Page 123 of The Best Friend Power Play

I blow out a breath.

There's one detail I've omitted so far.

A small but crucial one.

Oh, well.

Here goes nothing.

Hannah: See. The thing is, I've been in love with Culver for years.

I pause.

No bouncing dots are appearing on my screen.

Oh no! Have I just killed my four closest friends?

They've never been this quiet for this long.

On the off chance they're still alive, I provide an explanation.

Hannah: Everyone has always been on our case, assuming we're together, and not really accepting it when we said we were 'just friends.'

Hannah: For a long time, for many, many years, that was true.

Hannah: Growing up, Culver was like a protective older brother, especially after Mom died.

Hannah: But then we became friends as adults.

Hannah: Gradually, we became really good friends and then best friends.

Hannah: That's where it stopped for Culver, but not for me.

Hannah: I fell in love with him, and I felt silly and weird about it, and I didn't want it to affect our friendship—or worse, lose him.

Hannah: So I didn't say anything to anyone.

Hannah: I ignored my feelings and focused on what I had—the greatest best friend in the world.

Hannah: Until my girl squad convinced me to have a hot girl summer…

That wakes them all up.

Evie: See? And aren't you glad you did?

Beth: I come up with the best ideas.

Summer: I'm clearing my throat because if memory serves correctly, I believe it was MY idea.

Beth: I know you're a few years older than us, Summer, but are you losing your memory already?

Hannah: Summer's right, Beth. It was her idea.

Beth: Oh, really?

Summer: Now who's losing their memory?

Amiel: I can't believe we were joking about you checking off two romance tropes on our group walk at the start of summer and now…you have!

---