Page 5 of Miles Apart
It was a miracle Justice and I kept our lunch down when Madison came by our table to broadcast that she and Terrencespent time together after the mixer last night. I’m proud of her for sticking up for herself, but I know my friend. I would be a mess too if I came face-to-face with my ex for the first time in almost a year, andIdon’t do love. If that wasn’t a slap in the face, doofus—Terrence—showed up at our suite this morning looking for Madison. It wouldn’t surprise me if Justice made a run for it back to Austin and left a full-size cutout of her silhouette in the wall as a parting gift.
Justice hangs her head, her natural black curls unable to shield her trembling chin. “I need to get used to him dating…even her.”
Madison and Terrence dated for a couple of months at Bodie before she ended their relationship to go to Paris for a study abroad trip. Justice and I took as many classes together as possible since high school. The one time we didn’t, she met Terrence, who couldn’t take his eyes off her. The shy freshman with the junior football player who shed his playboy persona faster than he could chase after Jay. Madison came back, heard the ex she wanted again was smitten with my friend, and hasn’t let her quest go ever since. She uses every chance she gets to toy with Jay since she and Terrence run into each other on occasion for work.
I don’t care if Terrence has a diamond tip between his legs. It costs nothing to display human decency. A decent person wouldn’t go after someone in a committed relationship, but here she is in Vail.
This is our first girls’ trip since Justice and Terrence split. I wanted it to be memorable, a fresh start with toasty drinks and hot men to keep us warm in a mountain setting that reminds Jay of those cheesy movies she loves. That was the plan, at least. One that took a considerable amount of planning, secrecy, and gentle kidnapping when I showed up at her house yesterday and told her to get on a plane without details or explanation.
Justice struggled through her first Christmas alone, prompting me to speed up our annual getaway by a month. Because that’s what we do; pick each other up when we’re down. God knows she’s dusted me off more than once.
“Do you still love him? I know we swept this conversation under the rug, but now might be a good time to revisit it, given the circumstances.”
Brown eyes weighed in sadness flick to mine. The smile Justice struggles to hold falls. “I’m so mad at him,” she says between sobs.
A tightness seizes my throat. Watching my best friend cope with early pregnancy losses and the end of her marriage was agony. It still is. She deserves the world, and it breaks my heart that the wounds she’s fighting to heal reopened.
I wrap her in a hug, my bracelets chiming against her oversized charcoal sweater. No man will have this much power over me. “Whatever you decide, I’m here for you. And if we need to get Madison out of the way, I’ll push her off the mountain myself.”
Justice snorts through a ragged sigh. “Love you.”
“Love you back.”
“Sure you don’t want to stay in?”
“Not since the last time you asked five minutes ago!”
“Smartass!” I chuckle and reach for my mascara.
“I am smart and happen to have a great ass!” Justice’s voice carries through the living area separating our bedrooms, a world of knotted wood flooring and earth tones between us. The valley is now at rest, darkness covering the small town encased in mountains. Lights from nearby businesses and homes twinkle in the moonlight. It’s freezing but gorgeous here.
After the surprise cameos, I assumed Justice would want to hole up with room service andGirlfriendsreruns. Given the circumstances, her elder tendencies are fair game, but she surprised me by getting ready for the first of many events happening at the retreat this week.
She’s not ready to date again. A relationship isn’t on the table or the purpose of this trip. Sex is a different story—if Jay wants someone to blow seven months’ worth of cobwebs off her vagina. Doubtful, but we’ll see.
Who wouldn’t feel appreciated with a week’s worth of doting from admirers you’ll never see again? They would treasure her like the queen she is and be a reminder life isn’t over if your marriage is.
Tonight’s event is a ’90s pajama party, one about to get my lack of rhythm and her blues.
My phone buzzes next to my makeup bag I’m sifting through for red lipstick.
Declined.
Carter can go find someone else’s ass to crawl up and suffocate. Between his nonstop messages and Terrence here to mix and mingle, we need to turn this trip from a future funeral to a celebration fast. If that means dancing off-beat, so be it. Tonight, we’re wiping the slate clean, from Madison and Terrence.
Miles?
This little Bodie reunion is a rash on my ass. I can handle Terrence, and Iwillhandle Madison if she tries anything else. Miles requires me to be at the top of my game. He’ll show his whole ass otherwise.
What an ass it is.
Hush.
“Ready.” Justice breaks through the memory of Miles pinning me to the wall with his stare at my body wrapped in a towel. Twoyears clearly wasn’t long enough to stay away. She pops through the oak-framed door, looking like an extra from a TLC music video, down to her oversized tee and slouch socks. Lips once bowed from frowns now curl at the corners. “Don’t.”
“Sistah, sistahhh!” I belt into my lipstick with 702 intentions that misses the mark. Tia and Tamera have a long-lost sibling.
She cackles. “You’re one to talk, Ms. Andra Day. Now rise up from that ottoman so we can get this party started.”
