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“Oh, that’s really cool!” Lauren hunched over and walked beneath it with the interest of an explorer on an adventure. “What’s back there?” She pointed to the opposite side of the park.
“Oh, uh, just the pavilion. There’s probably some live music going on or something right now.” Peeking at her watch, Casey shrugged. “Want to check it out?”
“Sure!” Waddling from beneath the Bean, Lauren looped her arm back into Casey’s. “Lead the way, lady!”
Folk music collided with their ears as they marched across the grassy field and down the stone steps to the pavilion. Casey led Lauren to the main level and chose the fifth row of red plastic seats beside the stage.
“How’s this?”
“Perfect!” Lauren dropped her butt into a chair and plopped her bag on her lap. “I love it here,” she admitted. “I’ve always wanted to visit this city.” She stretched her arms up and leaned back, the sun’s rays dancing on her tanned face.
“Why haven’t you?”
Lauren snorted and rolled her eyes. “Because Mitch’s version of avacationis like a secluded cabin in the Northwoods of Wisconsin.”
Casey giggled, a childhood memory of her and her older sister Cassie diving into a lake of a Wisconsin campground resurfacing. She grinned, nostalgia touching her heart.
“So, how long have you been married?”
“We got married in Vegas a little over seven years ago, but I’ve known Mitch basically my whole life.” She rolled her eyes. “High school sweethearts, kinda.”
“Well, that’s really sweet, isn’t it?” Casey snorted. “My high school boyfriend, Eric is in prison for dealing drugs.” Her eyes widened. “I guess I lucked out there, didn’t I?” She blanched.
“I’d say so! Yikes!” Giggling, Lauren toyed with her wedding ring, spinning it in circles on her finger.
The ping of a text message caught her ear, barely audible from her bag. Casey snagged her phone and pulled the screen to her face to read,Hey beautiful, I’m so sorry. I’m gonna be stuck here for a little while longer. Are you girls okay?
Casey snuck a peek at Lauren, watching as she pulled her long, dark hair into a ballerina-like bun. With a smile, the last shred of anxiety in her gut melted away. She tapped out,We’re totally fine! I love your sister!She added the kissing face emoji and pushedsend, dropping her phone back in her purse.
“Well, Austin is stuck at the office, so that means you’re stuck with me.”
Lauren laughed. “I’m not stuck with you. I’m enjoying your company!” She elbowed Casey in the side with a smile. “Besides, I didn’t really come to see my brother.”
“You didn’t?”
She shook her head. “Can I tell you a secret?”
“Umm yeah, sure.” Casey furrowed her brow, twisting her body to face Lauren.
“It’s not that I didn’t miss Austin. I did. But honestly, I came because I really just needed a few days away from Mitch.” She hung her head, scraping the bottoms of her sandals along the concrete.
“Oh! Well... umm, yeah. Everyone needs a break once in a while, right?” Her eyes widened.
Lauren laughed. “Yeah... a break.” She sighed and hopped to her feet. “But hey, if Austin’s going to spend the day being a stuffy lawyer, let’s go do something fun!”
“What do you have in mind?”Please don’t say Buckingham Fountain. Please don’t say Buckingham Fountain...
A mischievous grin curled Lauren’s lips into a smile. “Let’s day drink. I’ll spill all of Austin’s secrets!”
Spill, Lauren, spill...
––––––––
Casey plopped intoa metal chair on the back patio at Dark Horse.
“Oh, this place is perfect!” Lauren sat across the table beneath a royal-blue umbrella. “We’re in Wrigleyville, right?”
Casey pointed over Lauren’s shoulder and nodded. “Our apartment is about three blocks that way.” Dumping her purse in the empty seat beside her, she pulled a menu to her lap and opened the plastic-covered page to the weekly specials. “Friday... eight-dollar domestic pitchers. You in?”
