Page 57 of Last Call

“Don’t start,” Andi warned her gently.

“I’m not starting anything. I’m just observing,” Billie said.

Andi rolled her eyes. “Mm-hm. Stop observing your beer and finish it.”

“Why do you want Billie to finish her beer?” Carol asked. “Is it getting too warm in here?”

Andi shrugged. Billie flushed a lovely shade of pink.

“You are so easy,” Carol told Billie.

Fallon appeared behind Riley. “Who’seasy?”

“Apparently, Billie,” Riley replied.

Fallon looked at Billie. “You do look like you’re a little warm,” Fallon teased.

Riley and Becky laughed.

“On that note,” Andi said, draining the last bit of her margarita. “Come on, Easy Rider.”

Billie grumbled. “Do you have to encourage them?” she muttered as she slid off the stool.

Andi smiled and held out her hand. “I’d rather encourageyou,” she said.

The flush to Billie’s cheeks deepened.

“Goodnight,” Andi said, leading Billie away.

“Take it slow,Easy Rider,” Fallon called out.

“We always do,” Andi called back as she led Billie through the door.

“Riley?” Becky asked.

“Yes?”

“Do you think Dave and I could sleep at your house tonight?” Becky asked.

Laughter filled the pub.

Owen looked up at Dave, puzzled.

“I don’t know, buddy,” Dave said. “They’re all a little crazy.”

Owen giggled.

“Hey, Dave!” Carol called out. “Looks like you’re having a sleepover at Riley and Fallon’s!”

“We’re sleeping at Fallon’s?” he asked.

Owen started spinning in circles. “Sleepover!” he exclaimed.

Riley shook her head.We really need that bigger house.

Chapter Four

Fallon chuckled to herself,marveling at Owen's persistence with the same question on repeat. She thought they had passed the broken record phase. Apparently not. "When are we leaving for school?" he’d asked, not once, not twice, but at least twenty times in the past twenty minutes. He was captivated by the stories Evan, Emily, and Summer told him about their adventures with friends at school. He’d gone to Emily’s science fair and watched Evan play baseball at the junior high school. And he loved watching the bus when it pulled up in front of Ida’s house.

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