Page 128 of Best Friends for Never

“Thankyoufor tonight,” I counter. “I had fun.”

“Even though you had to see yourself shirtless?”

“Do I always stand like that? My hands on my hips?”

She laughs. “No. And you looked great, so hush.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

She burrows into me more, tucking her face against me and pressing soft kisses against my chest. “I’m going to miss you, you know.”

It’s the first time she’s brought up my leaving. The first time either of us has.

Even though it’s not forever, it’s still just too damn real to talk about.

“I’ll miss you more,” I tell her honestly because I have no doubt it’s true. Iwillmiss her more.

I’ll miss everything about her—her laugh, her smile, the way her eyes light up when she sees Tater Tots. Or how even after all these years, she still looks at this town with wonder and love. I’ll miss how kind she is, like when people stop to chat with her when she’s in a hurry or is so tired she can barely stand but she still makes time for them and genuinely listens.

Then, of course, I’ll miss other parts of her—the ones I get all to myself, like how the sun dances off her skin in the early-morning glow. The way her hazel eyes brighten to almost a full green after an orgasm. That damn freckle that sits under her tits. And how she breathes my name like a sigh of relief whenever she comes.

So, yeah, I’ll definitely miss her more.

“Go to sleep,” I tell her. “You’ll need the rest for the plans I have for you tomorrow.”

“Hmm. Fine. But only because I’m exhausted.” She kisses me again. “Good night, Noel.”

“Night, Peter.”

Her soft snores fill the room only a few moments later.

As for me? I don’t get an ounce of sleep, and I know it’s because I’m too afraid to miss a moment of this.

Chapter Eighteen

Parker

When Noel told me he was leaving early, I wasn’t as surprised as he probably expected me to be.

That day we ran into Figgins, I felt something brewing. I prepared myself for the possibility that Noel would leave before our six weeks were up, and I swore that no matter how soul-crushing it felt, I would put on a brave face and make the most of our days left together.

I think I’ve done a good job of keeping that promise.

We’ve spent the last several days wrapped in nothing but one another. It feels just like before, with us being so attached at the hip. Wherever he goes, I go, and vice versa. I even went to the gym with him yesterday, and I’ve lived here twenty years and never once stepped foot inside it until then. I learned I hated burpees but would suffer through a hundred if it meant one more minute with Noel.

“You’re walking like you fell down a flight of stairs.”

“That’s because Ifeellike I did.”

He laughs. “It was one day in the gym.”

“And for someone who never goes, it was rough.”

I shuffle through the aisles of Jill’s Bait & Tackle. We’re grabbing supplies for Tater Tot Tuesday. When I asked Noel if he was sure thiswas how he wanted to spend his last night here, he looked at me like I’d just asked him to fly to the moon.

“What’s on the list again?” I ask him.

“We don’t have a list, remember? You insisted you’d remember everything and then stole my pen while I was trying to make a list because I knew you were lying.”

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