Page 43 of The Friendship Pact

“We figured they might come in handy,” Maggie said with a knowing smile.

“Hilarious, but we’re just—”

“Friends,” the girls chorused. “We know.”

Alexis returned to the table with a tray of drinks in her hand. “Don’t mind them. They’re just having fun. They don’t seem to know what just friends means.”

Kate wondered if Alexis was speaking from experience.

“I think it’s time to post a picture,” Paige said with a grin.

* * *

After wiping off the grime from the day, Nick exited the shower and dressed in his favorite faded jeans and blue Henley. He had a bachelor party to attend, and he didn’t want to be late. Cole, in charge of the party, had arranged for time at the high school batting cages, then they’d head to Cole’s place. At least that had been the plan until Nick received a text from his brother: Where are the girls hanging out tonight?

How would I know? Nick typed back.

Ask Kate.

Nick stared at his phone. If Ethan and Owen didn’t know, the girls obviously didn’t want them interrupting their plans.

Why? he texted.

We want to join them after batting practice.

Not a bad idea. He wouldn’t mind spending time with Kate. He sent one last text to Cole: Fine. See you soon.

He grabbed his keys off the counter. While he warmed his truck, he texted Kate. He decided on the direct approach: Where’s the party tonight?

She responded immediately with a smiley face. Sorry, but it’s a secret. Paige says to tell the guys to stop asking and have fun because we are.

Nick smiled. Tonight might prove interesting. Between Zeke, former special forces with a prior link to the intelligence community, and Owen, a former Navy SEAL, they’d find out. It was only a matter of time until they crashed the party.

* * *

From the vehicles in the otherwise abandoned parking lot, it looked like Nick was the last to arrive at the high school.

He hadn’t been inside the small gym, the original gymnasium, since the “big” gym was built after he graduated. Four lanes of net batting cages with divider curtains and artificial turf filled the space.

He joined his friends by the cages. “Nice to see you again, Ben.” Nick had heard from Zeke that Ben, Owen’s best friend, had been invited to the wedding when he’d been in attendance at a game night at Paige and Ethan’s when they announced their wedding date. One of the many fun nights Nick had missed because of the job.

“You too, Nick. Heard you became Sheriff. Congrats.”

“Thanks.”

After an hour in the batting cage, betting and challenging each other, they packed up their things.

“Owen, any word from Maggie?” Ethan asked his brother-in-law.

Owen pulled his phone from his pocket after putting his equipment away. “Not yet.”

Their local intelligence network had provided no clues as to the whereabouts of the women. But then a notification came over the Town Talk app.

Nick scrolled through the app on his phone. He stared at the photo just posted. Kate and the rest of the bachelorette party attendees were dressed as sexy rock stars straight out of the ’80s. He enlarged the photo to see what each girl held in their hands. Paige and Alexis each held an inflatable guitar, but what caught his eye was Kate, who wore a short, sexy black dress and dangled pink furry handcuffs from a fingertip. A grin graced her lips. And suddenly he wished he knew how that smile tasted. If only he had kissed her while snowshoeing. His jeans tightened. He reminded himself they were friends. Just friends.

“Let me see that.”

Nick handed Cole his phone. Cole zoomed in on the background. “Guys, we found them! They’re at the lodge.”