Page 19 of Naughty & Nice

“Oh, I understand. How’s school going?”

“It’s okay. I have a lot of downtime. We don’t get nearly as many fire calls here. We do a lot of sitting around and cooking at the station.”

“Well, I’ll expect you to cook when you come home.”

“You’ll be really hungry then. If I come home, I’m hoping you’ll make pot roast. The guys are good cooks, but it’s not the same,” I say, stirring a pot of canned beef stew on the stove. If I were at my mom’s, I’d have fresh crusty bread and dessert to go with this.

“You haven’t met a nice girl who can cook?”

“Mom.”I’ve met a girl who smells like cupcakes and can bake like nobody’s business. But that’s the last thing I’m telling my mother.

“Oh, well. I was hoping maybe someone had managed to break through your forcefield.”

“On that note, I have to go. Tell Noah, Becca, and the boys I said hi. I’ll call you as soon as I can confirm when I’m headed home.”

“Okay. Just don’t forget about me. I miss you, Trevor.”

“I miss you too. Love you, Mom.”

Grabbing the ladle, I spoon out a serving of stew and take a seat at my kitchen island to dig in when my cell phone starts to dance across the marble countertop.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Trevor. It’s Michael. I was just talking to Zach about his weekend visit. He said the place is like a little piece of heaven, tucked in the mountains.”

“Yeah. It was great seeing him.” I’d met Michael back in Hanover only a few months before leaving for Sycamore. Zach had grown up next door to him, and although there was at least a decade between them, he treated Michael like a little brother. “Ava and I would love to come for a visit sometime.”

“That’d be great. I need to pay my mom a visit, but I’ll text you my schedule.”

“Well, call us when you come to town. We’ll take you out for dinner.”

“That’d be great. Look forward to seeing you guys.” Placing the phone onto the counter, I lift my spoon to my mouth and wince, realizing my sad bowl of stew has grown cold. I grumble to myself.I really wanted a burger anyway.

Reaching for my keys and cell phone, I head for the burger stand in town before they close, when again, my phone vibrates with an incoming call. When have I ever been this popular? Jason’s number flashes on the screen.

“Hey, man. What’s up?”

“Trev. You interested in a drink? A few of us are here at the bar.”

“Pour Decisions?”

“You know any other bar in this town?”

“The Cellar Bar.”

“That’s where you go if you’re trying to impress someone. None of us frequent there often.” He laughs. “You doing anything?”

“No. I was actually going to run out and get a burger when you called.”

“I’ll order one for you. See you in a bit.”

“Thanks, man.”Well, what do you know about that?

Arriving at the bar, I find Jason and Dave seated by the front entrance. They’re laughing and talking to the bartender as I approach.

“Hey, you made it. Tim, can you bring his burger out now?”

“Sure. What can I get you to drink?”

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