Page 90 of The Best Friend Power Play

"Any clues?" Beth asks.

"No," Fraser says, then thinks about it. "Okay. One clue. It's going to be a costume party."

Why on earth is Fraser throwing a costume party? That's so unlike him. Unless…unless he's planning another grand gesture? But what could he do to top the one-two combo of buying Evie a thousand yellow roses and a hockey stadium along with two junior teams?

We say goodbye, and on the short walk home, Culver and I speculate.

Well, I speculate. Culver pretends he has a sore throat from all the singing he did.

When I run out of guesses, he asks, "Is that what you want? Some big romantic gesture to sweep you off your feet?"

We've reached the front porch, but because it's so nice out, I move toward the rocking chairs and sit down.

"No," I say, answering his question.

He takes a seat in the chair next to mine. "Why not?"

"Because I like having my feet rubbed too much to be swept off them." He smiles and a surge of heat washes over me. "But seriously, I guess I'm not a grand gesture girl. I prefer little things. Like you singing with me tonight. That meant a lot."

He scoffs. "That doesn't count."

"It does. So does sharing a meal, or watching a show together, or having you in the pool with me when I tackle a big fear. On their own, they're all little things, but life is made up of little things, and it's nice to have someone you love to share them with."

"Yeah. It is." His gaze drops and starts fidgeting with his fingers. I stay silent, sensing something is on his mind. A few moments pass, then he rolls his shoulders and fixes me with a serious expression. "There's something I have to tell you."

"You've found your new passion and want to become a pop star once you're done with hockey?"

A small smile.

"No. This is serious."

I clear my throat. "Okay."

"I think…" He pauses, rotates his shoulders, and starts again. "I think I'm falling in love with you, Hannah."

My breath catches. "Oh."

I don't know what to say.

Well, actually, I do. I know exactly what to say.

But can I do it?

Can I actually tell him I love him, too?

Before I start mentally developing a pros and cons list, I trust my instincts and tell him my truth. "I love you, too."

His eyes flicker for a second, because yeah, I said it.

Definitively.

I didn't attach an I think to it because I know.

I've known for a long time.

Neither one of us knows what to say next.

"Was it the karaoke?" I eventually ask.

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