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Alex patted my arm. “I’m sure it’s nothing that can’t be cleaned up. But first, how about you tell us about it and we’ll help you figure it out?”
“I don’t want to impose.”
She laughed. “You’re practically family now.”
I groaned but gave her a smile.
“Coffee or tea?” Sara asked.
“Coffee please. Strong.”
“I have just the blend. And if you’re not opposed, I think this calls for something even stronger. I have a bottle of Irish Whisky hidden in the back.”
“You’re right, it does call for it.”
She squeezed my hand and Alex leaned into me to wrap me in a warm half-hug.
“Give me a few minutes and then you can tell us everything.”
Things may have been falling apart before I even got started on my apology campaign, but at least I had some new friends.
four
As headof security at the hospital, I had my pick of shifts, but the past few weeks, I’d been working overtime just to keep busy. After my third double shift in a row this week, my deputy told me to fuck off and leave some of the OT hours for the rest of them. I could have argued, but I didn’t have the energy for that, so I left him to it.
A strong wind from the harbor hit me as I walked down the street. The hospital was set back a few blocks from the water, but that meant when the wind was coming off it, it created a tunnel effect. Combined with the already freezing temperature, it put me in a shittier mood than usual. Which was saying something.
I met Dane at the pub a couple times a week for dinner. Sometimes others joined us, but as the rest of the guys were coupled-up, it was harder for them to make it. I gave them shit for it, but they always just laughed it off and made fun of me for being a douchebag. Because when it came down to it, they were happy. And I was a jealous prick. I’d never admit that, but it was true.
And they knew it.
I finally turned the corner onto Harbor Street and saw the pub’s vintage sign lit up, calling to me. But before I could get there, my sister stepped out of the Witch’s Brew, stopping me in my tracks.
“Hey!” she said, with a worried expression. That was weird. She leaned in to give me a hug. That was weird too, since we saw each other practically every day now, we didn’t hug unless it was a special occasion.
“What’s going on?” I asked, but really didn’t care much as the cold was biting into my skin.
“Just grabbing some coffee.” Her voice was higher than normal.
Now maybe I cared a bit.
“You seem weird. Everything okay?”
She glanced behind her to the wood and glass door of the cafe, but was blocking it from my view. When she turned back around, she grabbed my arm.
“Listen, just…be nice.”
“What?”
Before she could answer, I heard the bell above the door jingle and someone stepped out of it. She glided down the small set of steps and then looked up at me, stopping dead in her tracks.
“Mia.”
Her mouth opened in surprise. My eyebrows knit together in confusion. Alex looked back and forth at us like we were playing at Wimbledon.
“Hi, Drew,” Mia said, with a soft voice, smooth and sweet like I remembered, but filled with apprehension.
Time felt like it stopped and all I could do was stare at her. I’d been missing her every single day since she left and found it hard to believe she was here again, standing right in front of me.
