Sam’s eyes widen, looking between us. “Can I…?” He hesitates, waiting for the all clear. He’s the only one who ever asks for permission to hug me, even though he’s the only one who doesn’t need to ask. As soon as I nod, I’m eye to eye with him too as he wraps me in a bear hug, unaffected by the camera lens digging into our embrace. “Will! That’s amazing—wait, is this a good thing?” He pulls back and searches my face as I shift the lens to the side.
“Yeah. It was unexpected, but still a good thing.”
He turns and offers a hand to Trevor. “Hey, man. I think we’ve met before. Chase and Kayla’s wedding?”
“I knew you looked familiar.” They shake, and Trevor holds out his hand to help me down from the stool.
“And why didn’t you tell me you were seeing someone?” Sam asks. “Last I heard, you were dealing with Carter’s sorry ass.”
“Because I’mnotseeing anyone,” I say, backing up toward my bag. Sam’s eyebrows dance again.
“One too many birthday Lemon Drops and a faulty condom equals baby,” Trevor explains.
Sam bursts out a laugh. “That’s probably the most on-brand way for you to get pregnant, Will. Let looseone time, and now you’re in for the ride of your life. How far along are you?”
“A couple days short of twelve weeks.” Holding up the pictures from the ultrasound, I sidle up next to him.
“So tiny! I remember when Maci was that small.” He traces a finger over the black-and-white images, then pulls me in for a one-armed hug. “Congrats, Will! You’ll be the best mom.” The warmth spreading through me as I let my friend’s excitement fill me up gives me a little hope that the conversation with my parents might go over well too.
“…A bar?”Trevor stops abruptly on the sidewalk, my purple camera backpack slung over his shoulder. “I thought you wanted food.”
“I do,” I say, pulling open the heavy metal door. “FromHarv’s.” When I step inside, the place is dead.Perfect.No noise.
“Is it even open?” Trevor says, looking around the deserted room. “It’s Thanksgiving.”
“Harv’s is always open.” I take off for a stool at the bar, the familiar stick of my sole to the epoxy floor bringing a smile to my face. Flickering neon beer signs hum against the walls among the red Christmas lights left up year-round. During tourist season, everyone flocks to Patti’s Place across the street, leaving Harv’s as a quiet oasis for the locals. This dark, dingy dive is my preference any time of year. I drum my fingers on the wooden bar top as Trevor settles on the stool next to me. “It’ll be busy tonight, once everyone gets sick of their families.”
“So that’s why you snuck out this morning? Sick of your family?”
I click my tongue, pointing at him. “Bingo. The less time I spend there, the easier it is on everyone.”
“Eh. Noteveryone…” he says quietly. The concern on his face shoots unease through me, but I glance away when the swinging kitchen doors bang against the wall. Harvey Morales stands with his hands on his hips, bald head gleaming with sweat. Thick gray chest hair tufts out around the stretched neck of his white T-shirt. A salt-and-pepper beard covers his tanned face, and he looks like a gruff pirate with his squinted eye. He stalks toward us with a determined limp, a low growl rumbling from his chest when he settles across the counter from us. His hardened gaze lands on me, then a toothy grin slides across his lips. “Well, well, look what the turkey dragged in…
“It’s a cat, Harv,” I tease.
“Yeah, yeah…” He plucks a pen from behind his ear and positions his palm like an order pad. “Lucky for you, I popped some cheese sticks in the fryer just now… Interested?”
“Is that even a real question?” I laugh. “How’d you know I was in town?”
“I saw you creep into Sammy’s place when I opened this morning. Knew you’d harass me for fried cheese sooner or later.” He jots on his hand, then leans against the counter. “How’s my favorite former student?”
Trevor juggles a quizzical look between us, and I laugh again. “I used to keep the books for Harv in exchange for photography lessons.” My explanation only deepens the furrow between Trevor’s eyes, but he says nothing.Why’s he so quiet today? “My parents nixed photography classes in high school, so I found a way to do it under the table.” I shrug and turn back to Harv. “This is Trevor.”
“Oh?” He lilts, reaching a meaty palm across the bar top to shake Trevor’s hand. “A strapping suitor?”
“Just a friend,” I assure him.
“Well,just a friend…” he says to Trevor. “Can I get you anything?”
“I’m alright, thanks.” He flashes a polite grin that doesn’t reach his eyes.Weird.
“Alright.” Harv slides to the drink dispenser, fills a couple of glasses with water, and sets them in front of us. “Gimme a few minutes. And don’t you think about pulling out your wallet, Willa. It’s on the house.” He turns on his heel and pushes through the swinging doors.
“Bad business model!” I call, smiling at his boisterous laugh muffled by the wall. We used to battle over his business losses daily. As I turn toward Trevor to finish explaining how our barter worked in high school, the brooding shadow over his face catches me off guard. “Everything okay?”
His eyes are glued to his fingers as they tap the bar top. “I wouldn’t know.”
“Wha—are you mad at me or something?”
