Page 108 of The Best Friend Power Play

"Something fishy is going on here," Beth says, eyeing the ballroom suspiciously.

"Sorry, it's a little hard to take you seriously since you're dressed as Marie Antoinette," Evie jokes back.

"I agree with Beth. I mean, Marie," I say. "I mean, why would Fraser throw a historical romance-themed party a week before preseason is set to start? Something doesn't add up here."

It hasn't added up since Fraser's invite popped up in my inbox a few weeks ago. I asked Culver to get more info out of him at their last training session, but he came back empty-handed.

I've even tried to glean information from him myself every time Fraser has come to the shop to order more flowers for Evie, but that man is a vault.

"To be perfectly honest, ladies, I share your suspicions. My boyfriend is definitely up to something."

"Sorry, didn't quite catch that," Amiel says smiling, because she totally did catch that.

"Oh, you mean when I said my boyfriend." Evie raises her voice. "My boyfriend, my boyfriend, my boyfriend."

The five of us laugh, and I love seeing Evie so happy. Her and Fraser's love story really is total romcom material.

But then…maybe so is mine and Culver's?

Although, can it be classified as a romcom if the happily ever after hasn't happened yet and there's still a chance it might not? That reality could plough into my romcom fantasy like an eighteen-wheel semi and smash everything we have and everything I want us to have, into a million tiny pieces?

"And why aren't you dressed up?" Summer asks Evie, which is what I would have asked if I hadn't gotten distracted by that depressing thought. I take a big swig of my champagne. "It's a little strange how the only person not in a costume is the girlfriend of the guy who's throwing the party."

Evie grins. "Guys, I am just as much in the dark about this as you are. Fraser gave me strict instructions not to dress up. That's all I know."

Me: "And you didn't ask him why not?"

Evie: "Of course I did. I asked him about a million times these past few weeks. I badgered him on a level that would make Mom proud."

Beth: "And?"

Evie: "And nothing. That man is like a vault. I can't get anything out of him."

Summer: "So you really have no idea why Fraser has gathered pretty much everyone the two of you know?—"

Beth: "Which is pretty much everyone in town."

Summer: "Right, and asked us to wear these ridiculous costumes, but allowed you to wear that amazing dress that I am so borrowing from you?"

Evie: "I honestly don't know."

Beth: "And why a historical romance-themed party? Does Fraser like historical romance?"

Evie: "That would be a hard no."

Me: "Guys, look, let's give Fraser some credit here. I'm sure he's got something amazing planned. After all, he did pull off the all-time most epic romantic gesture in Comfort Bay's history by buying Evie a hockey stadium and a junior team."

Beth: "Did you get that verified?"

Me: "That it's the all-time most epic romantic gesture in our humble small town's history?"

Beth: "Yeah."

Me: "I did. Scoured through the town records and everything. Sorry, Mr. Cooper from the late 1800s, but the love letters you wrote and left all over town have been usurped."

Summer: "Is that…for real?"

Me: "No. Of course not. Why does no one think I'm capable of sarcasm?"

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