Page 64 of Last Call

Fallon took a long pull from her beer, taking a moment to consider her reply. “There’s no handbook,” she said. “I mean, not one that has answers. I wish they made one. I think Riley would say the same thing. Believe me, we have both Andi and my mom on speed dial.”

Pete chuckled.

Fallon didn’t pry into anyone’s business. She steered clear of gossip and never betrayed a confidence. Pete rarely shared details about his childhood. Fallon had heard her mother and Andi’s mother discussing the troubles in the McCann household more than once. Delia McCann, Sylvia Main, and Betty Shermanwere Ida's closest friends. They had attended school together, served as bridesmaids at each other's weddings, and planned each other’s baby showers. Ida never shared anything with Fallon about Pete's family life. Fallon pieced together the essential details herself, and Dale confirmed her suspicions not long after he married Marge.

“Pete,” Fallon began softly. “You took care of your mom and Marge. You have more experience than you think.”

“Maybe.”

“Hey, there’s no prequalification for becoming a parent,” Fallon offered.

“There probably should be,” Pete said. "I never wanted to screw it up—having a family. I saw what it did to my mother, what it did to Marge when my father left. He was a first-class asshole, mostly when he drank. The problem was that he always had a drink in his hand. You get the point.”

“Yeah, I do.”

“It’s why I always go to the pub to have a beer. I don’t keep any in the house.”

“You’re not your dad,” Fallon said.

“No. I’m not. I don’t know, Fallon. I never really thought about having kids until Beth. You should know, it didn’t start that way between us.”

“Usually doesn’t.”

“She became my best friend. You know?”

“I have some experience with that.”

"How'd you pull it off?" Pete asked.

"Pull what off?" Fallon asked.

"You know," Pete paused, "going from Andi's best friend to…"

"Her lover?" Fallon finished for him.

Pete smirked. "How did you and Andi stay friends after you and Riley got together?"

"Why? Afraid Beth might trade you in for the new mechanic?" Fallon teased, chuckling as Pete's face went pale.

"She can't exactly leave me when we’re not together,” Pete said.

"Yet," Fallon interjected. Usually, she'd keep teasing him, but she saw the genuine concern on Pete’s face. It reminded her of the anxiety she felt when she realized she was in love with Riley. The fear of losing Andi and Riley’s friendship loomed large. She guessed Pete was wrestling with similar worries, a whirlwind of questions without clear answers.

“You need to climb out of your head,” Fallon said. “I could have avoided a lot of stress if I’d listened to Carol when she told me that.”

“When do you ever listen to Carol?”

“I listen. I just don’t usually do what she suggests.”

Pete laughed.

“What are you worried about?” Fallon asked.

“I just don’t want to ruin our friendship. You know, between me and Beth, or even between us,” Pete admitted.

“Have a little more faith in all of us.”

“Are you really okay with it?” Pete pressed.

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