Page 42 of A Secret Chance
“I’ll get this round,” Lauren offered. She stood up and collected the empty cups.
“What are you doing with those?” Charlotte asked.
“I’m going to get them to refill them.”
“How about you get a pitcher?” a deep voice said from behind Lauren. She turned to see Freddie Brush, Logan’s younger brother, and his girlfriend, Serena.
“Done,” Lauren smiled. She pointed to the picnic table, “Have a seat.”
Freddie and Serena joined Charlotte, and Lauren returned shortly with two pitchers of the Snowball Brew. She set the heavy jugs on the table and poured everyone a round. “It’s called Snowball Brew,” she said. “You’ll never guess what’s on the logo,” she laughed.
“A snowman with balls?” Freddie said.
“How did you know?” Lauren said.
“I didn’t, but I know Charlie.” Charlie was the local bartender who had started a small craft beer company out of the back of the seedy bar in town. Lauren had been to The Last Chance Tavern once, and that had been enough for her.
“Cheers,” Lauren said and held up her cup.
“Cheers,” the group echoed and as they thudded the plastic cups together, Snowball brew spilled onto the checked plastic tablecloth.
“Charlie’s beer is always great,” Freddie said.
“Says the guy who still drinks Jägermeister,” Charlotte said.
“Ooh, a round of Jager bombs?” Freddie grinned and pumped his eyebrows.
“No,” the group said in unison. Freddie shrugged and joined in the group’s collective laughter.
Lauren’s body started to feel a little lighter, and her head a bit tipsy from the beer. She felt her shoulders start to involuntarily groove to the music by the live band. She was grateful that her sister’s group of friends had welcomed her with open arms. Freddie slung his arm over Serena’s shoulder. Lauren felt a pang of jealousy as she watched Freddie kiss Serena’s forehead as she leaned into his shoulder. It seemed like such a sweet intimate touch and Lauren averted her gaze and chugged back the rest of her drink. If someone had told her high school self that she’d be hanging out with the Brush brothers at the Chance Rapids Winter Carnival she wouldn’t have believed it. They were the most popular guys in school, and she was a nerd who wore thrift store clothes. As she laughed with her friends, she felt a sense of comfort as well as loss. She was happy but still felt like there was an emptiness lying beneath.
“Let me get that for you,” Freddie said. He poured her another beer and filled up the rest of the cups on the table.
“I shouldn’t,” Lauren said. She pushed the cup away from her. “I have to go say bye to Tabitha before her sleepover.” She felt a little guilty using her daughter as an excuse, but she had no intention of returning to the party, it was her ‘out’.
“Speak of the devil,” Charlotte said. “Logan just texted me. They’re at the gate.”
“Tell them to join us,” Freddie said.
“They’re not going to let a nine-year-old into the beer garden, Freddie.” Charlotte pursed her lips and shook her head.
“I’ll go meet them,” Lauren said. “It was nice to see you guys. Freddie, you can finish my beer.” Freddie furrowed his brow and tilted his head at Lauren. “Does this mean you’re not coming back?”
“I have work to do.”
Freddie let out a giant ‘humph’ and jokingly crossed his arms. “Classic Lauren.” He raised Lauren’s cup as she stood up and proceeded to finish it before she had even left the table.
“Bye, guys.” Lauren raised her hand in a wave.
“Bye.” The three of her friends raised their cups.
She had been having such a good time hanging out with her friends, something she rarely got to do. She sighed but thought to herself, ‘It’s probably a good thing.’ She could get away without having to talk to Baxter, and she could avoid a hangover because soon enough Freddie would be buying shots for everyone at the table, whether they wanted them or not...
“Mom. Mom.”
She heard Tabitha’s voice before she saw her. She scanned the crowd, then saw her big smile from beneath her purple pom-pom hat. She and her best friend, Julia, were eating hot dogs and Logan was standing with Julia’s parents Charmaine and Steve. He smiled as Lauren approached.
“You’re off duty now,” she laughed and tagged Logan on the shoulder. “Charlotte is in the beer garden with Freddie and Serena.”
