Page 86 of Best Friends for Never

“I’m heading to the theater. Want to join?”

Axel stares daggers at me over the top of her head, but it doesn’t stop me from telling her, “Of course. Can’t think of a better way to spend my day. Except for maybe at the Falls.”

Parker blushes, no doubt remembering yesterday, while Axel says, “Then take a hike.”

I ignore him, collect my slices from Fran, and then follow the duo out the door.

I wasn’t sure what I wanted out of the day, but now I can’t imagine spending it any other way—seeing Parker and annoying the hell out of Axel.

It’s the perfect combination.

“Wait, wait, wait. You’re telling me the next fundraiser is a drinking competition?”

“I guess if you really, really want to break it down to basics, then yes. But it’s more about the bowling than anything else.”

“How so?”

Parker swings her legs back and forth as she shovels another bite of pie into her mouth. We’re sitting on the stage, enjoying our breakfast and coffee we grabbed from Rossi Café while Axel bosses around a crew as they work on replacing the walls.

Looking out at the now-empty theater ... Well, fuck. It’s got me feeling all sentimental. The last time I was inside was the night before I left, and I was too wrapped up in Parker to really appreciate it. Seeingit like this now takes me back to all the hours I spent on this stage and how much this place contributed to the person I am today. It’s strange seeing it so bare, but I know Parker is going to build it back up to something even better than before.

“I don’t know,” she says. “It just is.”

“But youwantpeople to buy the beer, right? Because the proceeds from every purchase go to the theater fund.”

“Well, yes, but—”

“So it’s a drinking competition.”

“No!” She huffs, then laughs. “Yeah, fine. I guess it is a little bit. But we’re still hosting trivia, bowling, and having fun, so that’s something, right? Plus, it’s not just the proceeds from beer sales. It’s the food too. I still can’t believe Garth is doing all that.”

I snort. “I can. That guy has had a crush on you since sixth grade.”

“He has not!” she argues, but there’s no real indignation behind her words. She knows I’m right. “He’s just nice toeveryone. Plus, he was a theater kid too. He’s sympathetic to the cause, that’s all.”

I roll my eyes, sipping my coffee, which isalmostas good as Astrid’s. “Whatever you say, Peter.” I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand. “Can’t believe they let him keep that slogan. I saw it the other day, and my jaw about hit the ground.”

She tips her head to the side. “What? Not a fan of ‘Bigfoot’s Hideaway: Come See His Balls’?”

“Oh,Ilove it. It’s hilarious. I just can’t believe Leonard Figgins Senior let it get pushed through.”

“I think he was absent when we took that vote. It’s why it’s important to go to every town meeting. You never know what’s going to be on the ballot.”

“Clearly.”

She scrapes the last piece of pie off her plate and pops it into her mouth with a noise that shouldn’t be legal to make in public. It’s borderline pornographic, and I should know—it’s the same little noise she was making yesterday when she came on my face.

She drags her tongue across each prong of her fork, making sure to get every bit, and I watch her, barely holding back a groan ... and a boner.

I clear my throat, shifting my attention to anywhere else.

Axel’s crew is working fast, and I feel bad just sitting here with Parker while they do all the heavy lifting, but then she belches, and I know I’m right where I’m supposed to be.

“My goodness. Excuse me. I don’t know where that came from.” She pats her lips with her napkin. “Guess that pie was just that good.”

She’s always been like this with me—comfortable enough to be herself. I can’t count the dates I’ve been on over the years where it’s obvious the woman I’m out with is pretending to be someone she’s not. I don’t want that. I want real.

I want Parker.

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