Page 345 of One More Kiss
I can tell Deac wants to be annoyed with us, but he just sighs and shakes his head. “Fine,” he says looking at Anna. “But don’t go crazy. You really do have to be up early tomorrow.”
Anna rolls her eyes. “Yes, Mom,” she says. “I know. It’s not like that race hasn’t happened every year since before I was born. I got it.”
“If you want to be hungover and running a 5k, be my guest,” Deac says. “But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
She makes a shooing gesture with her hand. “I’m not running, remember? Go babysit someone else, old man.”
Deac just rolls his eyes as he turns and walks back toward the bar.
“So, you don’t have to work tomorrow?” I ask.
Anna shakes her head. “Nope. I just needed an excuse to end my date with Bryce.”
I wince in sympathy. “Not a love match then?”
She visibly shudders. “Hardly. He’s cute. Nice enough. But there’s no spark there. I think it’s safe to say this was my last date with Bryce Benson.”
“That’s probably for the best,” I say. “I don’t think he’s right for you.” Something else occurs to me. “What race was Deac talking about?”
“The Memorial Day 5K?” she says as though I should know what she’s talking about. “Remember, we used to go to it every year? We’d skip out on the racing, but still try to sneak beer afterward?”
“Oh, my god!” I shout. “I totally forgot about that! The town still does it?”
Anna nods. “Every year, like clockwork. And I volunteered to help hand out race packets beforehand and pour beers at the after-party.”
“Wow,” I say, impressed. “You’ve come a long way from our delinquent days.”
She laughs. “You should come. You can keep me company. And afterward, I’ll give you all the free beer you want. Deac is donating the kegs anyway. So, it’ll be like an extension of your tab.”
We’re laughing when Joni returns with two glasses of a pink concoction complete with paper umbrellas and orange slices hanging on the sides of each. She gives us both a smile as she sets the drinks on the table.
“From the boss,” she says. “Sand in Your Crack. Said to tell you both you deserve it.”
I can’t help but laugh as I take the offered drink from the woman.
Anna and I catch up for another hour while we have dinner and another Sand in Your Crack, which is surprisingly delicious. Deac stops by a couple of times when he’s not busy with work. It feels so familiar, the three of us. We’re just missing one thing. Well, one person. Cole.
None of us have mentioned him. I don’t know if they know what happened to him or if they kept in touch with him. I’m too scared to ask. I don’t want them to tell me the story of how he died in Afghanistan or something. I don’t think I can handle hearing that. So, I push thoughts of Cole Parker out of my mind and focus on enjoying my night with two old friends.
