Page 89 of Best Friends for Never

No. He stares me down hard, his beefy arms crossed over his chest.

“Later, Peter,” I tell her, this time not giving a fuck and stopping to press a kiss to her head.

“Later,” she mutters, blushing.

“Axel.” I nod to him.

“Hollywood,” he responds.

He knows I heard every word. Hewantedme to hear every word.

It’s another reminder that he’s been there in ways I haven’t.

It sucks, but it just reinforces what I need to do over these next few weeks—make sure that when I leave, Parker knows exactly how I feel about her this time.

Parker:How mad are you going to be if I say I have to cancel tonight?

I stop lacing up my shoes as I read the text from Parker. I was just getting ready to head to Jill’s to grab a few things for dinner, then walk over to her house.

I type out a response.

Me:Not mad. Just curious why.

Parker:Well, it’s a funny story really...I forgot it was Monday.

Me:What’s so special about Mondays? Except for the fact they were invented by the Devil, of course.

Parker:Dinner at Axel’s.

Ugh. Fucking Axel again.

I roll my eyes, my thumbs flying over my phone screen as I ignore the incoming text from my agent asking if I got the script he sent over. It’s the one I promised him I’d read, but the second I realized it was a superhero movie some comic book studio is trying to launch as a new franchise, I tossed it aside.

I know it would be a hell of an opportunity, but it would also mean a lot of filming, and I’m not sure I want to make those kinds of commitments now.

Besides, I have other things to worry about, like when I’m going to see Parker again.

Me:You mean to tell me you have dinner at Axel’s on Monday, then Tater Tot Tuesdays at your mom’s the next day? Do you ever cook for yourself?

Parker:Not if I can help it.

Parker:I also go to your gran’s as often as I can, and you know she loves feeding people. I’m usually stocked for days by the time I leave.

Me:Spoiled.

Parker:Says the guy who requires all organic, freshly pressed orange juice in his dressing room with two ice cubes.

Me:I cannot believe they ran that story. It’s so not true, and you know it.

Me:All I did was ask for one glass withNo Icebecause I’m not Satan, and it got twisted into something else.

Parker:Hollywood is weird. I’d never want that life.

It’s not the first time she’s said something like that, and just like before, it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth because it feels like she’s telling me no all over again.

Me:You don’t even know the half of it. They make up the weirdest shit.

Like the time my friend Jude Rafferty took allergy medicine before a talk show and got a little goofy on them and tripped on live TV, showing the whole world his Snoopy underwear. It then spun into a whole story about him being on drugs, all thanks to one little mistake. It was wild to watch unfold, and I felt awful for the guy, especially since I know he hates the spotlight so much. Luckily for him, he’s found an amazing fashion blogger girlfriend who helps him tolerate it just a little better.

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