Page 35 of Best Friends for Never

It’s silly, really, to think he’d never date or move on from fleeting feelings as a teenager. I knew he would, and heck, even I’ve dated a bit. But I still don’t like it.

“Nothing serious,” he continues, the firelight dancing in his eyes as he watches it burn. “Nothing that lasted. Nothing that ever meant ...”

He doesn’t finish his sentence, but he doesn’t have to.

He means us. Nothing that ever meant something like what we had.

I’m not sure if that makes me happy or sad, and I don’t have time to figure it out before the back door slams against the frame, and my mother comes bounding across the lawn.

“I just heard from the Community Hall, and they say we can host the first fundraiser there,” my mother says as she takes the empty chair beside me.

“Fundraiser?” Noel asks. “What are we raising funds for?”

“The theater.” Mom takes a sip of what I know is coffee spiked with bourbon. It’s her go-to drink when she wants to unwind. She always says, “A nice nightcap for a nice day.” “Even with the town’s approved budget for itandthe donation, we’re still looking at a steep uphill battle to cover the rest of the renovation. We’re going to fundraise for it.”

“You’re renovating on only half a budget?”

Half?Not even.

I shrug at Noel’s question. “It’s not a big deal. I know the town will come through.”

Or at least I hope they do. Most of the town is on board for the restoration, but there are a few who have strong feelings opposing it. I’m hoping once they see how excited everyone else is about it, they’ll change their minds.

“And if they don’t?”

“If they don’t, Parker plans to use her own money to cover some and take out a loan for the other part.”

Noel sits forward, frowning over at me. “You’re kidding.”

“She’s not,” my mother answers before I can.

I hitch my thumb her way. “What she said.”

“Parker, you can’t do that. That’s ...”

“Farcical? Heedless? Perhaps even unhinged?”

“Are you finished, Ms. Always Wins at Scrabble?” I shoot my mom a glare before turning back to Noel. “It’s my money, and I’ll do with it as I wish.”

“But that’sa lotof money.”

“I know that.”

“I can—”

“Don’t,” I snap. “Don’t.”

He knows what I mean, just like I know what he was about to do—offer to pay for what the donation isn’t covering.

But I don’t want his money, and more than that, I don’tneedhis money.

“Fine. But don’t you want to use your savings for something else? A house? A car? A family?”

A family? Is he serious? There’s nobody here I want to have a family with. Nobody except ... I shake away the thought.

“I already own a house, and what do I need a car for? I don’t go anywhere, and everything in Emerald Grove is walkable. A car seems like just another hindrance to the environment, is all.”

“You tell him, sister.” My mother holds her palm up, and I slap it. “I raised you well.”

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