Page 47 of Best Friends for Never

She bats her lashes up at me, and I know at that moment just how screwed I really am because I find that even after all these years, I still can’t tell her no.

I sigh. “Yes.”

I turn to Leonard and the whole media crew still gathered with their microphones and cameras poised, ready to catch this moment on film, so I can’t back out.

“I’m auctioning off myself. A night with Noel Carter.”

Leonard grins, and I hate it instantly.

“Splendid,” he says.

Yeah. Splendid, indeed.

Chapter Eight

Parker

There aren’t many people I don’t like. I believe everyone deserves a chance, maybe even more than one in some cases.

But if I were forced to make a list of people I’m not so fond of, Leonard Figgins would top that list.

Who does he think he is? I don’t remember him ever being so pushy. So cruel. He’s asked questions about the theater project before, and sure, he’s grilled me on it, but never to that degree.

Okay, so some of his questions were valid, and I totally understood them, but I have a plan. I’ve been saving up for this for years. Every penny I haven’t spent on the absolute necessities has gone to this project, which isn’t an insignificant amount. The business with Axel does quite well, and it’s not that expensive to care for just me. I’ve built a nice savings. It’s not enough to cover the costs the donation won’t, but it’s still enough to keep it going.

I’m prepared for this. I’m ready for this. And I won’t have someone like Leonard try to knock me down before I’ve even started. I understand he was just doing his job and reporting on the happenings around town, but it still felt like an attack. I really shouldn’t be surprised, given his dislike of me for being friends with Noel, who he always thought stole the spotlight from him.

After Figgins’s heated questioning, no one else wanted to step up and grill me on the renovation, so the crowd dispersed quite quickly.

Now it’s just me, Noel, and a few stragglers hanging behind, including Axel.

“I ever mention how much I hate that twerp?” He glares after Leonard, who is hurrying away, likely because he knows he’s stirred up a storm.

“Me too,” Noel agrees.

“Wow. Look at that. You two agree on something.”

They exchange a quick look—one that I know holds much more meaning than I can decipher—and then look away just as fast.

I tip my head at Axel in a silent question, but he shakes his head.

“I’d better get going,” he says instead. “Mary took the kids to the park, so I’m sure she could use my help.”

“Oh.” I frown. “I thought we were going to Rossi’s afterward to celebrate.”

“Rain check?”

I nod. “Yeah. Rain check.”

Axel wraps me in his arms, hugging me tightly. “Proud of you,” he whispers so nobody else can hear. “Knew you could do it.”

“Thank you, but the hard work hasn’t even started yet,” I say as we pull apart.

“You kidding?Thatwas the hard work. The rest of this? It’s easy. We do it every day.”

He’s right. We do. The rest of this renovation? Easy peasy.

“See you in a bit.”

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