Everything we found was either too far from our offices, too expensive, or too gross. I was pretty sure one of the apartments we’d looked at used to be a drug den.
Gotta love house hunting in the city.
“Where are you looking to move?” Rhys asked.
“Ideally downtown, anywhere close to the red line,” I said. The red line dropped me off right at Thayer, and the fewer metro transfers I had to endure, the better.
A thoughtful expression crossed his face. “I know someone who owns a building downtown. He may be able to help. Don’t know if he has any openings, but I’ll ask.”
Stella’s eyebrows shot up. “He owns the entire building?”
Rhys shrugged. His shoulders were so massive the movement was akin to mountains shaking. “He’s into real estate investment.”
“That would be great.” I gave Alex a pointed stare. “At least someone in real estate can help us.”
Alex was CEO of The Archer Group, the largest real estate development company in the country.
I was joking about him helping us, but he actually responded instead of ignoring me. “My properties are full, unless you want to sleep in a shopping center or office building.”
“Hmm.” I tapped a finger on my chin. “The shopping center has potential. I love clothes.”
“Me too,” Stella agreed.
Alex looked unamused.
“Speaking of real estate development…” Ava said as Josh reappeared with a drink in hand. He slid into the empty chair next to Alex’s, taking great care not to look at his ex-best friend. “One of Alex’s business associates has a new ski resort in Vermont, and we bought tickets for the grand opening to support him. Four tickets, to be exact, so we can bring two guests. Bridget and Rhys, I know you guys won’t be here, and Stella, you mentioned you have a big event in New York the last weekend of March…”
Stella was always getting invited to fancy fashion events because of her blog, but if she couldn’t make it, and Bridget and Rhys couldn’t make it, that left…
Oh no.
“Josh, Jules, what do you think? We can all go together.” Ava beamed. “It’ll be so much fun!”
A weekend trip with Josh? I’d have more fun getting a root canal without Novocain, but Ava looked so excited I couldn’t bear to say no, especially on her birthday.
“Yay.” I tried to summon as much enthusiasm as I could. “Can’t wait.”
“I would love to, but…” Josh grimaced, doing the worst job of faking remorse I’d ever seen. “I’m working that weekend.”
Thank God.I could handle third wheeling it if it meant I wouldn’t have to—
“Too bad.” Ava didn’t blink an eye at her brother’s response. “The resort has a triple black diamond.”
Josh’s glass froze halfway to his lips. “You’re shitting me.”
My stomach sank. Josh was a notorious adrenaline junkie, and there were few things more adrenaline-inducing than the most dangerous type of ski trail in the world. It was like waving premium powder under a cocaine addict’s nose.
“Nope.” Ava sipped her drink while Stella stared at her phone, barely hiding her grin, and Rhys and Bridget exchanged amused glances. Alex was the only one who showed no visible reaction. “I know you’ve always wanted to ski on one, but since you have to work…”
“I think I can trade shifts,” Josh said after a long pause.
“Great!” Ava’s eyes sparkled in a way that set off my inner alarm bells. “It’s settled then. You, me, Alex, and Jules are going to Vermont.”
Josh’s strained smile mirrored my own. We didn’t agree on much, but he didn’t have to say it for me to know we agreed on at least one thing.
The trip wouldn’t end well. At all.