Page 19 of The Best Friend Power Play

I'm eager to cook up a big meal, spend the evening with her, Chester, and Katie, and hear all about everyone's summer plans.

3

Hannah

"Dig in, you guys," Culver says, after placing four steaming bowls on the dining table.

Like most eighteen-year-old boys, Chester doesn't need to be told twice, shoveling food into his mouth in his typical fashion.

I kick his shin under the table.

He finishes slurping up a long noodle, looks at me apologetically, then turns to Culver. "Thanks, man."

"You're welcome, buddy. Enjoy."

Chester’s gaze returns to me. "Can I pig out n-now?"

"Yes. Now you can."

"This smells amazing," Katie says, picking up her fork and spoon.

Culver smiles. "Thanks. It would be even better if I'd had time to let the sauce simmer for a few more hours since that's what gives it that really rich, hearty flavor."

Chester lowers his fork, his forehead wrinkled. "Flavor? Wh-what's that?"

I laugh, Katie giggles, and Culver looks like a deer stuck in headlights. It's adorable how he always tries to defend my lack of culinary skills, when even I gave up on doing that years ago. I'm good at many things. Cooking isn't one of them, and I'm fine with that.

My eyes linger on Culver for a moment longer, studying his features. Flawless olive-toned complexion reflecting his Italian roots. Sparkling brown eyes. A mop of unruly dark curls. A strong, angular jawline that gives his face a distinctively masculine appearance.

But my favorite feature, after his eyes, would have to be his dimples, which, I'm happy to say, I get treated to quite often.

Speaking of getting treated…

"This is delicious," I say, around a mouthful of pasta. "Really delicious."

"For th-the m-m-most part, yes-s-s," Chester says, smirking. "A little garlickly, though, wouldn't y-y-ou say, Katie?"

Her eyes light up as she cottons on to what Chester's getting at. "I mean, it's fine for you and me. I won't see Dean until tomorrow, so I don't have to worry about my kiss-breath until then. Unlike…"

Both of their gazes swing to Culver and me.

"Here we go," he mutters before scooping up a big forkful, leaving me to deal with…this.

I put down my utensils and steeple my fingers. "You're both so observant. Culver and I will obviously need to brush our teeth thoroughly before we start making out as soon as you guys go to bed."

Chester's eyes bulge. "You will?"

"No," I cry out, exasperated. "Why can no one tell I'm being sarcastic?"

"You're too sweet to be sarcastic," Katie informs me then goes back to twirling pasta on her fork.

Culver finishes chewing and swoops in with a question about their summer plans.

Katie answers first since Chester has given up on teasing me to return to a much more important task—inhaling his food. She excitedly tells Culver about her plans to visit Yellowstone National Park, look for wildlife she's never seen before like bison and wolves, and meet all of Dean's extended family for the first time.

"His family is huge. He once showed me a photo of their Thanksgiving, and it looked like half of Comfort Bay was there."

Culver, being from a monstrously large Italian-American family himself, chuckles. "I know what that's like. And what about you, Chester?"

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