Come Fly With Me by Addison Fox Read Free Book Online Page A

heavy
thwapping
of the running belts of both treadmills, before Sloan spoke again. “You looked a little uncomfortable last night. I mean, when you got over being really happy to see Mick and all.”
    Grier heard the thread of concern through Sloan’steasing tone and wondered if she was that obvious. “I’m not going to ignore the man.”
    “Oh no? It seemed you were doing a pretty good job of it over the past few weeks.”
    “It was the holidays. I’m sure it’s a busy time for him, with delivering packages and stuff. And then I was out of town.”
    “And you were avoiding him,” Sloan said, contributing to the litany of excuses.
    “I was not.”
    Sloan hit the speed on her machine with a heavy laugh. “Since delivering packages was the best you could come up with on short notice, I’m calling your bluff. You may be an awesome mathematician, but you’re a lousy liar.”
    “All I meant was that he was busy.”
    Sloan nodded her head as her breathing grew heavier with the effects of her run. Despite the increased effort, it couldn’t counterbalance the wicked gleam in her blue gaze. “And I’m in awe of your thoughtful understanding.”
    Grier hopped off the treadmill as her machine registered four miles, then crossed the room toward the weight rack. Although she usually followed the treadmill with the elliptical, the heavy weights would be a pleasant diversion from the hot seat.
    “He’s interested in you,” Sloan added in a reasonable voice.
    “Did you and Avery practice this?”
    “And you’re interested in him.”
    Grier reached for matched ten-pound weights andbegan a slow repetition of biceps curls. “I’d also skip a workout every day if it didn’t mean an ass the size of Washington. Just because I want something doesn’t mean I can have it.”
    “So why are you making this so hard?”
    “Because it is hard, Sloan. It’s really hard. And my life’s not going to wrap up in a nice neat bow, smack in the middle of Indigo, like yours is.”
    As soon as the words were out, Grier wished she could pull them back.
    Wanted to pull them back.
    Even though she was sort of relieved they were out.
    She could only thank a decade and a half of friendship that instead of causing a rift, Sloan saw straight through to what was underneath the biting remark. With quick movements, she stopped her machine and was across the room. She took the weights and settled them back on the rack before turning around, her gaze full of understanding.
    “You want to tell me what this is really all about?”
    “We’re talking about Mick and me.”
    “Yes, but what else? You and Mick have nothing to do with me.”
    The slight sense of relief she’d felt was rapidly beginning to feel petty and small, but she owed it to Sloan to see her words through.
    “It’s just slowly dawning on me that you’re staying here. And I’m happy for you. So happy.” Grier slashed a hand at her cheeks, irritated that not only was she making an ass of herself, but she was crying, too.
    “We’ll still be friends.”
    “Of course we will be. I’ll hunt you down and hurt you if we aren’t. But I’m not going to see you all the time and that fact is just beginning to register.”
    Sloan beckoned her over to sit on a nearby weight bench. “You’re the sister of my heart, Grier. Nothing will change that. Not Walker. Not Alaska. Nothing.”
    “I know.” A heavy sob escaped her as she nodded her head. “I do know that.”
    Sloan wrapped an arm around her. “And I’m sorry that you’re in pain right now. That life is just so freaking shitty sometimes.”
    She laid her head on her friend’s shoulder, the acceptance and understanding going a long way toward making the pain just a little more palatable. “Thanks.”
    “Especially when mine’s so not shitty,” Sloan whispered.
    At that, Grier lifted her head. “Oh, Sloan. I’m happy for you. So very happy for you. Don’t think for a single minute I’d take that away from