Page 69 of The Best Friend Power Play

And I want that.

I want to be head-over-heels for someone.

I want to light up whenever my girlfriend calls or texts.

I want…I want to be in love.

Maybe that's what's starting to happen with Ha?—

"How's the stadium going?" Milo asks Fraser.

"There's a lot to do," he says, then explains Evie has put him in charge of operations, and that the stadium is in dire need of an overhaul.

I listen with one ear since I already know most of this.

"And what about you, Milo?" Slater asks when Fraser's done. "It's nice to see Captain Happiness gracing us with his presence."

Milo huffs and mumbles, "I'm going through some stuff."

That's it. That's all he says before piling a few forkfuls of chicken into his mouth.

I know we're guys and all, but man, this guy gives Fraser a run for his money in the I don't want to talk about anything to anyone ever department.

Having learned my lesson from Fraser the painful way, I know it's best not to push. Milo knows we're all here for him, and whenever he's ready to talk, he can come to us.

To break the awkward silence, Donovan turns to me and asks, "And how's life in Comfort Bay treating you?"

"More importantly, how's life with Hannah treating you?" Slater adds with a grin.

I fling some of my quinoa at him, purposefully missing his head because I'm a nice guy.

"Things are fine on both fronts. It's great being home…" Because Comfort Bay will always be home in my heart. "And it's great hanging out with Hannah."

"You guys get up to anything exciting?" Slater asks.

"We have fun."

Fraser chuckles. "What sort of fun?"

Since the list of things I can't tell them is longer than the list of things I can, I bring up Hannah's hot girl summer, filling in Donovan, Slater, and Milo on how she's basically put her life on hold to raise her younger siblings for the past seven years.

"She sounds like an amazing person," Donovan says.

"She's the best." I continue eating. "And this summer is all about her doing whatever she wants to do. I'm just tagging along for the ride."

That's an understatement wrapped in a lie tied up neatly with a bow of plausible deniability, but there's no way I can tell these guys the truth. Not even Fraser. He's too busy with Evie and the stadium, and besides, maybe I should figure out where things stand with me and Hannah first before mentioning anything to my friends?

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the male brain.

"I've seen her at a few games." Slater grins. "I say this purely as an objective observation since I am a happily taken man with eyes only for my girl, but Hannah is smoking hot."

I slam my knife and fork down on the plate, the clatter echoing in the dining hall.

"Whoa, relax, man," Slater says. "No need to glare at me like that."

"I'm not glaring."

Sure, my forehead's pinched, my jaw is tight, and my hands are balled into fists—okay, so maybe there is a possibility I am glaring at the guy.

---