Just Friends Read online

  Movie night…right.

  “Stella called at the last minute and asked if I could work. Zoey came down with the flu or something, so I was able to pick up a couple of hours.” Since I need the spending cash, I’m always willing to work an extra shift or two at the diner where I waitress part-time. I hate asking my parents for money when they’re already footing the bill for my tuition and living expenses.

  “How much do you want to bet that it was the booze flu she came down with?” Brinley snarks.

  I shrug. Anything is possible and Zoey is no stranger to partying.

  “Maybe we can watch it this weekend?” I offer, mentally flipping through my schedule.

  Watching horror movies is kind of our thing. We’ve been doing it since freshman year of high school.

  “Sounds like a plan,” he agrees easily.

  “Am I the only one who thinks it’s weird that you spend more time with him,” Brin jerks her thumb at Reed, “than you do with Tyler?” She waits a beat before adding, “You know, the guy you’re actually going out with?”

  Umm, maybe?

  Reed and I have always been close. I’m sure that’s one of the reasons why a number of my relationships have crashed and burned. If a guy wants to date me, he needs to accept that Reed and I are going to spend time together.

  Sometimes a lot of it.

  Here’s my philosophy on the topic—deal with it or move on.

  A lot of them choose to move on.

  It’s their loss. Not mine.

  Tyler understands this and doesn’t have a problem with it.

  When it comes down to it, I don’t have a lot of time to put into a relationship. I’m focused on finishing up my accounting degree. School has always been my number one priority. Boys, much to Brin’s disdain, are a distant second.

  My parents sacrificed a lot so I could get a top-notch education at Southern University. We’ve never been the kind of family who took fancy vacations or rolled around in brand new SUVs the way some of my friends did. My mom is a first-grade teacher at the local elementary school and my dad works for the Lakefield Police Department.

  The plan is to finish up my degree this year and secure an entry level position with a big accounting firm where I can move up the company ladder. I’m the first to admit that it doesn’t sound exciting or glamourous, but I’ve always been good with numbers.

  One of the reasons Tyler fits so well into my life right now is because he doesn’t demand a lot of time or attention from me. He’s the president of his fraternity, so his schedule is jampacked with all the activities that go along with Greek life. He’s not constantly breathing down my neck, wanting to spend time together. And I like that.

  I may not be a student athlete like Reed or involved in the Greek system like Tyler, but I’m still busy. Between school and my part-time job waitressing at Stella’s, I don’t have much time for anything else.

  When I remain silent, Reed shrugs in answer. Neither of us seem overly-eager to touch that particular question. Which is probably for the best. Most people don’t understand our relationship.

  Including Brinley.

  How can you be friends with someone so hot?

  Easy. Hot people need friends, too. It’s more of a humanitarian effort on my part.

  Brin’s narrowed eyes are full of speculation as they bounce between us. “Well, I’m telling you right now, it’s weird.”

  Reed opens his mouth just as the athletic center comes into view. Instead of responding, he blows out a relieved breath. “I’d love to stick around, but I’ve got to haul ass to practice. Last guy on the ice has to wash the jocks.” He drops another kiss on my forehead before releasing me.

  Now that his warm body is no longer pressed against mine, a sense of loss fills me. I sweep the feelings aside and ignore them.

  Reed takes a couple of long-legged strides away from us before turning around and jogging backwards. “I’ll see you tonight!”

  “Yes, you will,” I agree with a wave.

  He flashes me one of his trademark grins and it arrows straight to my gut before exploding upon impact. I quickly stomp out the attraction that is trying to flare to life in my core.

  Brinley shakes her head and sighs. Her eyes continue to linger on Reed as he jogs down the cement path that leads to the ice arena. “Damn, that guy has one fine ass. It honestly defies logic how you people have never gotten naked and sweaty together.” Before I can answer, she waves her hand in his direction. “Let me break this down for you. He’s hot. You’re hot. And the chemistry between you two is off the charts. I almost had a mini-orgasm back there while you two were flirting with each other.”

  I burst out laughing. “Oh my God, you are way too much!”

  Flirting! I don’t think so. Reed and I don’t flirt. It’s nothing more than friendly banter.

  “I’m not kidding.” She adds with a smirk, “My panties are completely soaked.”

  “Brinley! TMI!”

  “Yeah, I know. But we’re besties.” She nudges my shoulder with her own as we continue walking. “I can tell you anything.”

  “Just because you can, doesn’t necessarily mean you should,” I remind her.

  She snickers.

  Brin may be outrageous, but I wouldn’t change her for the world.

  Just like Reed, she’s my people.

  Chapter Three

  Reed

  I raise the bottle of beer to my lips and glance around the Alpha Delta Phi party. It’s only ten o’clock and already people are wasted and passed out on the sprawling front lawn. Inside is even worse. Loud music, really bad dance moves, and an ocean of green and white cups, the official colors of the fraternity.

  I’ve been here for about thirty minutes and have yet to see Emerson or her sidekick, Brinley. I shot her a text before heading out the door. She responded that they weren’t finished getting ready.

  Getting ready for what?

  Emerson isn’t one of those girls who spends a bazillion hours picking out an outfit for the night or caking on makeup. It’s one of the things I like about her. She’s down to earth. And she might be low maintenance, but she always looks good. Which is an elusive combination. Em has that whole natural beauty thing going for her. It’s refreshing. Especially at a school where girls dress like they’re hitting the clubs instead of an eight o’clock class on a Wednesday morning.

  I’m just going to come out and say it—there isn’t much I don’t like about Emerson.

  I really need to stop thinking along those lines. It’s not helping matters.

  Like at all.

  I’m knocked out of those thoughts when Jessie Adams, one of my teammates, jams his elbow into my ribs. “Hot damn, Philips, isn’t that your friend over there?”

  I snap my head around and catch sight of Emerson and Brinley as they push their way through the crowd. My brows jerk together as my gaze coasts over Em’s body.

  What the fuck is she wearing?

  There is no way that’s a dress. It barely skims her ass. If she bends over, everyone will catch a glimpse of her panties. And she better damn well be wearing panties.

  I should look away and take a few calming breaths, but I can’t. The way her dress hugs her breasts makes my throat go bone dry. I’ve gone to great lengths not to notice how spectacular Em’s titties are, but in an outfit like that, it’s impossible.

  Where the hell is the T-shirt and jeans she normally wears?

  I narrow my eyes as I get a good look at her cohort. This unwanted transformation has Brinley written all over it. I grit my teeth and tamp down my rising anger. She’s the one to blame for this.

  Don’t get me wrong, I like Brin. She’s turned out to be a good friend to Emerson, but there are times when Brinley gets carried away and pushes Em out of her comfort zone.

  This is clearly one of those times.

  If I were wearing a hoodie, I’d stomp over there and throw it over her body. But since it’s mid-September and the weather has been ridiculously
seasonable, I didn’t bother. I drag a hand over my face.

  Like I need all these assholes checking her out.

  “Holy shit, dude.” Alex McAvoy, another teammate, slaps me on the back as he ogles Em. “You don’t mind if I make a play for her, do you? That girl has it all going on!”

  Before I can blast him into next week, Jessie decides to chime in. “Now that is one ass I’d like to tap. Maybe a few times.”

  These two are such dickheads. They know damn well talking about Em like that is a surefire way to piss me off. And by the wide, shit-eating grins stretched across their faces, I’ve fallen right into their trap.

  “You can both fuck off.” I glare at each of them in turn. “You touch one goddamn hair on her head, and I’ll bust your kneecaps. Winning the Frozen Four Championship this year will be nothing more than a pipedream when I’m finished with you,” I grumble. “Plus, she has a boyfriend.”

  Jessie shrugs. “Yeah, but it’s not you, so who gives a crap?”

  I ball the hand not wrapped around my bottle of beer and take a step toward Jessie. Apparently, he wants to get his teeth bashed in tonight.

  And you know what?

  I’d be more than happy to oblige him in his quest for dentures.

  “It’s not the hair on her head I want to touch,” Alex adds with a leer.

  Colton Hayes, our goalie, grabs me by the shoulders before I can rip either of them to shreds.

  “Settle down, Philips. You know they love fucking with you about Em. She’s the only soft spot you have. Everything else slides off your back.”

  I roll my shoulders and the tension slowly leaks from them.

  Colton is right. Normally I’m laid back and chill. Nothing bothers me. Except when my teammates talk trash about Em.

  Or we lose a game.

  I motherfucking hate that.

  My competitive streak is a mile wide. It’s my internal drive for success that has me hauling ass out of bed at five in the morning to hit the gym and the first practice of the day before heading to class. I end the day with a couple more hours spent on the ice. By the time I’m wrapping up whatever homework didn’t get completed around ten, I’m beat. Sometimes it barely feels like I’ve closed my eyes and the alarm is going off at five again and I’m up and at it, chasing the day.

  Hockey is my life.

  And I’ll be damned if I don’t do everything in my power to make it to the NHL. After my dad took off, it was just Mom and me. Hockey is expensive. And playing travel comes with an even heftier price tag. She sacrificed a lot so I could play the sport I love. It’s important that I give one hundred percent.

  Emerson and I have that in common.

  Neither of us come from money. We attended an affluent high school with kids who were given cars as soon as they turned sixteen and didn’t have to scramble for scholarships to attend college. I wouldn’t be at Southern without an athletic scholarship. And Em works around twenty hours a week at Stella’s in order to help take the burden off her parents. Neither of us have been handed anything in our lives. We’ve always worked for it. As much as I like to party and screw around, my first priority has always been hockey and school.

  And Em.

  My eyes gravitate to the girl who has been occupying my thoughts a little too much lately. I wish I could shake off this attraction. I freaking hate that she looks so hot. Did she dress like that with Tyler in mind? The thought of her going home with him at the end of the night all but kills me. I don’t know when my feelings began to change, but they have. I’m just not sure what to do about it.

  Actually, that’s not true.

  I’m not going to do a damn thing. Emerson is Tyler’s girlfriend. She’s also my best friend. And I’ll be damned if I do anything to screw up our relationship.

  Before I can get too bent around the axel, I drain my bottle and head to the kitchen. I need to grab another frosty one before I wring someone’s neck.

  I also need to stop staring at Emerson like she’s mine.

  She’s not.

  And I need to remember that.

  Chapter Four

  Emerson

  As soon as Brinley and I walk through the door of the Alpha Delta Phi party, we hit the bar and grab a couple of drinks. The guy manning the keg gives me a wide smile before telling me to cut to the head of the line anytime I need a refill.

  “See?” Brinley elbows me in the side as we walk away. “You are totally working that dress, girl!”

  I tug self-consciously at the back of it, trying to pull the fabric down my thighs. This is Brinley’s dress and it’s shorter than I’m used to wearing. It feels like my butt is hanging out which is disconcerting. I did my best to veto the outfit but Brinley insisted that I, in her words, sex it up tonight.

  So here I am, all sexed up.

  I glance around the darkened space. The first floor is so packed with people that it makes moving around a tactical challenge. Thankfully Brinley is pushy. She shoves her way, plowing a path for both of us. Already I know that finding Tyler in this crowd will be impossible. I pull out my phone from my purse and shoot him a text. A minute drags by, then two, without a response.

  As Brin and I navigate through the dining room, I spot Reed and lift my hand to wave. The motion sends my dress soaring up my thighs until a breeze hits my ass cheeks. I quickly lower my arm and yank the dress back into place.

  Sheesh.

  I can barely move in this thing.

  Reed scowls and pushes his way toward me. People reach out, trying to capture his attention, but he doesn’t stop to acknowledge them. His focus is locked on me and by the dark expression on his face, I know exactly what the first words out of his mouth will be.

  I sigh.

  Reed Philips is nothing if not predictable.

  It takes less than a minute for Reed to reach my side. People scurry out of his way, creating a path directly to me.

  Wait for it…

  “What the hell are you wearing?” he barks, eyes flashing with irritation.

  Like I said, totally predictable.

  Unperturbed by his gruff tone, Brinley smiles. “You like?” She grabs my hand and twirls me around the small space we’ve carved out for ourselves. “Doesn’t her ass look amazing?”

  When she gives my butt a sharp smack, I squeak in surprise and spin around to face Reed. He remains silent but his expression has turned thunderous. It takes a moment for him to release a slow, measured breath as if he’s hanging on to his patience by a thread.

  “Em, there’s nothing wrong with the clothes you normally wear.” He jerks his thumb toward Brinley. “You don’t have to dress like this one over here.”

  Not offended by his comment, Brinley rolls her eyes. “Whatever you say, dad.” She wraps her arm around me before fluttering her lashes at Reed. “Are you afraid I’m going to corrupt your little girl?”

  “That’s exactly what I’m afraid of,” he snaps.

  I’m pretty sure Reed is joking. Although the surly expression on his face suggests otherwise.

  “On that note, I’m off to the dance floor to shake my booty.” Brinley gives me a wink. “As soon as you ditch your lame ass friend, come find me.”

  Then she’s gone, melting into the crowd with her hands in the air.

  “That girl is trouble,” Reed grumbles.

  “I know,” I say with a smile, wanting to lighten his mood. “That’s what I like about her.”

  With his eyes locked on me, Reed takes a pull from his beer.

  Once the season officially begins in October, he won’t touch a drop of alcohol. He’ll be focused on hockey to the exclusion of everything else. This year is an important one. Come spring, Reed will enter the draft. I’m both excited and nervous to discover where he ends up.

  Since we’ve become friends, Reed and I have always attended the same school. First Kennedy High and then Southern University. I don’t know what I’ll do without him being so easily accessible. There won’t be any more impromptu movie nights
or grabbing a quick bite to eat. No matter where I end up after college, the chances are good that I won’t have either of my best friends with me.

  Not wanting to dwell on those depressing thoughts, I shove them to the back of my mind before shifting on my heels as a heavy silence descends. It’s as if the air surrounding us has become charged with expectation.

  I clear my throat as a pit of unease settles in my belly. “Any chance you’ve seen Tyler?” Needing to break the intensity between us, I pull out my phone and glance at the blank screen.

  “Nope.” His answer is more of a grunt than anything else.

  Reed has never been a huge fan of Tyler. Come to think of it, he’s never been a fan of any of my boyfriends.

  Avoiding Reed’s gaze, I focus on the madness unfolding around us. In the living room, there’s a crowd of dancers all smashed together but I don’t see Brinley in the mix. After a few minutes, I peek over at Reed. He’s still glaring with the same pissed off expression marring his handsome face. My insides tremble with awareness. I can’t think of one time when Reed has provoked this kind of sensation in me, but right now, with that look simmering in his eyes…

  Something feels off and I can’t put my finger on it. Reed has always been my favorite person to hang out with. I gravitate to him. And yet, in this moment, I just want to get away. Given how unsettled I feel, maybe it would be best if we went our separate ways for the time being.

  With an escape plan in mind, I close the distance so he can hear me over the loud thumping beat of the music. As I do, the scent of his aftershave fills my senses. It’s a woodsy aroma unique to him. I’ve always found it comforting. But now…

  I clear my throat along with the inappropriate thoughts trying to take root. “I’m going to find Tyler.” I point to the living room. “He has to be here somewhere.”

  The moment Reed rips his gaze from mine to survey the crowd, everything in me wilts and I’m able to breathe again.

  “I’ll come with you.”

  That is definitely not a good idea.