“Hey,” Jonas says, shaking Casey’s hand. He’s friendly, but preoccupied.
Unfortunately, I think it’s going to come down to the rest of us to make Casey feel welcome.
“How’sFortnite?” I ask him with a grin. “Kill any kids lately?”
I laugh at his sheepish expression and tell Anders that Bailey got mad at him the other night because he was halfway through a game and dinner was ready.
“I told him to get his ass here right now,” Bailey chips in.
“And Casey said—what did you say, Casey?” I prompt.
“I said, if I come now, everyone will see my avatar standing there and will know my wife’s called me for dinner.”
“AndIsaid,” Bailey interjects, “everyone will see your avatar standing there and think your mommy has told you to go to bed.”
“Have you ever playedFortnite?” Casey asks Anders as he laughs.
Anders shakes his head.
“Come over sometime.”
“No, don’t,” I say. “I might never see you again.”
Suddenly, I realize that Jonas is no longer with us. Bailey notices too.
“Where’s Jonas?” she asks.
Heather’s friends are at the bar, but she’s missing.
“I don’t know,” I reply with a frown. “His ex came in. Maybe he’s gone to have a word with her.”
Casey buys a round of drinks, then, after waiting another ten minutes, Anders invites him to take his brother’s turn at the pool table.
I think we’re both distracted by what’s happened to Jonas. God only knows where he’s gone or what he’s doing. But I think we have a pretty good idea of who he’s with.
29
Maybe I should go look for him,” Anders says after we’ve said goodbye to Casey and Bailey and we’re heading toward the bridge.
We only stayed another hour or so after Jonas disappeared.
“I’ll come with you, if you like?”
He reels sideways. “You’ll willingly get on the back of my bike?”
“Yep. I trust you.”
“Wehavecome a long way,” he teases.
“I might change my mind by the time I’ve sobered up.”
But then I picture myself wrapping my arms around his waist from behind and I don’t think I will.
Urgh, what iswrongwith me? One touch and I’m weak at the knees.
“I can’t believe we’ll probably finish Bambi this week,” I say.
“I know!”
