Page 4 of Friend Zone to End Zone

“I guess I’ll find a seat and make myself comfortable then,” Chad said, a hint of annoyance in his tone.

“I’ll see you soon,” I said, sounding a bit too cheery to overcompensate for his mood. He’d been in meetings all day, and I knew how it was to just want to be home after a long trip. I suppose I’d be upset, too, at not having anyone at the airport to meet me, if I were in his shoes.

We said goodbye, and then I looked around Emerson and Vincent’s kitchen for the key fob to my Prius before remembering that I’d asked Cole to keep it safe for me, since I hadn’t wanted to leave my things laying around for one of the caterers to possibly swipe.

I went back out the door to find my best friend again. Cole was standing on the side of the dance floor, talking to one of his teammates. When he saw me walking toward him, he smiled and sauntered closer.

“Ready to give me those dancing lessons now?” His dark brown eyes were bright, like he was actually looking forward to it despite grumbling when I’d pulled him toward the dance floor earlier.

But I shook my head and gave him a regretful look. “I have to pick up Chad from the airport.”

Cole’s brow furrowed. “Right now?”

I nodded. “He’s been waiting for a while, I guess.”

“Doesn’t he realize you’re at your brother’s wedding?” Cole asked. “Can’t he just call an Uber or something?”

“I don’t mind,” I said. Then realizing that didn’t sound very believable, I hurried to add, “I mean, I want to get him. I’m his girlfriend.”

“Okay,” Cole said, but from the way he inspected me I knew he wasn’t convinced I should be picking up Chad.

I tucked some of my hair behind my ear. “Anyway, can I have my key so I can get in my car?”

“Oh, yeah.” Cole straightened and patted the pockets of his navy-blue suit pants—the same pants that I’d noticed many women checking out his butt in when he’d stood next to Vincent during the ceremony earlier.

Yeah, I’d avoided telling him that those butt exercises he’d apparently been doing must have been working since I really didn’t need my best friend to know that I had maybe noticed it, too.

Just because we were best friends and I was mostly happy with my current boyfriend, didn’t mean I was blind. I mean, Cole did wear super-tight football pants for a good chunk of the year.

Before Cole could realize what I was thinking, I pushed those thoughts away and held out my hand for the Toyota key fob he had retrieved from his right pocket.

“Thanks,” I said, curling my fingers around it. “I promise I’ll give you those dancing lessons later.”

He nodded, but I didn’t miss the disappointment in his expression. “Drive safe, Arianna.”

“I will.”

Then I lifted the front of my silver dress so I wouldn’t trip on it as I walked toward my brother and his bride to say my goodbyes before heading out.

I’m here.

I sent the text to Chad when I pulled into the passenger pickup area at the Denver International Airport.

As I waited for him to come find me, I turned down the volume on the Ben Rector song I’d been listening to so it wouldn’t be too loud for Chad.

A moment later, a tall man with blond hair and blue eyes, in a gray business suit with a red power tie, came into view, wheeling his black carry-on behind him.

I pushed a button to pop my trunk open, and after he’d placed his luggage in the back, he climbed into the passenger seat beside me.

“Hey,” I said, smiling, happy to see him despite the mix-up we’d had earlier.

“Hi,” he said tersely, grabbing his seatbelt to buckle himself in.

I waited a beat for him to lean over the console to give me a quick kiss like he usually did when we greeted each other, but when he didn’t make a move to do so, I just put my car into drive and started heading out of the loading area.

“So, how was your trip?” I asked, hoping a little conversation might help improve the weird energy coming from him. “Did you sign the account?”

Chad leaned his head against the headrest. “They wanted to think about it a little longer. They’ll let us know next week.”

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