Page 27 of Just Friends Forever
I laugh awkwardly and pat Lyla’s hand on my leg. “I could never take on a client who stole his signature look from me. Speaking of housing issues, Stevie, I realized I forgot to show you a little trick with the dryer, and I think your wash load is done by now, right?”
She meets my gaze intently. She knows what I’m doing. “Um, yeah. It should be.”
I smile at Lyla and push myself up from the couch. “We’ll be right back.”
“Great.” She sets her empty bowl down on the floor. “I’ll just polish off your ice cream while you’re gone.”
“You wouldn’t dare,” I say, a teasing glint in my narrowed eyes.
She smiles mischievously as I walk backwards toward the stairs, Stevie beside me. I point two fingers to my eyes, then to Lyla to let her know I’m watching.
It’s quiet as Stevie and I head down the stairs to the landing and then down the other half-set of stairs in Austin’s apartment. I know Lyla means well and is just trying to help me, but I can’t help feeling some slight frustration. I’d never want Stevie to feel like I’m using her.
When I get to the bottom of the stairs, I stop and wait for her.
She smiles, but I see through it in an instant. Or at least partially through it. I’m not totally sure what she’s feeling except that it’s not a positive emotion. I’m out of practice reading her.
“So, what’s this infamous dryer trick?” she asks in an attempt at a teasing voice. “Closing the door to start the cycle?”
I chuckle in spite of myself. “Look at you, already aware of all the tricks of the trade.”
“I’m a quick re-learner,” she says. As our gazes meet, her smile fades slightly.
“Hey, are you doing okay?”
“Yeah,” she says unconvincingly. “Just… I don’t know. Feeling a little strange, I guess.”
“I thought so.” I sigh. “Listen, Stevie. What Lyla said about the real estate thing? I’m not looking to do things that way.”
She nods. “Isthat your goal?”
“Breaking into the luxury real estate market? Yeah. Squeezing clients out of my friends? Not even close. I would never use you like that.”
She shuts her eyes. “I know. It’s just… these last few years have made me skeptical of everything and everyone. I learned the hard way—more than once—that not everyone’s motives are pure.”
I nod, immediately hating anyone who could befriend Stevie for anything besides how amazing she is. How could you possibly need anything more from someone like her?
“I hate that I’ve become cynical,” she says.
I hate it too. Stevie’s always been such a glass-half-full person. Not that I think she’s truly cynical. She’s just wary, which makes a lot of sense. Everyone glorifies fame, but there have got to be some significant trade-offs.
“I don’t even want commission on whatever you buy, okay? I just want to help you find the best possible house for you.”
“You think I’d let you do that?” she says. “What kind of a friend wouldIbe? I want to support you in your career.” She smiles slightly. “Besides, if I let you sell me a house for free, I’d wake up to my name on a list of the stingiest celebrities.”
I raise my brows. “That’s rich coming from the person who refused to share her deep fried twinkie with me at the fair.”
“That again?! Troy, you specifically said you didn’t want one when I asked if—” She stops when she sees my grin.
I love getting a rise out of Stevie with mis-told memories.
“You’re the worst, Troy Sheppard.” She looks at me, and her expression softens. “And also the best. Thank you. For all you’re doing for me.”
I pull her into a hug like I’ve done a hundred times. She’s a perfect fit. A perfect, platonic fit. “Hey, you got me through the faux hawk daysandmy Chris Brown phase.”
Her shoulders shake with a laugh. “Oof. Yeah, that was rough. Guess we’re even.”
We pull apart, and her eyes shine as we smile at each other.
