucketful of acquaintances, but if I were to list my true ride-or-die friends, the ones who know my every thought and secret, then Piper’s name would be right at the very top.
After the waiter quickly takes our order—coq au vinfor me and a Caesar salad for Piper—I quickly take advantage of the precious time I have with my best friend and get down to business.
“So, tell me everything. Catch me up with what’s been going on with you,” I say excitedly. “How’s work? Any new clients? How are your parents? Any new man in your life?”
“I barely have time to breathe, let alone date.” She laughs as she runs the pad of her finger over the rim of her glass of water.
“You would if you let me set you up with one of my clients.” I wiggle my brows.
“Nope, don’t even go there, Lottie. I’m far too busy to even get laid, much less findthe one. The one can wait. I’ve got too much on my plate as it is. Just the thought of entering into a serious relationship right now would send me straight to an insane asylum. I’m crazy, but I’m notthatcrazy,” she says with a smirk.
“Fine.” I laugh. “Then let’s talk about something else. What’s going on at work since it seems that’s the only thing we’ve got going for us.”
Unfortunately for me, my best friend takes the last part of my remark and runs with it, hearing the frustration in my voice loud and clear.
“Is Cooper still being an asshole about you not moving to New York? I swear, if that pompous prick even thinks about stealing the only true friend I have, I’ll snip his junk and throw it into the Charles River.”
“I hate it when you talk about Coop like that. I really wish you two would just get along. It would make my life so much simpler,” I grumble, not pleased with the fact that Piper is always quick to threaten my boyfriend with bodily harm whenever his name comes up in a conversation.
She lets out a heavy sigh and then stretches her arms over the table to grab my hands and give them a light squeeze.
“I’m sorry. I know I promised not to call him a dick all the time, but he kind of makes it hard for me not to. I mean, the shit for brains did make you go up to New York last month when heknew damn well I had gotten us concert tickets to see Hozier for that weekend. He knew how much you were looking forward to having a girls’ night, and still, the fucker just had to manipulate you into going up to see him and bail on me.”
“Coop didn’t manipulate me into anything, Piper. It was just the only weekend he had available. You know how busy he gets. Besides, work always comes first for us, you know that,” I try to defend, but the justification is weak, at best, even to my own ears.
“Hey, you’re the love expert, not me. I don’t know the first thing about being in love, nor do I want to. But even a skeptic like me knows your mantra of prioritizing work above all else is total bullshit. It’s the people you love that should always come first, no matter the circumstances. But hey? What do I know?” she adds sarcastically.
“Can we please just talk about something else? Please?” I plead, already exhausted with the topic at hand. Thankfully, the waiter brings our food order and wine, giving us a little breather.
“Sorry,” she mumbles apologetically after the waiter leaves, knowing that she’s put her foot in her mouth.
“We’ve been best friends since kindergarten, Piper. Which means never having to say you’re sorry. I know that everything you say comes from a place of love, and I so appreciate you for it,” I tell her in earnest, needing to erase the guilt-ridden expression marring her features. “But how about we just talk about something else? How is work treating you? Have you signed any big names lately?”
Piper’s face instantly lights up as she begins to tell me about the latest news in the sports world. She might have given me a hard time about my priorities being warped, but Piper is as much of a workaholic as I am. She lives and breathes for her clients, and there is nothing she wouldn’t do to ensure theirsuccess. For the rest of our meal, we fall into easy conversation about her work and mine, Cooper’s name long forgotten.
“But the real headache I currently have is with one of my hockey players. You should see this guy on the ice, Lottie. He’s beyond talented and probably one of the biggest reasons why the Guardians even have a shot at qualifying for the Stanley Cup playoffs this year. But we can kiss any chance of that goodbye if the club suspends him.”
“Suspension? Why? What did he do?” I ask curiously.
