“I used to be jealous of you, used to hate you.” Noah and I make eye contact at the same time.
His words sting. I swallow hard, trying to find my voice. “Why?” I ask.
“Because you knew my dad. You got eight years with him and I had nothing. I used to watch the two of you together and it was more like you were his son and I was just this kid, clinging on.”
“You know your dad doesn’t think like that, right?”
“Tell that to a ten-year-old whose dad is this famous rock star and football god.”
I laugh. He’s right. “What changed your mind?”
“You. You just kept to yourself, never pushed, never tried to be friends and make me like you. It was like a switch came on and I found myself wanting to spend time w
ith you. We started having these video game marathons, you were my roller coaster buddy at the parks, the only thing you weren’t into was football, but I had my dad and Peyton for that. Slowly, you became my best friend.”
I’m not an emotional guy, but right now I want to cry and thank him for not giving up on the shy kid who only had his dad, grandma, aunt, and Liam for friends and family. “You’re my best friend too,” I say through the tightness in my throat.
“Which brings me to why we’re sitting on this rock.”
“Aren’t we fishing?”
Noah laughs. “True, but I wanted to know if you’d be my best man. I know I’m marrying your sister and that may be awkward, but you’re the only guy I want standing next to me when she walks down the aisle.”
My mouth drops open a bit. I close it quick though, processing his words. I figured he’d ask one of his buddies from the team or even his dad. “Of course, I’d be honored.”
“Thanks, Quinn. When Peyton asked me who I was going to ask, you’re the only one I wanted there.”
We should hug, but we’re being manly men right now, so we continue to sit by each other.
“Does this mean you’ve set a date?”
Noah nods. “She wants to tell everyone after the season starts, doesn’t want to ruin my summer or something like that. But I know you’re free, we all are, so it’s perfect. Everything will be perfect.”
“Of course, it is. You’re marrying my sister.”
10
Eleanora
Somewhere in the mess of blankets on my bed, my phone rings. I scramble to find it, pushing and pulling the covers in any direction possible until I give up and toss them onto the floor, watching as my phone bounces on my mattress.
As soon as I look at the screen, I fill with dread. My mouth starts to water like I’m going to be sick and my heart beats in my throat, which I know isn’t impossible, yet that’s what it feels like.
Pressing the accept button, I put my phone to my ear, swallow hard and squeak out a hello. I’ve done everything I could think of to keep my parents in check but had a bad feeling after Rhett called the other day. I should’ve trusted my gut. I should’ve gotten in my car and started heading home.
“Eleanora,” my mother says. “What is going on? By my calculations, you should’ve been home days ago.”
Before I can even conjure up an appropriate response, my father’s voice rings out. I hate when they’re on the phone together, likely in the same room, staring at each other. “Are you in some sort of trouble?”
“No, Daddy. I’m just…” I close my eyes and count to ten quickly before taking a deep breath. Rhett didn’t tell them anything, this I’m sure of so I still have time to figure things out. “Sofia and I are just taking our time and only driving a few hours a day and seeing the sites. Like I said, we’re trying to make the best of our summer before real life has to start.”
“I thought Sofia had a job?” Mom asks.
“She does but was able to push it off a bit longer,” I lie, again and again. Since graduation, I’ve become this habitual liar, digging myself a hole that I’m not sure I’ll be able to climb out of.
“I don’t like this, Eleanora. You need to be home, with your family, preparing to start your job.”
“Yes, I know, Mama. I’ll be there soon. I promise.”