Page 133 of Best Friends for Never

Moonlight streaks into the room, and I use it to memorize every inch of him, from his raven hair to the scruff lining his jaw to his strong shoulders and corded arms. Every part of him I can see, I commit to memory ... just in case.

When he goes to turn my way, I slam my eyes closed, not wanting to see him go.

Noel tiptoes back to the bed and then kisses my head.

“Goodbye, Peter,” he whispers.

Goodbye, Noel. I love you.

But I don’t say that. I don’t say anything. I lie there, pretending to sleep.

Pretending like my heart isn’t breaking in two.

It’s not until I hear the front door click shut that I finally let the tears fall.

Chapter Nineteen

Noel

“Noel? That you, bub?”

I smile. It’s exactly how she greeted me when I arrived five weeks ago.

“It’s me, Lou Lou,” I call out to her, taking my shoes off. I pad through the house, unsurprised to find her sitting at the kitchen table. “What are you doing up?”

“Couldn’t sleep.” She shrugs, then lifts her coffee mug—the one I made for her that saysWord’s Best Gran—to her lips. I forgot theLand was so upset over it, but she just laughed and said it made the gift even more unique than it already was. It’s the only cup I’ve ever seen her use. “The better question is, What the hell areyoudoing here? I thought you were staying with Parker until you had to leave.”

“Idohave to leave.”

She glances up at the clock that hangs on the wall. “Oh. Well, shit. I guess it is about that time, huh?”

“I have a few minutes still.” I head to the coffeepot, grab a mug from the cabinet, and pour myself a cup. I don’t care that it’s the worst coffee ever. Right now, it’s exactly what I want—one last moment with Gran and her terrible coffee.

I settle in the seat across from her, barely hiding my grimace as I take a drink of the piping-hot java.

“So, what’s on your mind, bub?” Gran asks, pulling her pink robe tighter around her shoulders.

“Nothing.”

She flattens her lips into a straight line. “Noel Benjamin, you can’t bullshit me.”

I cough out a laugh. “All right. Fine. I’m going to miss Parker.”

She nods. “I kind of figured that.”

“And you too.”

“Well, no shit.”

I laugh again. “And I guess ... I guess I’ll miss this town too.”

“It does tend to sneak up on people. What else?”

“What else what?”

“What else is on your mind? Because I know it’s not just that.”

I pick at the floral tablecloth that Gran is always switching out for holidays and seasons. “I want to ask Parker to come with me but I’m scared she’ll say no again.”

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