Page 8 of The Best Friend Power Play

Summer sits down next to me and takes my hands in hers. "You do everything for everyone. You've been that way for as long as I've known you. Now, with the kids gone, you can finally do the things you want to do."

"Counterpoints." I lift a finger into the air as I rattle each of them off. "I have to stay in town. I work six days a week. I have no money. And I'm alone."

"Counterpoints to your counterpoints," Summer says because, as a lawyer, arguing is like breathing to her. "There are plenty of fun things to do in Comfort Bay, especially in the summer. You don't work twenty-four-seven, so you have nights and Sundays free. You don't have to do anything extravagant or that costs too much." Her smile balloons. "And you won't be alone. You'll be with Culver."

"Exactly. And I'm sure he's dying to spend his offseason at the salon watching me get my nails done."

"Miss Patty now offers an executive mani-pedi option," Amiel supplies, completely unhelpfully. "I overheard her talking about it at the bakery the other day. Apparently it's really popular."

"See, Hannah? You're doing it again," Summer interjects, her voice just firm enough to let me know she's serious without slipping into full-on lawyer boss mode.

"Doing what?" I ask.

"Thinking about other people. Enough of that. At least for a while. You need to do this. Be a little selfish and create a list of things you want to do and then spend the summer doing them."

I glance over at Evie. She bobs her head. "I think it's a good idea."

My thoughts splinter down two very different tracks.

One track continues coming up with reasons why this is a terrible idea, while the other track is trying to decide whether to color-coordinate a potential hot girl summer spreadsheet based on the time I have available or the list of activities I'd like to do.

I verbalize the former. "I'm not sure this is really me, you guys."

"All the more reason to try it," Beth gently encourages.

"I know my history with you—with all of you—is the shortest," Amiel says quietly. "But even I can see how you're always putting everyone else's needs ahead of your own."

"I'm just doing what anyone would do in my situation," I say, becoming a little uncomfortable with this conversation.

There's a fine line between being selfless and a victim. Yes, losing Mom when I was young was the most awful thing that's ever happened to me. And yes, it's affected my life in so many ways. Who knows where I'd be or what I'd be doing if she were still with us?

But I refuse to be a victim, and I don't—not even for one second—regret stepping in to help raise Chester and Katie. As tough as it's been, it's been the most rewarding thing I've done in my life so far.

It's also what Mom would have wanted, and I hope that wherever she is, she's proud of me.

Beth's dramatic black bob flutters as she shakes her head. "Hard disagree, babe. You have a terrible habit of overestimating the goodness in others. Luckily, I don't suffer from the same affliction, and I can tell you with absolute certainty that not many people would have stepped up the way you did for your family."

"I just did what needed to be done."

"And right now, what needs to be done is you taking a few months to do you," Summer says emphatically.

Judging by the four heads nodding at me with expectant looks on their faces, I don't have much choice other than to say, "I'll think about it."

Summer clears her throat.

"Okay. Fine. I'll probably do it," I concede.

Beth, Amiel, and Evie clear their throats in a perfectly timed chorus of throat clearing.

"Right. I'm doing it. It's been decided. I'm putting together a hot girl summer list."

They all look at me with wide grins on their faces.

"Well," Evie says, placing her hand softly on my leg. "As long as it's what you want."

I roll my eyes and push to my feet.

We head back into town.

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