Page 72 of Best Friends for Never

Since we’ve been here, I’ve barely looked up at the Falls. I haven’t paid much attention to the vast swimming hole, which is the perfect shade of blue green. And I have hardly even taken in the way the sun’s rays bounce off the surrounding trees.

I’ve been too busy staring at her, unable to say anything because I’m terrified that my next words will be entirely inappropriate.

“—tell you about how Jules from the frozen yogurt shop and Hank down at the library were caught out here necking?”

“What?”

She whips her head over to me. “Were you not listening?”

“Sorry. Distracted by the”—Don’t look at her tits. Don’t look at her tits.—“the views.”

“It is pretty out here, huh?” She sets the now half-eaten bag of grapes to the side, wiping her hands on her shorts. “Anyway, I asked if Gran told you about Jules and Hank getting caught out here with their pants down. Well, they didn’t actually have their pants down. Or maybe they did. I don’t know. The rumors have been running wild, par for the course for Emerald Grove.”

I laugh. “No, Gran didn’t mention that, but I’m not surprised. Jules is a looker.”

Parker rolls her eyes. “You always did have a thing for her.”

“It wasn’t athing.”

“Please. The number of times you went in there with no money in your pockets just to get a peek at her was sad.”

“It wasn’t that bad.” I chance a look at her. “Was it?”

“It was definitely obvious.”

I groan. “Do you think Jules knew?”

“Are you kidding? Shelovedthe attention. I bet if you walked in there now, she’d faint.”

“I did hear her bid at the auction last night.” I scratch at my face before remembering my battle wounds from Pumpkin. “Maybe you should have let her win.” Parker’s hazel stare turns icy. “What? It’s clear she would have known her way out here better than you did.”

“Hey! I told you to turn right, but no, you wanted to go left.”

“Because left was the correct way to go.”

“Obviously it wasn’t, or we’d have been out here an hour earlier. Have you really spent so much time in California that you’ve forgotten the way here?”

“I guess so.” I shrug, though I don’t love knowing that Ihaveforgotten the path to one of my favorite places. It’s just another reminder I’ve been gone for far too long.

“Do you like it out there? In LA, I mean.”

I nod. “I do. There’s always something to do, I’ve made some good friends, and the weather is perfect.”

“Why do I feel like there’s more you’re not saying?”

I chuckle. “Because there is. The lack of privacy definitely sucks. I know it comes with the gig and all that, but sometimes it’s just too much, you know? I can’t even go to the grocery store without it being a whole thing. Constantly having my personal life splashed across the internet isn’t exactly ideal either. But I love making movies, so I guess I just have to deal with it.”

She shakes her head. “I don’t know how you do it. I couldn’t imagine. I don’twantto imagine. That’s not the kind of life I’d want to live, no matter how much I’m getting paid.”

I understand why she’d feel that way. The media scrutiny is certainly not for the faint of heart. But to hear her flat-out say she’d never want to be part of my world ... It makes me sad in a way I hadn’t anticipated, because what does that mean for us? Does it mean Parker would still never come to LA? Does it mean she’s already written off being friends after I leave?

The thought turns my stomach sour. I know Astrid said even the strongest people have their limits, but I can’t stand the thought of Parker not talking to me again, especially after I just got her back. In just the short time we’ve been reunited, she’s already engraved herself on my soul again, and I can’t go back to how I felt before, like I was missing something vital.

I can’t go back to a Parker-less life. It’s that simple.

I shove the thoughts down, tucking them away for later, for a time when I’m not on a date with her.

She’s here right now. We’re together. That’s all that should matter.

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