Page 33 of Best Friends for Never

It’s my turn to shrug. “I didn’t think it would matter.”

“You didn’t think ...” He shakes his head. “Of course it matters, Parker. You’re the reason I’m back.”

“No,” I argue as I reach for the shredded cheese and spread a spoonful over the top of my tots. “Thedonoris the reason you’re back. Trust me, naming this theater after you wasn’t my decision.”

“Why? Because it’s such an awful thing to do?”

“Because it’s tacky, and I know you agree, so don’t argue.”

He gives me no indication I’m right, but I know him well enough to know that I am. He hates the theater’s new name as much as I do.

“Why not tell me?” he asks, this time more commanding and less gentle. “That theater ... You know what it means to me.”

“I know what itmeantto you.”

“For the love of ...” He growls—actuallygrowls—and, my gosh, is it the hottest thing I’ve ever heard. “Am I ever going to live this down? Am I ever not going to get punished for leaving and living my life?”

“I never said that.”

“Well, it sure feels like it, and that’s not fair. Webothknow it’s not fair.” He leans into me, that cologne of his hitting my nose, making me lose focus. “Because as I recall, I asked you to come with me, Peter, and you’re the one who told me no.”

My hands pause, and I swallow the sudden lump in my throat.

Just like he knows it’s not fair that I’m upset with him for leaving, I know it’s not fair for me to act like this rift between us is all his fault.

Because it’s not. I’m to blame for a lot of it, and if he thinks the guilt of that hasn’t eaten away at me over the years, he’s wrong.

But I’m tired of feeling guilty. If we’re going to get through this ceremony, we need to move on.

“You’re right,” I tell him, setting the cheese on the counter and turning toward him. “You’re right, Noel. We should put this behind us. But if we do, that means we also put all thingsAxelbehind us too. You’re not allowed to be mean to my business partner.”

“You need to tell that tohim. I’m pretty sure that Goliath would have tried to fight me this morning.”

I snort out a laugh, turning back to my tots with a grin. “Oh, he so would have. And it would have been glorious.”

“Seeing me pummeled would have gotten you off, huh?”

Suddenly, I’m not laughing anymore. Or smiling.

No.

All I’m thinking about are the very real words Noel just uttered and how suddenly it’s very hot in this kitchen.

It’s the oven,I tell myself. That’s what it has to be. No way is it because I’m now thinking of all the ways Noel couldget me off.

“So sorry about that.” My mother breezes back into the kitchen like she wasn’t just waiting out in the hallway for a break in the conversation. She thinks she’s so sneaky, but I’m onto her. “I had to change the record, then Larissa called, and you know how she loves to gab. She wanted to inform me that Noel was back in town, like I didn’t know.” She rolls her eyes with a grin. “Anyway, what’d I miss? Are our tots ready?”

I look at Noel’s heaping pile of toppings, which will take forever to cook evenly, then at my pitiful mound, and nod. “Sure, let’s get them in the oven. I need a drink.”

“Oh! Noel brought wine coolers,” she says, pointing to the carton of drinks on the counter.

Of course he did.

“Here, let me.” Noel grabs a bottle of Watermelon Lime.

It’s my favorite drink, and I haven’t had it since the summer he left. Not since I got drunk on them and cried to my mother about everything that happened with us, how in love with him I was, and how I wanted to kiss him again so badly that I ached.

Sometimes I still feel that way.

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