Chapter 2

“What are you talking about?” His voice cracked and he cleared his throat.

Craig laughed, his sky-blue eyes glittering in the sunlight. “We need a final adventure, man. Just you and me. One final blowout before we turn into adults.”

Mitch shook his head. “We areadults, dork. I’m twenty-two and you’re a year older.”

Craig only gave him that lopsided grin and squeezed Mitch’s leg. “You know what I mean. We’re about to move across the country and start new jobs. It’s not going to be the same. We need a road trip.”

Across the country was right. While Mitch was moving to West Virginia, Craig was starting his newest in sunny California. The very idea of being separated by that many miles made Mitch’s blood pressure spike, so he tried not to dwell on it.

“Where?” he asked tentatively. This is a bad idea. This is a bad idea. Say no. This is a bad idea. Just say no.

His best friend had jumped up, pacing as he spoke. Craig was a lot like the bunny that sold batteries—full of energy. Always animated when he talked, pacing around, constantly moving, or talking. It drove a lot of their friends crazy, but Mitch found it charming.

“Since we’re both moving, how about we just travel through Missouri? I mean, we’ve lived here all our lives, but just think of all the touristy things we’ve never really done. It’s the Show-Me State, so why not let it show us the highlights?” Craig began ticking things off on his long fingers. “The Arch in St. Louis. Branson. Lake of the Ozarks.”

Mitch’s heart was already pushing him to say yes, even though his mind knew the danger. There were lines that shouldn’t be crossed and this trip would blur them. “I’ve been to the Arch. And Branson,” he pointed out.

“But it’s been years, right? Come on. It’ll be epic, Mitchell,” Craig cajoled.

Craig’s attention was on him, heating his skin, and Mitch couldn’t speak yet. He knewhe should say no. He was supposed to say no. He glanced over at the water and tried to figure out how to form the word.

“Plus, we can finally check out Mark Twain’s home. You’ve always wanted to do that,” Craig added.

Mitch’s heart stuttered as he looked up and found Craig’s gaze still on him. His twinkling blue eyes were pleading with him and it wasn’t in Mitch to ever deny Craig. It just wasn’t possible. Toss in the chance to see where Mark Twain lived and that was his Achilles’ heel.

He said yes. Of course he did. Craig prattled on for a while, but all Mitch was able to do was watch him in awe. Craig had always been the kind of guy that reacted with his emotions. If he was happy, everyone knew it. Sad, they knew it too. But this was different. Pure joy radiated from the inside out. Mitch had the wild thought that if he peered hard enough at Craig’s eyes, he might even see rays of sunshine emerging. It was a fanciful thought, but he couldn’t shake it. There was such happiness in him.

God, if only Craig knew how much Mitch wanted to make him happy. He would’ve done anything to see that smile every day for the rest of his life.

“This is seriously going to be epic!”

There was that word again. Epic. Craig strode over to the deep end, muscles flexing as he moved, ready to dive back in. Maybe it would be okay. Maybe it really would be epic.

Craig stopped at the edge of the pool, turned back, and grinned. “Just imagine it. You. Me. Best friends hitting the road together.” He flashed him the thumbs-up before he dove in, slicing through the crystal water elegantly.

Mitch’s heart took a dive too. Best friends. That’s all they were. Shit. What had he gotten himself into?

* * * *

The noise level grew as customers ducked inside the small eatery, escaping the heat, eager to dine on the legendary barbecue. A family with three small children occupied the table next to them and the cherubic young girl with white-blonde curls faced him again, sitting on her knees and pointing backward in her chair. Her parents were too busy trying to clean up after the other two children. Mitch had already waved back three times, so he wasn’t sure what to do as she raised her hand in a wave again. He never felt comfortable around kids. Mitch gave her a tiny wave and she smiled, waving again. That could go on all day, so he flicked his gaze across the small table at Craig and tried to focus on what he was saying, rather than the annoying urge to smooth down his best friend’s hair. Craig’s was always a bit messy—he had that laid-back casual look that a lot of men tried to emulate.