Page 80 of Friend Zoned

The three hours feel like three hundred, and by the time we land, I’m practically bouncing. I make sure to keep calm and appear unaffected, but I’m so eager to see Aiden. I’m the last person to walk down the airplane steps. I’m not sure where we are, but it’s not Miami International Airport. I’m sure it’s a hub for private planes. He’s standing there, looking casual in shorts and a white t-shirt that fits him just right. Uncaring about anyone watching me, I run to him as soon as I reach the ground. He opens his arms, and I fly in. He lifts me off my feet and I kiss him.

I remember that we’re not alone and finally pull away. No one is paying attention to us, so I turn back to him. “You look good, baby,” I say to him. I run my fingers through his hair. “I’ve missed you so much, and I just saw you yesterday.”

“Come on. I have a few hours until game time.” We load his car with my things and say goodbye to everyone. Aiden invites everybody to his place for breakfast in the morning.

“You’re not in a hotel?” I ask him once we’re situated in the back of his car. Our fingers are intertwined, and I rest my head on his shoulder.

“I own a house here,” is all he says. He kisses my forehead, but his phone rings, and he spends the rest of the drive talking. It’s mid-afternoon and traffic is a little heavy. I’m not sure where exactly his house is, but it takes us about forty minutes until the driver turns into a gated community. Five minutes later, he pulls into a long driveway. I was expecting a townhouse, but this looks more like a mansion. It’s right on the water, and the houses are set far apart for privacy. The driver opens the door for me, and Aiden leads me inside, neither one of us bothering with my bags.

My jaw nearly touches the floor when we step inside the house. There are tiled floors throughout, and even though the furniture is masculine, and the appliances are all gray, it’s still light and airy. The sliding back door leads to the pool, but the beach is only feet away.

“You like?” Aiden asks. His lips are on my neck before I can form an answer. “Let me show you upstairs.” He picks me up bridal style and runs up the stairs, but I don’t get to see anything before he takes me to the master bedroom. All I see is a four-poster bed as he drops me onto it then unbuttons and pulls my pants down. I don’t know how he does it, but he manages to get us both naked in record time, and when he sinks into me, I forget everything else.

Chapter 44

Jeannie

“So, are they playing to win or what?” I shout in Vickie Chastain’s ear. We’re in a private suite in the FTX Arena. Vickie’s sister, Tara, hands me another drink and I mouth thank you. She takes the seat on the other side of me.

“Each team picks a charity, I think. This is more for fun and for the fans,” she says. She sips on her water and turns back to me. “Enough about that. I want to hear about you and Aiden.”

Her sister’s eyes light up and she inches closer. “I want to hear too.” She looks around the suite and whispers, “He’s hot.” Both women giggle like schoolgirls. “And obviously things are great because she’s here.”

“I know, but I want details,” Vickie says. “I’m nosy.”

“Things are amazing, and that was really unexpected. I’m talking about really amazing. I love this man and can’t get enough of him. Ever since we broke my bed, I’ve been staying with him.” I take a large gulp of my drink and realize I might have had too much. A fully sober Jeannie would never tell anyone that we broke our bed.

“Let’s go back to the bed breaking,” Tara says.

I put down my drink and cover my cheeks with my hands. “The man is huge, and my bed was flimsy.” The three of us burst into laughter.

“Your mom was fishing for information about him,” Vickie whispers. “I told her how awesome he is. She didn’t look convinced, so I had Colt lay it on thick too.”

“Ugh. My mom is super overprotective, and she hates my ex-husband so she’s being all extra.”

I look around and tell them about Quintin sleeping with my friend. Vickie goes on a rant about castration, which makes me laugh.

“So, Aiden was the first friend I made after that debacle. I told him one night he was my best friend, so we started calling each other bestie. He’s like a sweet, kind, lovable gentle giant.”

“Who blows out your back, gives you orgasms, and breaks your bed. He’s the total package,” Tara says. I don’t bother to deny it. I shrug, and we all burst into giggles.

“Okay, so tomorrow the three of us are going shopping after breakfast. My parents and brother will take the boys for the day,” Vickie says. She looks into my face and waits for me to answer. For a minute, Quintin’s hateful words play in my head, and I start to second guess myself. I can’t afford to shop with them. She’s married to an NBA player, and her sister is engaged to a billionaire. I’m just a girl who manages a hotel, but I push those feelings aside.

“Count me in,” I tell them.

“Put your number and address here.” Tara hands me her cell phone. “I’m inviting you to our wedding. It’s Memorial Day Weekend.” She turns away and yells, “Ethan, I’m inviting more people so they can see me make history by marrying an ogre. If I bother to show up, that is.”

I almost choke on my drink.

“Invite the entire world since I’m doing humanity a favor by marrying you. And I will have no issues dragging you to the altar by your hair.” He blows her a kiss, and she pretends to catch it.

“We need more drinks, and Vick needs more water.”

After the games are over, we go to a late night dinner. It’s six of us, including Vickie and Colt and Tara and Ethan. We’re given a secluded table at the back of a Cuban restaurant, and about forty-five minutes later, Wakowski walks in, saying that someone tweeted that Chastain was here. He grabs a chair and sits without an invitation.

The restaurant turns into a club and when the music starts playing, Colt convinces Vickie to dance with him. When Ethan and Tara get up to dance, Aiden drags me to a dark corner and pulls me close. Our bodies remain pressed against each other. Whether we’re dancing fast or slow, we don’t allow any space between us. I don’t know how many hours pass before we leave the restaurant, sweaty and exhausted.

Chapter 45

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