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“I might have got some made.”
“She’s going to kill you.”
“Which is why we aren’t going to tell her.”
“Oh no. I am not lying to her.”
“It’s not lying if she doesn’t know. If she happens to find out, I’ll be the first to fess up. We’re just helping her out when she’s too damn stubborn to do it herself.”
Olivia nudged his shoulder. “She’s lucky to have you in her corner.”
“Right back at ya, Livy.” Olivia might have taken off to the city right after high school, but whenever Harper needed her, or any of her friends, Olivia came running. Her heart was bigger than her shoe collection, and Milo was happy to call her his friend, too.
Shane came back from topping off glasses and started refilling the pitcher, getting ready for the next round. “You need us to bring anything for the barbeque?” Shane asked as he poured the tequila into the pitcher.
“Nope, just yourselves. I have everything else under control.” Milo threw a Memorial Day party every year. It was his favorite holiday and something he looked forward to the minute the weather started to warm. And according to the news, the weather was supposed to be perfect for the holiday weekend, and he was ready to kick off summer right.
“I have high expectations,” Shane said. “Everyone has said it’s the party of the year.”
“I promise I will not disappoint.”
Connor, the owner of McConnell’s, Shane’s cousin and Milo’s childhood friend, brought out Milo’s burger. “Should’ve known this was for you,” Connor said and handed the plate over to Milo.
“I need to work on my predictability. You never want people to know your next move.”
“Have you been watching crime documentaries again?” Olivia asked.
Milo narrowed his eyes. “Depends on who’s asking.”
“I’ll take that as a yes.”
The door opened, and an unfamiliar couple walked in. Milo picked up his burger. “Looks like the out-of-towners are starting to make their way to town.”
Olivia slid off the stool and greeted the customers while Milo took a bite of his burger and moaned extra loud. “Best burger ever!”
Connor laughed and shook his head. “Definitely predictable.”
“Really?” Milo said. “What am I going to do next then?”
“You’re going to tell that couple to get the burger.”
“Damn. I am predictable.”
Connor knocked his knuckles against the bar. “There are worse things.”
Milo nodded, then took another bite of his burger. He didn’t mind being predictable. It meant that people cared enough to notice.
***
Harper had the coffee table stacked with pint glasses ready to be painted. Maria ordered fifty hand painted glasses for her daughter’s senior graduation party. Harper couldn’t believe Sofia was graduating high school. She still remembered babysitting her occasionally when Olivia couldn’t. Now she was old enough to drive, and she’d be going off to college by the end of summer.
A pang of jealousy hit low in her gut, and guilt immediately followed. Jealousy was not an emotion she’d let herself feel, especially not toward someone as kindhearted as Sofia, but the jealousy mixed with the guilt took prominence.
Maria and Carlos were great parents. They worked their asses off and had been saving for Sofia’s college since she was born. Even though Harper had scholarships, it wasn’t enough—not financially and not realistically. Mom wasn’t capable of surviving without her, and because of that, Harper was stuck in Morgan’s Bay. She lost out on her chance at college, and while she’d accepted her bad hand at life, sometimes the disappointment would get triggered no matter how hard she fought it.
The door opened, and Harper glanced up. Milo strolled in, balancing multiple grocery bags in hand and a watermelon. She jumped from her spot on the floor and grabbed the watermelon before they had a disaster on their hands.
His footing was uneven for a second, but he quickly recovered.
