Page 8 of Force Play
“I was just with somebody last night,” I argue.
Ella gives me a disbelieving look. “But did you bring her back to your place?”
I let out a sigh. “No, I didn’t.”
“Who was it that had poor taste last night?” Lucia snarks.
“Taylor,” I shrug.
“She sounds pretty.”
I emphatically roll my eyes since Lucia clearly doesn’t know the first thing about Taylor.
“So,” I state, moving the conversation along. “What I’m gathering here is that you need a new place to live, but you refuse to live with any of your friends who have space for you. So your plan is… what?”
“I’ll figure it out,” Lucia replies, annoyed.
“Yeah, seems like that’s going well for you so far.”
She puts her hands on her hips and stares me down. “I’m not living with you, Ari.”
“I’ll be sure to find you a nice cardboard box then.”
Wait.
Did I just insinuate Luciashouldlive with me?
That sounds like a recipe for disaster.
But as much as I dislike her, I also don’t want to see her on the street because she’s too prideful to accept her friends’ help.
Lucia huffs. “You’re annoying.”
I can’t help but laugh. “Well aware of that, Spitfire.” I turn and wave at the other women, including Liv, who has now come back to join the others. “I’m leaving you guys to deal with this.”
I quickly exit the group and make a beeline straight for the fridge.
I need another beer after the direction that conversation took.
I’m almost certain this won’t be the last I hear about this arrangement.
After I grab my beer, I head out to the balcony. There’s a chill in the November air, but after nearly two years in New York City, I’m getting used to that again.
I sip in peace before I hear the door open behind me and watch as Cole and Knox come out to join me.
“Hey,” I nod, resting my bottle on the railing in front of me.
Knox looks me over curiously, taking note of my thin tee. “Okay, Pierce I get,” he says, gesturing to Cole next to him in a short-sleeve T-shirt. “But you’re not a native New Yorker either, Ari. How the hell aren’t you cold right now?”
I chuckle. “I’m getting used to it. Plus, I spent the first ten years of my life in South Korea. Not too different from New York, honestly.”
He adjusts the sleeves of his hoodie to bring them down farther. “I’m the only damn southerner in our friend group.”
Cole tips his head back and laughs. “You’re from fucking Virginia, man.”
“Which is technically in the south,” Knox replies.
“You remember Luc and Ell are both from Southern California, right? I’m not sure those two will ever get used to NYC.”
