I wince as I hear Amelia’s disappointed voice in my head. I’m not sure anything Sydney and I came up with will work. It isn’t the first time that I lost track of time and accidentally blew her off to hang with Sydney.

Still, Amelia is great, and I want to make it up to her.

“I’m going to bed. Are you coming?”

Sydney’s eyes briefly flit over my bare chest. “I’ll sleep down here. It’s fine.”

“Come on, don’t be silly.” I stand but she doesn’t budge.

“I was thinking while I was sleeping—”

“You were thinking while you were sleeping?”

“Hush.” She closes her thumb and fingers on her right hand to mimic a shushing motion. “I was thinking, maybe we should stop hanging out so much or at least not do things I know will make Amelia uncomfortable.”

“What?”

“We’ve always said, screw everyone else. If they can’t deal with it, it’s their problem, but maybe it should be our problem.” Her face is stoic and dead serious which makes something in my chest ache. “We’re going to be apart this summer anyway. Maybe it’ll be good for both of us. Amelia is nice and I want you to be happy.”

“Hanging out with you makes me happy. You’re my best friend.”

“Same.” She stands and wraps herself around me. The top of her head comes up just under my chin and I tuck her in close and breathe in her shampoo.

She pulls back first with a big smile. “So, I’ll sleep down here.”

I scoop her up and throw her over my shoulder. “Don’t be dumb. The plan obviously has to start tomorrow. No one makes a plan and executes it on the same day.”

She laughs as I start toward the stairs. “Fine, but I’m sleeping on the floor.”

“Whatever you want, babe.”

The next morning when I wake up, Sydney’s already gone. I grab my phone and read her text.

Sydney: Have a great summer. Don’t forget the roses for Amelia!!

After showering and loading up my car, I get on the road. It’s only about two hours to Amelia’s hometown which will have me arriving right around lunchtime.

My phone rings from the console. I take it and press speaker. “Hey.”

“Hey,” Tara’s chipper voice replies. “Are you at the lake?”

“Nah, not yet. I should be there late this afternoon.”

“I’m so jealous.” Her dramatic sigh makes me chuckle.

“That’s what you get for taking classes during the summer. Super lame, T.”

“Yeah, yeah. We can’t all be career jocks. Speaking of, did you give any more thought to our conversation about focusing on just one next year?”

An uncomfortable knot forms in my chest and I shift in the driver’s seat. “Of course, I’ve thought about it.”