“Mojito or a margarita?” Al asks as I saunter up to the bar between Hutch and Bray. Ava is on Bray’s lap, and they are starting their Thursday ritual of playing tic-tac-toe. I’ll be the first to admit how jealous I am of Roxy’s apartment building. The owner, Al, has a standing happy hour on the most epic rooftop deck in the city…well, maybe at least the most epic one in this neighborhood. He got special plastic screens to block the cold and has heat lamps and the firepit going. It’s a surprisingly warm winter night.
“Margarita,” I answer with a smile.
I look around the bar as Al makes my drink. All the building’s residents are up here, squeezed around the firepit, bar, and a small table and chairs in front of the bar. I glance toward the greenhouse that’s on the other side of the roof.
“How’s the winter crops coming along?” I ask Al.
“Oh, not bad. I just started some seedlings. Hoping for watermelon and zucchini this summer,” he says cheerily as he pours my margarita into a salt-lined glass. “Here you go, kiddo.”
“Thanks, Al,” I answer before taking a long sip. “Now, this is what I needed. I just wish we had a beach to go with it.”
Al laughs. “Rough week?”
I nod. “I need to figure out what to write for my final paper. I don’t know why I’m struggling so much with it,” I confide.
Hutch leans toward me. “What if I could help with the beach part?”
I look over at him, raising an eyebrow.
“I don’t think Al is letting you put sand up here,” Bray says with a smirk.
Hutch glares at him.
“A sandbox would be so cool,” Ava interjects.
“Yeah, peanut, it would be,” Bray agrees. “But not in winter.”
Hutch turns his stool to face everyone. “Who wants a vacation?”
Everyone stops their conversations and looks at Hutch.
“Uh, you gonna expand on that?” Cam asks.
“My friend has a house in Puerto Rico. He offered it up to me and some friends for a week. Anyone interested in going?” Hutch asks.
Everyone raises their hands.
“Can I miss school?” Ava asks, her little face morphing with excitement.
Carly rolls her eyes. “When exactly do you plan on doing this?”
Hutch looks around. “Let’s see if we can find a long weekend that works for everyone.”
I bite my lip. I can’t afford plane tickets right now.
Hutch looks at me and frowns, and then turns back to face the others. “The flights are on me. My treat. I have a ton of airline miles; we might as well put them to use.”
He turns back to me and winks. “When is spring break?”
Fuck, he is the coolest friend I’ve ever had. And also the hottest one.
CHAPTER FOUR
Hutch
I look at the online calendar poll that I sent to everyone. Sighing, I adjust my hair and try again to find dates that work for everyone. I really want us all to be able to go. It’ll be a tight squeeze, but I’d love to have all my good friends there.
My eyes flicker to a singular family photo on my wall. I’m not sure why I put it up there. All the rest are my friends, former teammates, and the family I found here in this apartment building.
