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"I wasn’t out to get him back What happened between us justhappened"
"And then you ran out on hiain So what does that mean?"
Sometimes her best friend irritated the crap out of her "It doesn’t , other than we’ve both been busy"
"Or, it ot exactly what you wanted from him, and now you have no more use for him"
Frustrated, she shook her head "That’s not what it ain"
"I didn’t say that, either"
"So you’re done with him"
She laid her head in her hands "You make me crazy, Stella"
"It’s a particular talent of mine"
Carolina lifted her head "It just happened between us It didn’t really ether, and now it’s probably over Except I a hiain"
Stella leaned back and sipped her tea "And how do you feel about that?"
Carolina let out a sigh "Stella, spending a lunch hour with you is a lot like talking to a therapist"
"So, you do feel so for hiiant pain in my ass"
"That’s what best friends are for"
• • •
TWO WEEKS OF ALMOST NONSTOP ROAD GAMES WERE taking their toll on Drew They’d had one series of hoames, but it seeain
He was cranky They’d lost three gaet back to the Garden and the ho out the way anyone on the teaoing to be a dismal one
Even worse, after practice today he’d found a voiceherwith her Not to see hiether to le word or phrase she’d used in that voice ht they’d shared hadn’t even happened Couple that with the disappearing act she’d pulled, and his lousy mood had increased, if that was even possible
"You practicing your scowl for the galared at Trick "What?"
"Hey, that’s an even better one You should try that one on Vancouver tonight"
"What the hell are you talking about?"
Trick shut the door to his locker "Man, you’re gruet laid"
"Fuck you, Trick"
Trick just laughed "That ot to do with a woman A certain pretty brunette I o?"
"I don’t want to talk about Carolina"
"So it is her" Trick took a seat on the bench next to Drew "Did she dump you?"
"No, she didn’t dump me Well, maybe I don’t really know"
"You don’t know? What the hell, iven the boot by a woman you can’t tell when you’ve been dumped?"
"Actually, I’ve never been duuy has been kicked to the curb at least once You either didn’t recognize it or didn’t care And now you have, and you do care, so you don’t knohat the hell to do Like noith the hot brunette"
"Her naht Carolina So Carolina dumped you"
Maybe she had He’d never been with a woain or not He searched his memory to try and reiven hiain
Maybe there had been a few in his past, and he just hadn’t read the signals Nothing like being self-aware
But with Carolina, he had no idea He dragged his fingers through his hair "I don’t know, Trick With the road trip, I haven’t had a chance to talk to her But she does want to see ht?"
"It’s about thefor her fashion line"
"Oh" Trick slapped him on the back "Start there If you like her, it at least puts you in front of her"
"I guess I don’t know Worinned "But so much fun to play with"
THIRTEEN
CAROLINA FINISHED UP SOME PAPERWORK AND LOOKED at her phone, answering a few text es and e the one she’d gotten froames Back on Friday Will call you
Terse Noncoain, she hadn’t exactly told hireat tiether Her voice mail had been cool and professional So what had she expected in return?
She set her phone aside and went back to her paperwork, wrinkling her nose at the prospect Design was fun It fired her blood and fueled her excite else that went into starting up her business? Not so much fun She had accountants and lawyers to handle the finances and legalities, but she was the CEO of Carolina Designs, and as such, it was up to her to go over every detail, including the drudge work she didn’t enjoy
After two hours of poring over numbers, she was satisfied they were on track
Her phone buzzed
Drew
She picked it up and pushed the button
"Hi, Drew"
"Hey, yourself How’s it going?"
"Busy How about you?"
"Finally back in town"
"Away ga?"
"I’o?"
"Buzz me up and I’ll tell you"
"You’re downstairs?"
"Yeah"