AllFreeNovel
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Fast-forward to the present,and I'm still in shock that MPU let me in. Through sheer luck, one of Mom's oldest friends had recently moved to Montana and taken a job in the school's administration department. She connected me with Coach Stillwater the same day Mom called her. And to my even bigger surprise, Coach wanted to talk to me. He never listened to gossip, as he informed me during our first meeting. He was born and raised in Stonebriar. His father was the head coach before him, and he'd had a professional career in his future until a minor injury set him back. He was dropped overnight, never given a chance again. If he took me on to piss in fate's pretty face or because he truly believed in my talent, I don't know. I want to think it's the latter. Either way, I will always be grateful to him.
"D, let it go." I hate fighting with her, and I know it will end in one of us hanging up on the other. "Please."
"Just tell me if you got the invitation so I can let Lilly know." Her frustration comes through the speaker in waves.
My hand drops from the handlebar to my thigh, fingers curling into my leg and squeezing tight. They damn well know I did. Rhys said as much in his message. "I did."
Fuck, my jaw hurts.
"Are you going to RSVP?"
Now she's pushing it, and I bark out a sarcastic laugh. "Sure, and while I'm at it, I'll ask for Marcus's number so we can get matching mani-pedis."
It's a low blow, but I need her to stop the harassment. And Marcus is the only way I know she'll drop the topic. The same way I haven't forgiven my former friends, Den is still at war with Lilly's shadow. Him manhandling her on the jet in LA two years ago was a shitty move, but something tells me there is more going on. A secret my best friend has not let me in on—yet.
"I'm coming to visit you for Thanksgiving." She switches gears, and I have to replay it in my head before I comprehend her words.
My heart skips a beat, but I can't shake the feeling of there being an ulterior motive. "Uh, why?" Den always travels with her parents and Oli over the holidays—a tradition the Kellers have had ever since I've known her.
"Oli and Elena are spending this year at her parents' house."
"And your parents?"
"I might have told them that you invited me to spend Turkey Day with you in the snow. Go sledding and all the other winter stuff you mountain people do."
I crack up. "And they bought it?" I ask incredulously.
Everyone knows that Den would rather wear workout clothes to Lilly's big day than spend a day in the cold.
"They did." I can picture her shrugging nonchalantly, but the knowledge that her parents believed it makes my chest ache for her.
I've distanced myself from everyone over the last two years and have refused to visit Westbridge, simply to not be reminded of the past and my broken friendships, but I talk to my parents several times a week. They are fully aware of everything I'm doing—training for the most part—and they know what's going on in my life. What I like and enjoy, and what I don't.
"I'm sorry, D. We'll have a good time," I say and add with a smirk, "Kai is staying this year as well."
I wait for her reaction. Kai and Den get along just fine, but his relentless attempts to get into her pants even drive me nuts.
Three, two—
"Oh, fuck no, Sheats. I'm sleeping in your room or getting a hotel. I am not waking up to him jerking off again," Den barks.
One.
A wide grin spreads across my face. "Sure thing. We'll figure out an arrangement that'll make everyone happy," I tease.
"Wes," she growls.
"Chill. I'm joking. I would never let you go through that traumatic experience again." It was hilarious, though. I wish I could've seen her face.
Last spring, Den was in town for a few days. It was the first time Kai had stuck around during a school break. They had seen each other many times in the past when she and I video chatted, but Kai meeting her in person…I had never seen my roommate dumbstruck over a girl before.
During her previous visits, I gave her my bed and slept in Kai's room. Fully aware of what went on in there, there was no way I would have made D sleep on that mattress. But with Kai around, she said she'd take the couch in the media room—our converted third bedroom. The couches were too short for either of our six-foot-plus frames, but it worked out for her.
On the second morning, I was ripped out of a deep sleep by my shrieking friend and a cursing roommate.
"WHAT THE FUCK, YOU CREEP!"
"Chill, woman, I was just—owww!"
