5

Beth

"Brrr, it's chilly this morning," Hannah says.

"It is," I agree, zipping up my jacket all the way to my neck.

Okay, so it's not as cold as plenty of other places I've lived around the country, but as a West Coast girl for the past eight or so years, temps in the mid-fifties in early October are officially classified as cold.

"I'm so glad we're doing this," Summer says.

"And that the sidewalks are wide enough to accommodate all five of us," Amiel quips.

I smile, but it's a sad smile.

This is the last time Amiel, Evie, Hannah, Summer, and I will be physically together in one place like this. Hannah and Culver fly off to Italy next week to begin the next chapter of their lives, and who knows when they'll be back? They certainly don't. They're happy to go with the flow and see where life takes them.

I'm happy they're together, and not only because it proved Amiel and I were right about them going from friends to lovers. I just wish they weren't starting off their couple life all the way over in Europe.

I wrap my arm around Evie's puffy jacket. "I assume your silence is because you're still booting up as much as it is about the sadness of this being our last early morning group walk together."

She pulls the coffee cup from her lips. How she manages to walk like that I'll never know, but she's got it down to a fine art. "Correct. My sadness is battling with my need for caffeine, which I need to fuel my sadness. It's a vicious cycle I hope to break after my second cup."

Because of course, one extra-large, triple-shot monstrosity isn't enough for her, she's ordered two.

"Guys, you're making it sound like I'm leaving for the moon or something," Hannah says. "We'll still be in touch. We've got our WhatsApp group to message each other."

"But time zones," I grumble.

"Yes, they suck, but we'll figure out a day and time that works for all of us. Maybe we can schedule a weekly video call?"

"I'd love that," Summer says with a smile.

"Same," Amiel agrees while Evie bobs her head, signaling it's a yes from her but that her need for caffeine is still in the lead.

"Just make sure you have a good internet connection," I say. "Can you imagine trying to have our normal, million-mile-a-minute conversation with slow Wi-Fi? It'd never work."

Amiel giggles. "That would be hilarious and frustrating at the same time."

"I hate the way I look on camera at the best of times," Summer says. "And I especially hate it when the screen freezes and I look like a giant blob."

"You're gorgeous," I tell her. "You could never look like a blob."

"Beth's in a complimentary mood this morning," Hannah says to Evie but conveniently loud enough for the whole group to hear. "I wonder why that could be."

And with that, she ignites what could very well be our last round of in-person fast-talking.

Me: "I'm not biting."

Hannah: "I don't need you to bite. I have three other girls all ready, willing, and very eager to discuss your Milo situation."

Me: "Ha. Joke's on you. There is no Milo situation to discuss. I haven't seen or heard from him since Fraser's party."

Summer: "So the insurance companies are handling everything with your fender bender?"

Me: "Correct."

Hannah: "I'm not letting you off the hook that easily, missy. Remember at the start of summer how you and Amiel were convinced that Culver and I would become more than friends?"

Me: "I have no recollection of that whatsoever."

Hannah: "Sure, sure. Well, I've been speaking to a certain someone…"

Amiel: "It's purely a coincidence that I'm switching places and moving away from Beth."

Hannah: "…and it turns out that in romance-novel land, people who pretend to hate each other end up loving each other."

Me: "Too bad we live in Comfort Bay and not in romance-novel land. And who says I'm pretending to hate Milo?"

That earns me a win—a rare beat of silence. But my victory fades quickly. They're quiet from exchanging grins and eye rolls—and in Evie's case, finishing her first coffee—not because I made my point.

Evie: "I'm ready to join in the conversation. I can't miss out on the opportunity to rib Little Miss Anti-Love here."

Me: "Why is everyone ganging up on me?"

Evie: "Because I want you to have what me and Fraser do. Or what Hannah and Culver have. True love is a wonderful thing."

Me: "True love is a scary and daunting thing."

Hannah: "That's what makes it so wonderful."

Me: "Not when you get hurt."

"Hey." Hannah gently takes my hand. "Not all men are like your exes. You just had bad luck."

"Sure. But twice?" I ask, meeting her gaze.

She nods emphatically. "Look, it happens. I'm sorry that's been your experience, but hopefully, things will be different next time with?—"

"Let's talk about something else." I pull my fingers from her grip and clap, cutting her off before she can bring up Milo again.

I don't even know what I feel about him, or why I'm thinking about him so much. I'm perfectly happy living in blissful ignorance for as long as I can. Men have only ever caused me pain, so if I'm going to fall for someone, it can't be a guy like Milo. I need the next guy to be a good one.

Me: "I'm changing the topic and not even bothering to try and fit it into a neat segue. Summer, how are you doing?"

Hannah: "So not done with this. We're circling back to you later."

Me: "Fine. Later. Summer?"

Summer: "I agree with Hannah about circling back later. But I'm doing well."

Evie: "Define well."

Summer: "Work is good, and Dad's condition isn't getting worse, so we're all happy about that."

Amiel: "Any news on the love life front?"

Summer: "That would be a big no."

Me: "So nothing has progressed with you and Bear?"

Summer: "Also, no. And unless you want to circle back to yourself way sooner than you'd like, can we drop it? Please."

Amiel: "At least you have someone interested in you."

Summer: "I don't even know if he is interested."

Amiel, Evie, Hannah, me: "HE'S INTERESTED!"

Summer: "Whatever. I'm moving the circle along. What about you, Amiel? Are you seeing anyone?"

Me: "Are you even ready to date again?"

Amiel: "No and no. I'm still dealing with the mess my ex left me with. That's not to say I'd mind if someone looked at me the way Bear looks at Summer. It's nice to be wanted, you know?"

Hannah: "It is. And you will find someone, Amiel. When the time is right and when you're ready."

Amiel: "Thanks. How are you feeling about Italy? Excited?"

Hannah: "Oh, my goodness. Sooo excited."

Summer: "What are you going to do over there?"

Hannah: "Not sure yet. I'm going to try and keep my hot girl summer vibe going and not make too many plans, because for the first time in my life, I don't have to."

Me: "That sounds great. A little scary, but great."

Hannah: "It is a little scary, I'll admit. But I'm not alone. I've got Culver, and he's rented a gorgeous chateau in Positano."

Evie: "Where is that?"

Hannah: "Southern Italy. It's a picturesque small town right on the ocean."

Me: "Sounds a little like the Italian version of Comfort Bay."

Hannah: "Huh. You know what? I never thought of it like that, but you're right."

Amiel: "Is that why you chose it?"

Hannah: "No. Culver has family there. That was the reason. I might do an art class, and he might take cooking lessons, but again, nothing is set in stone."

Me: "Live your best life, girl. No one deserves it more than you do."

Hannah: "Oh, believe me, I intend to."

This circle hasn't returned to me yet, and I intend to keep it that way for as long as I can.

Me: "And how come you're looking so happy, Evie?"

Evie: "Uh, because I'm caffeinated."

Me: "I don't mean right now, but in general. You've been bummed ever since the season started and Fraser hit the road again."

Evie: "He has a few days off, so he's back."

I let that sink in.

Me: "So…Wait. If Fraser has time off, then the whole team has time off, right?"

Evie: "Correct."

Me: "So, uh, what's Milo doing on the break?"

Evie: "How would I know?"

Me: "It's a hockey question, and you know hockey."

Evie: "No. It's a hockey player question, and there's only one hockey player I'm interested in."

Me: "Right. Of course."

Aware that the girls are looking at me and no doubt thinking things, I need to move on and move on quickly.

Me: "In that case, I do have an actual hockey question for you."

Summer: "Nice recovery, Beth."

Me: "Thanks. Evie, what happens in a face off?"

Evie, frowning: "That actually is a hockey question."

Me: "I did warn you."

Evie: "But it's a hockey question from you. You, who's never watched a second of a hockey game in your life. You don't even follow anything hockey related on TikTok."

Me: "I, uh, may have been flicking through the channels a few nights ago."

Evie, grinning: "This wouldn't have been a few nights ago when the LA Swifts were playing in Chicago?"

Me: "Maybe."

Evie: "I see. Milo had a great game that night."

Heat crawls up my neck, but I do my best to act unaffected.

Me: "Oh, did he? What position does he play again? With all the players wearing the same costume, it's hard to tell them apart."

Evie: "Firstly, they're called uniforms, not costumes, and you know full well Milo is a goalie, easily recognized by the fact that he's the one, you know, guarding the goal."

Me: "Ohhh. That's what he was doing. I thought he was alone because the other players didn't like him being a big grouch and all."

Even though I hardly know him, I'm starting to see that may not be entirely true.

Okay, so he looks and acts grouchy a lot of the time, but I've caught a few glimpses of him when he's been mellow—borderline funny, even—so I know there's more lurking under the surface than just his gruff exterior.

Possibly.

Maybe.

Not that I'm spending a significant amount of time psychoanalyzing what he may be like under the surface.

Or what his body might look like under that costu—uniform.

But I can't deny the image of his muscular legs in those white tights is stubbornly emblazoned in my memory bank. He had no business making something so wrong look so irresistibly good.

Evie: "Riiight. Why don't we watch a game together, and I can explain face offs and a whole bunch of other stuff to you?"

Me: "Yeah, okay. But I'm not committing to anything."

Evie, laughing: "Of course you aren't."

Summer: "How's the stadium going, Evie?"

Evie: "The final touches should be completed by the end of the month, which means we'll be able to open to the public then."

Summer: "Did you manage to get two junior teams set up?"

Evie, sighing: "No. Just the one team. The requirements for a para team are a lot more complex. For now, I'm only able to offer training, but I hope to register them in the league for next season."

Me: "Hey, don't be disheartened. You're doing an amazing thing."

Evie: "I guess. Ooh, speaking of amazing things, I have some exciting news, you guys. Fraser and I have set a date."

We all stop walking and crowd in around her.

Hannah: "When?"

Evie: "The week between Christmas and New Years."

We all squeal and bundle in for a group hug, jumping up and down in the middle of the sidewalk.

Amiel: "Oh my gosh, that's so exciting."

Summer: "That's so soon."

Evie: "It is. But we're keeping it simple. Guest list is under two hundred."

Me: "That's your idea of simple?"

Evie: "If our mothers had their way, we'd be looking at royal-wedding numbers. We have an amazing wedding planner who is the best and is taking care of everything, so yeah…keep that week free."

Summer: "Consider it free."

Evie, turning to Hannah: "Will you guys be able to make it?"

Hannah: "Of course. We'll probably be back in the US for Christmas with our families anyway."

Evie: "That's what we thought, that most people would be here or at least nearby. It's hard trying to get two hundred people in the same place at the same time."

Amiel: "I bet."

Evie: "Plus-ones are welcome, of course. And Beth?"

Me: "Yeah."

Evie: "Milo will be coming, too. Maybe you could drive up the mountain together?"

Me: "I don't think so, but nice try, girl."

Evie: "And I do know."

Me: "Huh?"

Evie: "About Milo, and what he's doing on his mini break."

Me: "Oh, okay."

There's a pause in the conversation, like she's waiting for me to ask for more information while I'm hoping she offers it up without me having to.

After a few moments, I relent.

Me: "Okay, you win. What is Milo up to on his break?"

Evie: "I'm so glad you asked. He's currently in LA, but he'll be here in Comfort Bay tomorrow."

Me: "Why?"

Evie: "Fraser mentioned he found a house he likes online and wanted to see it for himself."

Me: "So he's definitely buying a house here then?"

Evie: "Looks like it."

Hannah: "Isn't the place next door to you for sale?"

Me, scoffing: "It is. But I seriously doubt a rich hockey player who could afford one of those huge mansions on the hillside overlooking the ocean would be interested in a modest bungalow in a suburban cul de sac."

Just saying the term cul de sac transports me back in time, and a warm shiver rushes through me.

I remember his smile at the diner that night, after our minor accident, when he asked if we were friends.

And it wasn't a hide your kids scary smile. It was warm and genuine, and it felt like peeking behind a curtain and getting a glimpse of a whole new, hidden side of him.

But we're just occasional verbal sparring partners, nothing more.

Very occasional sparring partners since the guy is away traveling and doing his hockey thing while I live my simple, bookish life here in sleepy Comfort Bay.

Hannah: "You're probably right. But it's a funny thought. You and Milo being neighbors."

Me: "No, it's not. It's a terrible thought."

A terrible, terrible thought.