Page 86 of One Last Time

Noah was staring past me at Levi, and no sprinkle-covered cake pop could distract him right now. I found myself holding my breath.

“Levi,” he said.

“Hey, man.”

Noah nodded. Levi was nodding beside me. Noah cleared his throat and left again, stopping to help out at the barbecue, where our dads were currently debating over something to do with the ribs. (But seriously—it was grilling some meat. Could it really be that much of an art form?)

Levi let out a long breath and bent to whisper in my ear, “Think he’s still mad at me?”

“I think you’re off the hook,” I told him. I shoved the cake pop I’d just offered Noah into my mouth before grabbing Levi’s hand to tell him, “Come on, I’ll give you the grand tour.”

Chapter Twenty-Eight

There was a time when Lee and I were attached at the hip pretty permanently. But right now I was nibbling at my second hot dog, hanging out near the guys as they joked around and talked about plans for next year at college, and Lee hadn’t stopped talking to Ashton for maybe an hour now.

Theywere practically attached at the hip.

Dixon said, “Right, Elle?”

I had no idea what he’d just said.

“Right,” I said.

What was Ashton saying that had Lee’s face all lit up like, well, like the Fourth of July? What the hell could they even be talking about? What was so funny that Ashton was almost doubled over, half choking on his burger?

I chomped on my hot dog angrily, trying not to glare in their direction.

Wasn’t it good that Lee had such a good friend for when he went to Berkeley?

Wasn’t itgoodthat he was replacing me so easily?

I shook myself. I knew I was being ridiculous and it wasn’t like Lee was actually replacing me, but this was weird. Seeing him hang out with someone else like he did with me.

I kept watching, mumbling, “Oh sure,” and “That sounds great,” whenever the guys reeled me back into their conversation. Lee and Ashton gestured wildly as they talked about something; then Lee took out his phone and the two of them pored over it for a while.

“Hey.”

I jumped at the hand on my arm, smiling when I saw it was Noah.

“You’re gonna burn a hole in that poor guy’s head if you keep staring like that.” Noah nodded in Ashton and Lee’s direction with a gentle, somewhat amused smile. “Jealous is a cute look on you. When it’s not directed at me, obviously.”

“Mmm-hmm,” I mumbled, blinking a few times and dragging my eyes away from them. “Ugh, am I that obvious?”

“Hideously obvious,” Cam said suddenly just behind me. “Warren told you that you had mustard in your hair and you said, ‘Sounds good.’ ”

I ducked my head, trying not to beasobvious about looking for the mustard apparently in my hair. Noah’s hand was still on my arm and he tugged me aside.

“I promised Lee I’d help set up the volleyball net, but I just wanted to check you’re okay. Are you?”

“Just dandy.”

“And not at all jealous that Lee’s made a new friend?”

I sighed, rolling my eyes. “I’m fine. Just…It’s weird. It’ll take some getting used to, that’s all. Ashton seems great. He does,” I enthused, not sure whether I was trying to convince Noah or myself. “I’m glad they’re getting on so well.”

“Let’s hope they’re not too much of a team, huh?”

“What?”