“Logan,” Max said. “You look a hundred times better. Get some sleep?”
Logan nodded. “And a long shower. Now, I need sustenance.”
“We just ordered a couple of pizzas,” one of Max’s friends said. “You’re welcome to join us.”
“Sounds perfect. Thanks.” He could get used to this small-town friendliness.
“This is Nick,” Max said, pointing to the man who’d offered the pizza. “And that’s Brody.” He pointed to the other man and went behind the bar. “Beer?”
“Nice to meet you guys.” Logan shook hands with both men. “Yes, please.”
The pizzas arrived, and Logan dove in, eating half of a large all by himself. There was a Red Sox game on the big TV, and over pizza, beers, and baseball, they got to know each other.
Nick was the town sheriff, but had been an FBI agent in Boston for ten years before that. Brody was a big-time travel journalist.
“How’d you guys end up here?” Logan asked.
“I grew up here,” Nick said. “Left as soon as I could but was forced home to recuperate from an injury.”
“He was shot,” Max said.
“Oh, dang,” Logan said. “That’s rough.”
“He’s making it sound worse than it was. Anyway, while I was back, I met a woman. Well, re-met, I’d known her forever since she’s from here too.”
“They were married last year,” Max said.
“Any regrets?” Logan asked.
“Not a one.” Nick smiled like a man still freshly in love.
“And you?” Logan looked at Brody.
“Also a woman,” Brody said with a smile. “Came to town for a work project, fell hard and fast in love, and never left. Best decision I ever made. We’re getting married in eight days.”
“That’s awesome. Congratulations.”
“So, how about you?” Nick said. “What brings you to our humble town?”
“I just got back from a weeklong campout. It was this ultimate survivor’s weekend warrior thing?”
All three laughed.
“Unlike that doctor,” Nick said. “I see Tessy kept you in one piece.”
“Y’all know Tess?”
“She’s my sister,” Nick said. “So, yeah. I know her.”
Logan toyed with the idea of fishing for information about Tess, but decided it felt too junior high. Plus, Nick radiated a protective big-brother vibe and didn’t seem like the type you wanted to annoy.
“That’s cool,” Logan said. “Yeah, she was great—calm and knowledgeable. Handled everything that came at us—bad weather, wild animals, food scarcity, Bigfoot sighting, and disobedient campers.”
“You didnotsee Bigfoot,” Brody said.
Logan shook his head. “No. It was a false alarm. But one guy woke us all up in the middle of the night, thinking it was him.”
“I’m sure Tess loved that.” Nick chuckled.
