Page 50 of Best Friends for Never

It’s part of what helped us bond in the way we did all those years ago. I just never expected it to be the same reason we fell apart.

I busy myself with reading the other headstones in the cemetery, though I’ve done it a hundred times before, and wait patiently while Noel has his moment.

I’m unsure how much time passes before he finally joins me, his pinkie brushing against mine.

“Hey,” he says quietly.

“Hey,” I respond like a dolt. I move my hand away as subtly as possible, not because I don’twantto touch Noel, but because I want to touch him far too much.

If he cares or notices, he doesn’t mention it.

“Thank you, Peter. For taking care of them, I mean. That means ...” He looks out over the top of my head, his eyes, which are rimmed red with unshed tears, narrowing for a moment before he peers back down at me. “It means a lot. I know those aren’t fancy words, but they’re all I have. So yeah, thank you.”

He’s right. They aren’t fancy words, but they’re exactly what I need to hear.

“Anytime.”

He nods, then clears his throat. “So, lunch?”

I smile. “Lunch sounds good.”

“Holy macaroni and cheese. I didn’t expect this place to be this packed,” I say as we squeeze—and I really do meansqueezebecause this placeis standing room only—through the front door of Rossi Café. “I don’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t this.”

“You kidding me? The second I saw that wall, I knew this place was going to be fucking buzzing.”

“That wall was your idea.”

“Well, I guess I’m just that good.”

I smack his stomach, and I really, really shouldn’t have.

It’s hard and bumpy, andmy gosh, how many abs does he have under there? Sure, I’ve seen him shirtless in his movies—it’s practically a requirement for every film of his—but I didn’t think they’d bethisnice in real life.

“Peter?”

“Hmm?”

“Are you feeling me up right now?”

I jerk my hand away, realizing that, yes, Iwasfeeling him up.

Heat steals up my cheeks, and I duck my head in mortification.

He laughs, and I want to smack him once more, but I’m too afraid I’ll accidentally start groping him again.

“Parker!”

Oh, thank heavens.

“Gianna!” I call out to the woman waving at me from behind the counter. “Come on,” I tell Noel as I start toward her.

We make our way to the side of the front counter, and Gianna bounces over, her smile worth a million bucks. She shoves through the door we’ve built into the side and throws her arms around my neck.

“This is incredible, Parker!” She squeezes me tightly. “I cannot believe it. Everyone is gushing and cannot stop talking about the waterfall on the accent wall. And the wall color? Ugh. The sage issoperfect!”

“I’m so glad you like it, but, Gianna?”

“Yes?”

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