Chapter 186

Jerome, Daniel, and I are all pretty much exhausted as we pull up to the bar the next day around noon, when it opens. Jerome and I stayed up pretty late explaining the details of the plan to Daniel, and then telling him what we need him to do next… …and then a couple more hours patting his back when he hyperventilated, convincing him not to runs away from us screaming.

Because…yeah, it’s a little crazy. But it’s going to work!

“I can’t believe this is how I’m spending my Saturday,” Daniel murmurs as Jerome turns the car off in the nearly-empty parking lot of a very, very crappy bar. “You know that we could just go have brunch, right? Somewhere nice?” “I bet they can rustle up some brunch here,” I say from the back seat, leaning forward to pat Daniel on the shoulder.

“At least some peanuts,” Jerome adds, glancing at me and laughing a little.

“Seriously, why are we here?” Daniel asks, frowning at us. Because while we told him pretty much everything else….we kept this one a secret.

“It’s a surprise, Danny,” I say, opening the car door and hopping out, smoothing down my black dress as I smile towards the door. I’m actually excited for this one too. I haven’t seen her in a long time, and I miss her.