Page 13 of Big Nick Energy

“Shut up.” She laughed and hip-checked me again. “I’m not that boney. Not anymore.” She had definitely filled out since she had started to date Crank.

And I was glad about it.

She had always been so skinny. Not that there was anything wrong with that, but I was glad she had Crank watching out for her and making sure she ate right and was being well taken care of. She deserved that.

“You look incredible,” I complimented her with the truth.

“Thanks,” she mumbled before looking at me and reaching over to turn the water off. I glanced down and winced. Shit. I’dfinished washing the dishes, and I honestly had no idea how long I’d been staring off into space, my mind filled with the sexiest man who ever lived.

“Sooo….” She wagged her brows before handing me a towel. I started to dry my hands. “Come on! I waited until it was just the two of us to ask. You know how hard that was!”

“How could you tell something… not that something is up, but I mean, what makes you think there is?”

“Umm, how about because I know you?” She started to count the fingers on her hand. “You’ve had a goofy smile, kinda like the one you had last summer. You poured gravy on your corn and played it off like you meant to do that. You kept zoning out. You keep checking your phone when you think no one is paying attention?—“

“Everyone checks their phone,” I argued.

“You’re right. Everyone but you. Babe, you hardly ever have your phone on you, much less charged, and since you came over, you’ve been checking it. Constantly. Like you’re waiting on a call or text. You’re seeing someone,” she guessed. I knew she would come to that conclusion.

“No,” I blurted, and technically, I wasn’t lying. “Not really,” I added because it was Libby, and I could never keep anything from her.

“Talking stage?” she asked, watching me closely. I opened and shut my mouth, then sighed. If I couldn’t tell my best friend, who could I tell?

“If I tell you, you have to promise this stays between us.”

“I promise,” she agreed too easily, hooking her pinky to mine, but I stared at her seriously.

“I’m serious, Lib.” My voice dropped. “This isn’t fair of me to ask, but you can’t tell Crank.”

“I don’t tell Hector everything,” she argued. I shot her a look that made her rethink what she’d just said, and a guiltyexpression washed over her face. “Okay, maybe I do. But you know I have your back. No matter what. What is it?” Her gaze searched my face, and then she stilled. “Please don’t tell me you’re talking to Noah again?”

“What? No!” I exclaimed. “I would never talk to him, ever.”

“Okay, if it’s not that jerk, oh god, is he a bad guy? A drug dealer?”

“A drug–– WHAT?! No! Not a drug dealer!” I exclaimed, wondering why she could think I would ever do something like that.

“What am I supposed to think?” she exclaimed. “You’re being secretive, and you don’t want anyone to know!” I winced.

“Fair. Fair.” I sighed. “i’m talking to his dad. I think. I mean….” My voice drifted off to nothing. Lib and I simply stood there, staring at one another. I could see Libby trying to make sense of what I was saying and it not doing anything to help.

“Whose dad?” she asked, and I licked my lips.

“Noah’s dad.”

“Whoa.” Her pale brows rose almost to her hairline. I started to explain things I had kept from her.

“So…” It was time to tell her the truth. “You know the dress I surprised you with? The yellow one you wanted but I snuck into your drawer, and you wore on your first date with Crank?”

“Yeah,” she sounded slowly.

“I didn’t get it on sale,” I blurted.

“Blanc––“

“I went to the mall to find it for you. I didn’t want to hide it in the back of your drawer, but…”

“But what?” She leaned in closer. “Was it stolen?” she asked quietly, and that made me giggle. My best friend’s imagination had definitely gotten crazier while she’d been at school.

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