“I should get some sleep, too, then. Lord knows you’ll wake me up when you leave,” Jessa adds as they stand.
“We should probably go too. We’re meeting with a local magazine to talk about the store tomorrow morning,” Fletcher says.
“Speak for yourself. It was my idea,” Cam argues.
“Fine, one of us is going to bed early,” Fletcher says with an eye roll.
“I have to be in the recording studio early tomorrow,” Gray adds as he follows Fletcher downstairs.
“These young people need more energy,” Margie says. “When I was their age, I ran on sex, booze, and rock ’n’ roll.”
Cornelia laughs. “Don’t forget the shrooms.”
“Aunt Cornelia!” Piper scolds from where she sits perched on Kasen’s knee.
“What? Times were different back then,” Cornelia says with a shrug. “Did I ever tell you the story about when we went to Burning Man and I smoked peyote with a shaman?”
Piper’s eyes widen. “Uh, nope. I think you somehow glossed over that.”
“Maybe we should tell that story another time,” Carly says as she glances at her daughter.
Cornelia waves her off. “It’s harmless. Besides, Bray just put those giant headphones on her ears. She’ll be transfixed by whatever the heck is on that tablet.”
Carly sighs. “Bray. She shouldn’t have any more screen time today.”
“It’s educational. It’s a video about groundhogs,” he explains.
“Everyone, focus. Are we making s’mores or not?” Roxy asks.
“I think it’s a lost cause tonight,” Al says as he leans out from under the awning that covers the bar area. “Looks like we might get a little rain soon.”
“Bummer. I really wanted something sweet,” Roxy mutters.
“Uh, just walk over to the bakery,” Hutch suggests.
“Fair point,” she says.
“Fine, I’ll tell the Burning Man story at book club,” Cornelia states as she gets up and sets her glass on the bar. “I suppose I’m off to sleep.”
One by one, others leave until it’s just Hutch, Al, and me.
“You kids want anything else?” Al asks.
“No. We’re good. You want us to help you clean up?” I ask as I lean back against Hutch.
“Nah. I just have a few glasses here. I’ll have them clean in no time,” he says.
“Goodnight, Al,” Hutch says as we leave.
“’Night,” I add.
Al waves at us, and we walk down to Hutch’s apartment.
Hutch sets his keys down and goes about turning lights off while I head to his bedroom. This whole evening has felt normal, yet I feel anything but normal. It’s all too much.
I pull out my bag and toss my things in it. I need space. I need to figure things out, and I can’t do that here. Hutch needs to figure out his own shit. There’s no way we both can do that together. I’ll be in his way, and he’ll be in mine.
When Hutch walks into his room, his eyes dart to my bag.
