Page 96 of Nothing Like the Movies

He glanced over his shoulder, like he was making sure no one else was close enough to hear.

“Like I’m hurting Bennett,” he said. Then he pointed at me and said, “And don’t be flip about how sentimental I am. I think he’s into you, which means our lie is probably causing him pain.”

“But we haven’t even fake-dated very much, not really,” I saiddefensively, because it was totally true. “I doubt he even remembers I said that.”

“Oh, he remembers,” he insisted, and it appeared Lilith was ending her call. Clark looked guilt-stricken when he muttered, “I can see it in his eyes when he talks to me.”

“Hey. Gigantor.” Sarah pulled up with her mom, honking the horn. “Cut the chatter and get in.”

“Oh, look—it’s my ride,” he said to us, his mouth curving into a big smile as he dumped his equipment in the back of the van. “Have a good time in your room, Lil, and Liz—I’ll see you at the meatballs.”

I was torn between wanting to roll my eyes and laugh out loud when he climbed into the back of the car and Sarah took off. His door was barely closed before she stomped on the gas, and he let out a howl.

“That’s obviously the fun car,” Lilith said, loading her equipment in the back and closing the door.

“Right?”

Lilith and I talked about the footage we’d grabbed the entire way to her hotel, and it was obvious she was excited about the content. I was too—everyone had been incredibly generous. But as excited as I was, it felt like a relief to drop her off and tonotthink about it anymore.

Because I wanted to focus on seeing old friends and enjoying my last night at home before going back.

Wes would be there too, but I wasn’t going to let the night be about him.

After I dropped her off, I parked at a meter spot in the Old Market and walked to the Italian restaurant.

I heard Noah’s loud voice before I even got to the corner.

He was yelling something about Louisville football,of course.

It was impossible not to smile as I strolled down Jackson Street, the crisp autumn evening providing the perfect backdrop for a long overdue reunion. Nicola’s had an amazing outdoor dining area, with strings of lights illuminating the corner patio, and when I got close to Thirteenth Street, there they were.

Gathered around the biggest table out there were my old friends, and it was like a snapshot of the before. My brain grabbed the chorus of “Old Days” and wrapped it around the moment.

Wes was leaning back in his chair, laughing with Noah about something Gigi (the restaurant owner’s daughter) was saying to them, and I was happy to see they were still close. Noah was the biggest smart-ass I’d ever met, the kind of person who would debate virtuallyanythinguntil he was proclaimed the winner, and I’d missed his sarcastic grin.

No matter howIfelt about Wes, I was glad he still had Noah in his corner.

Michael (my former crush) was holding out his phone while Joss (my high school bestie) stood behind him and watched over his shoulder, and Wes’s cousin Charlie was drawing something on a napkin that was making his girlfriend Bailey full-on belly laugh.

I miss the us from the old days…

“Lizard!” Clark was sitting at a smaller table with Sarah, and he raised his hand so I’d see him.

His booming voice made everyone look in my direction.

“Holy shit, you finally came home!” Joss yelled when she saw me, then ran over and threw her arms around me. I was overwhelmed by how much I’d missed my friend, and we were both a little teary when we finally pulled apart. She wiped her eyes and said, “I hate LA for stealing you from us. Come sit by me.”

I followed her to the table. “But now you have more time to devote to Noah.”

“Yeah, thanks for that, Buxbaum,” he muttered, but his eyes were all over Joss. They were one of those couples whose love language was sarcastic roasting, I swear to God.

“Why are you overthere?” I said to Sarah and Clark, even though they were so close they were basically within touching range.

“Because I didn’t want to sit with my brother’s stupid friends, so I borrowed your boy toy for company.”

Clark was looking at her face as she spoke, and… he looked a little interested.

Interesting.

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