“Ideally downtown, anywhere close to the red line,” I said. The red line dropped me off right at Thayer, and the fewer metro transfers I had to endure, the better.
A thoughtful expression crossed his face. “I know someone who owns a building downtown. He may be able to help. Don’t know if he has any openings, but I’ll ask.”
Stella’s eyebrows shot up. “He owns the entire building?”
Rhys shrugged. His shoulders were so massive the movement was akin to mountains shaking. “He’s into real estate investment.”
“That would be great.” I gave Alex a pointed stare. “At least someone in real estate can help us.”
Alex was CEO of The Archer Group, the largest real estate development company in the country.
I was joking about him helping us, but he actually responded instead of ignoring me. “My properties are full, unless you want to sleep in a shopping center or office building.”
“Hmm.” I tapped a finger on my chin. “The shopping center has potential. I love clothes.”
“Me too,” Stella agreed.
Alex looked unamused.
“Speaking of real estate development…” Ava said as Josh reappeared with a drink in hand. He slid into the empty chair next to Alex’s, taking great care not to look at his ex-best friend. “One of Alex’s business associates has a new ski resort in Vermont, and we bought tickets for the grand opening to support him. Four tickets, to be exact, so we can bring two guests. Bridget and Rhys, I know you guys won’t be here, and Stella, you mentioned you have a big event in New York the last weekend of March…”
Stella was always getting invited to fancy fashion events because of her blog, but if she couldn’t make it, and Bridget and Rhys couldn’t make it, that left…
Oh no.
“Josh, Jules, what do you think? We can all go together.” Ava beamed. “It’ll be so much fun!”
A weekend trip with Josh? I’d have more fun getting a root canal without Novocain, but Ava looked so excited I couldn’t bear to say no, especially on her birthday.
“Yay.” I tried to summon as much enthusiasm as I could. “Can’t wait.”
“I would love to, but…” Josh grimaced, doing the worst job of faking remorse I’d ever seen. “I’m working that weekend.”
Thank God. I could handle third wheeling it if it meant I wouldn’t have to—
“Too bad.” Ava didn’t blink an eye at her brother’s response. “The resort has a triple black diamond.”
Josh’s glass froze halfway to his lips. “You’re shitting me.”
My stomach sank. Josh was a notorious adrenaline junkie, and there were few things more adrenaline-inducing than the most dangerous type of ski trail in the world. It was like waving premium powder under a cocaine addict’s nose.
“Nope.” Ava sipped her drink while Stella stared at her phone, barely hiding her grin, and Rhys and Bridget exchanged amused glances. Alex was the only one who showed no visible reaction. “I know you’ve always wanted to ski on one, but since you have to work…”
“I think I can trade shifts,” Josh said after a long pause.
“Great!” Ava’s eyes sparkled in a way that set off my inner alarm bells. “It’s settled then. You, me, Alex, and Jules are going to Vermont.”
Josh’s strained smile mirrored my own. We didn’t agree on much, but he didn’t have to say it for me to know we agreed on at least one thing.
The trip wouldn’t end well. At all.
6
JOSH
The list of things I’d rather do besides go on a weekend trip with my ex-best friend and the redheaded menace included, but was not limited to, feeding my hand through a woodchipper, eating a pound of raw maggots, and watching Glitter on repeat with my eyes taped open.
But—and this was a big but—it was Ava’s birthday, and the resort had a triple black diamond. I’d never skied a triple black diamond before.
The prospect of the challenge sent a rush through my blood. I would be an idiot to turn the opportunity down.
“Josh.”
My spine stiffened when Alex appeared, the glass of Coke and whiskey in his hand matching mine.
“Alex.”
I kept my eyes on the dance floor where Ava and her friends were partying like it was 1999. We’d long dispersed from our table, and the rest of the guests had stopped gawking at Bridget and transitioned to sneaking peeks in between songs. Her security had temporarily confiscated everyone’s phones, but I bet a few people had snapped pictures of her when she arrived and said pictures would be splashed all over the gossip sites by tomorrow morning.
“Surprised you’re not out there with everyone else.” Alex leaned against the wall, his eyes also on the party, though they were trained only on Ava. “You used to be the first person on the dance floor.”
“Yes, well.” I drained my drink in one long gulp. “A lot has changed since college.”
The unspoken meaning hung sharp and heavy between us, like a guillotine waiting to drop.
Once, Alex and I had been best friends.
Now, we were strangers with only one commonality tying us together.
If it weren’t for Ava, I would happily never see or speak to Alex again.
At least, that was what I told myself.
“Vermont wasn’t my idea,” Alex said, sidestepping the elephant in the room.
“I know. Ava isn’t as sneaky as she thinks she is.”
She’d been trying to get me and Alex to make up for over a year. She may have forgiven him for lying to us to get closer to my father, whom Alex thought had been the one behind his family’s murder, but the betrayal ran deeper for me.
Ava and Alex had only been dating for a few months when he discovered his uncle was the real culprit and he revealed the truth behind his revenge plan. But he and I had been friends for eight years.
I’d invited Alex into my home. Treated him like a brother. Shared secrets and advice and things I’d never told my own family. And all that time, he’d been lying to me. Using me.
The whiskey aftertaste turned bitter on my tongue.
“She misses you,” Alex said quietly.
“I’m right here.” I glanced at the bar. “We text all the time.”
“You know what I mean.”
“I don’t, actually.”
His mouth flattened into a tight line. “You’ve been acting different lately. Ava is worried—”
“Dude, stop.” I held up my hand. “If Ava is worried about me, she can tell me herself. But don’t act like we’re going to be best friends again. We’re not. Because you know what’s required in a friendship? Trust. And you lost mine a long time ago.”
I stepped around Alex before he could respond and went straight to the bar, my throat and chest tight. He didn’t follow me, and I didn’t expect him to. He didn’t chase after anyone except Ava. It was the only reason I hadn’t put up more of a fight when they got back together.
For all his faults and fuckups, Alex really did love my sister. I wanted her to be safe and happy, and if she was safe and happy with him, then I could suck it up and act civil.