Just Friends by Roxanne Riley
Chapter One
Lizzy
Crossing the state line felt like a weight lifted off my chest. I’ve been away from here far too long. California isn’t my hometown, or even my home state, but it’s the place that’s always felt the most like home.
Specifically, this beach town called Lacqua Bend, and even though I still have a ways to go before I officially get there, there’s still something immediately comforting about knowing that I’m really back. And even though I left Montana behind me yesterday, it’s almost like now I’m finally free of it.
I roll down my window. I’m near enough to the coastline that I can just catch a faint whiff of the ocean on the air, and I feel a massive smile spreading over my face. One of the first things I want to do is spend a day down at the beach. I’ve missed it more than I expected to over the last five years.
I grew up in Phoenix, used to dry, stale, dusty desert heat, and I’d hated it. So my very first day in California, as a scared little college freshman, just shy of 18, that first whiff of salt-tinged air had hooked me.
But after graduation, I’d struggled to find work, and with the high cost of rent, it had been a battle just to keep afloat. And so when I’d gotten the offer in Montana, it had been too good to pass up.
Or at least that’s what I’d decided at the time.
I decide to stop dwelling on all of that, though, instead appreciating the sunny future ahead of me. I’m only about twenty minutes away now from the apartment complex that I’m going to be calling my new home.
I’m glad I remember my way around, my phone died a few hours ago and I don’t have a phone charger. Theoretically I could stop and pick one up at a gas station somewhere or something, but it’s not like I’m really worried about anyone trying to reach me.
It’s a depressing thought, but sadly it’s true. The only friends I’m in close contact with are used to waiting a while to hear from me. And I can count them on my fingers.
Rather than letting that get to me, however, I crank up some music and let my mind go blank. Finally, I pull up at my new apartment complex and park outside the leasing office. Getting out of the car feels amazing, my aching body glad to be out of the car.
I’d done most of the driving yesterday, then spent the night in a motel before leaving early this morning. My tailbone in particular was definitely feeling the impact of the hours in the car, and the soreness radiated deep into my lower back.
So just being on my feet and getting the chance to fully stretch is a sweet relief. I take a moment to appreciate the warm sunshine while I work the stiffness from my limbs, then head up the steps and into the office.
The bell over the door jingles as I step inside, and the young woman inside looks up at the sound. “Hello,” she says pleasantly, “How can I help you?”
“Um, hi, my name is Elizabeth Addison, I’m a new tenant?”
“Oh, yes, Ms. Addison, I’m so sorry, we’ve been trying to reach you,” she says, wincing.
So much for that. Guess I should have grabbed a car charger after all.
“We did a final inspection on your unit and unfortunately we discovered an issue we need to fix before we can move you in.”
“Like a ‘few hours’ kind of issue, or a ‘possibly a month’ kind of issue?” I ask nervously.
“Well,” she grimaces, “It will be a ‘few hours’ kind of issue…once our guys get the part that’s going to be delivered in three business days.”
Well, it’s not ideal, but it’s not nearly the worst-case scenario my pessimistic brain could conjure. “If we had another open unit, I’d set you up in a second, but at the moment, we’re pretty full up. However, to make up for the inconvenience, we’ve already made hotel arrangements for you.”
Her tone is apologetic, and I feel a stab of sympathy. She’s around my age, and I can see from the look on her face that she’s dealt with similar situations and gotten yelled at about it. And while the situation is a bit of a hassle, it’s not the end of the world. I can deal with a hotel for a few days.
“Can I go ahead and get paperwork taken care of in the meantime?” I ask hopefully, “So I don’t have to worry about that later and I can just come pick up my key?”
An expression of relief washes over her face and she smiles. “Absolutely, Ms. Addison,” she says happily.
“Please, Lizzy,” I correct her.
“Lizzy. Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Lizzy, I’m Emily,” she offers me a hand to shake.
“Nice to meet you,” I smile and shake her hand.
She retrieves a folder from a filing cabinet and from it, pulls out a stack of papers. The two of us go through them and I sign a dozen or so papers to claim my new home. Once I’m finished, Emily gives me a note with the address of my hotel and apologizes again.
“It’s not your fault,” I tell her, “And hey, better to get it taken care of beforehand, right?”
She nods. “Absolutely.”
With that, I bid her goodbye and head back out to my car.
At least one positive thing, I’d managed to fit all of my boxes into my own car and hadn’t needed to rent a moving van. So at least I don’t have to worry about extra rental fees for that. I could deal with a few nights in a hotel. Hell, maybe it will be better, giving me a little rest after the trip before I have to start unpacking.
The address isn’t too far from here, and I make my way there in just a few minutes. I check in and get a room key, and in just a few more minutes, I’m settling into a comfortable room. I dig my phone charger out of my suitcase and bring the poor dead thing back to life.
Once it powers back on, I can see the slew of missed calls from the leasing office, and when I check my voicemail, I recognize Emily’s increasingly desperate voice on each one.
And I have a text waiting. I smile to myself. I knew they’d be in touch. Two of my three best friends, Mason Evans, and Trent Mitchell. The main reason this place feels so much like home.
My other best friend, River Sokol, is also a local, and unlike the guys, she actually knows I’m moving back here. But unfortunately, she’s out of town to be a bridesmaid in a cousin’s wedding and wouldn’t be back until next week.
I’d decided to keep my big move a secret from them, though, and that had honestly been the hardest thing about this move. I can’t wait to spill the beans, but I also know that it’ll be worth it for the looks on their faces when I surprise them.
Originally, I’d been planning to stop by their place tomorrow, intending to spend today unloading my car and starting to unpack. But since that obviously isn’t going to happen, maybe I can go see them early.
The idea definitely perks me up, but I decide to shower and clean myself up before I do, feeling a bit rumpled and stale-smelling from all the time in the car. So I dig some clean clothes out and hop in the hotel shower.
My excitement mounts. I haven’t seen them in way too long, and I’ve missed them. The three of us have a group chat where we talk every day, but it’s not the same.
We all met in college; the two of them were roommates and I lived in the dorm across the hall, and after finding out I had classes with both of them, I’d just sort of put together a study group that had turned into a lifelong friendship. Even when I moved away, they stayed in touch, and even when my ex chased the majority of my friends out of my life, it was those two and River who stuck with me.
I rinse myself clean and grab a towel, hastily drying off. I towel-dry my long, blonde hair and twist the still-damp locks into a loose braid, then throw on the clean outfit. Most of my makeup is packed up, but I have a tube of mascara and some lip gloss in my purse, so that’ll have to be enough.
After a quick application, I give my reflection one last appraisal. It’s certainly not the best I’ve ever looked, but it’s definitely not bad, either. I remind myself that I don’t have to impress them, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting to.
I’d had crushes on both of them all through college, though I never acted on it, for a multitude of reasons.
But we’re adults now, I tell myself, surely I’m over that. And if I’m not…well, I’ll just have to cross that bridge when I come to it. I check the charge on my phone and see that it’s made it to a whopping 80 percent, so I unplug it and stuff it into my purse. I make sure I’ve got the room key for the hotel, then head down to my car, fishing my keys from my purse as I walk.
One of the biggest selling points of the apartment I’d chosen was that its location was its proximity to both the house the guys share, and River’s apartment. So, it doesn’t take me much time before I’m turning onto their street, my heart racing. I park in front of their place and step out.
Both of their cars are parked in the driveway, and I smile at the sight of Mason’s beat-up little Honda. There had been a lot of late-night adventures in that car, the three of us going on late night caffeine runs for cram sessions, or munchies after an incident involving some pot brownies. The surge of happy memories is just one more reminder that I’m really home.
I make my way up their porch and take a deep breath before hitting the bell.