Drew changed the topic. “You’re going to the fireworks tonight, right?”
“If I get out early enough.”
“Do you want to go with me?” Drew offered.
Gabriel beamed. “I would love that.”
Drew would get off work around dinnertime, and Gabriel would be free later, after 8:00 or 9:00, which was fine because the fireworks wouldn’t start until after 10:00. They made a plan for Gabriel to meet Drew at his house, and they would go to the Lake to watch the fireworks.
Six hours later, Drew left the camp and drove back to his house, where he showered and changed into a white polo shirt and sky-blue linen pants, with white canvas shoes. He looked preppy and could’ve easily fit in on Nantucket.
He had a few hours to kill before Gabriel could join him, so he walked into town, hands in his pockets and a tote bag over his shoulder. He had bought the tote bag the other day at one of the local bookstores, because he needed something to carry his books in. It was made of plain white canvas, with a screen-printed design of Orion’s famous lighthouse.
Wanting to stay away from the heavy holiday traffic, he went down to the Fish District and got a seat at the bar of Lakeside Biergarten. He hadn’t been back since his first date with Gabriel, but he’d liked the place. It was moderately busy for the Fourth, and they had several specials to celebrate the holiday.
He ordered a sandwich and coffee and sat sipping the coffee and reading his book. He didn’t mind reading in loud atmospheres; when a book was good, it completely engaged him.
“Hey, it’s you,” a voice said, drawing him up from the pages.
He looked up and saw Aubrey Wozniak, Gabriel’s best friend, facing him across the bar. She wore a Lakeside Biergarten T-shirt and a star-spangled headband.
“It’s me,” Drew agreed.
“You’re the guy Gabriel was on a date with a few weeks ago,” Aubrey continued. Clearly at work, she started to dry some glasses.
“I am.”
“You don’t talk much, I see.”
“No, I do, I’m just surprised by you.”
“I’m a bartender. My job is talking.”
“A bartender only in the summers, Gabriel says. A teacher for the rest of the year.”
“So he’s told you about me.”
“He has. Has he told you about me?”
She paused with her glasses and slung her towel over her shoulder. “Not much, actually, which surprises me. Normally, he tells me everything about whatever guy he’s seeing, but he’s being pretty tight-lipped about you.”
“Interesting,” Drew said.
“Is it?”
“Yes.”
“For what it’s worth, I’m pretty sure he’s crazy about you. More coffee?”
“Thanks.” He slid her his mug. “Do you think you should be telling me this?”
She poured coffee from a carafe and returned his mug. “Sure. Why not?”
“Because you’re one of his best friends and I’m the guy he’s seeing.”
She smiled slyly. “So youareseeing him.”
He frowned. “Didn’t you already know that?”
