As Hayley and I threaded our way through the restaurant to the table, I grabbed her arm and yanked her to a stop. “Hayley, who is that sitting beside Michael?”

“Some friend of Michael’s. From school.”

“Hayley—”

“It’s not a set up. I promise. He’s just a friend. He’s new to Jax and had never been to Amelia before. We aren’t setting you up. We know better. It’s only been six months since Magnus left—”

“Five months and twenty-two days.” I corrected, more out of habit than anything. Soon it would be the six month mark and then I would round up and down like everyone else I supposed.

She struggled out of her jacket, slung it over her arm, and blew the bangs off her forehead. She was irritated but then she softened and smiled. “I know it’s not six months yet. And I’m really glad you came out with us. It’s been a very long time.”

“Yeah.” I took in air to steady myself.

“No tricks. It’s just a guy. Sit at the opposite end of the table and ignore him completely. Or talk to me. We’ll pretend like we’re out on the town by ourselves and just let Michael pay for our drinks.” She sighed. “Who am I kidding, he’s a student, he doesn’t have any money.”

“Good thing you’re his sugar mama.”

We arrived at the table. Hayley kissed Michael and sat down beside him and gestured toward the empty chair so I would be at the far end from the random dude they invited. I scowled because it was my first night out with Hayley and I didn’t want strangers to ruin it. Especially if it was harder than I thought. It was already harder.

Michael leaned forward, completely oblivious to the drama unfolding. “Hey Katie, this is Tyler. He’s from New York. He goes to school with me at JU.”

“Cool. Nice to meet you, Tyler.” He was ordinary looking, like just a guy, but tall and with a muscular build. His hair was cut very short as if there was a military thing happening. We did an awkward wave from the opposite ends of the table. Michael continued, “He’s never been to the Island before.” Tyler smiled.

I said, “Cool,” and gave Hayley a look that said, ‘You are not doing enough to keep me from an awkward conversation with a stranger.’

She changed the subject. “Did you order for me, Michael, or do I have to go to the bar like a chump?” She grinned.

“I didn’t know what you wanted, but I’ll go get it for you.” He stood.

Hayley said, “I want a Margarita.”

Tyler stood up. “What would you like to drink, Katie?”

I panicked and said, “Um, nothing. I mean…”

Hayley said, “That’s okay Tyler, Michael knows what to order for Katie.” Then she tried with eye-signals and head gestures to get Michael to know what I wanted, but he was completely clueless about the drama unfolding.

Tyler looked from one to the other.

I blurted out, “I’m married.”

Tyler said, “Oh. I mean, yeah. You have a ring on. I was trying to be polite.”

“Yeah, of course. I’m just trying to explain the reason we’re all being so weird — I’m married. He’s just um… missing and it’s my first time out since he’s been gone.”

“Oh, how’s he missing? Military?”

“No, um… he went missing in Scotland,” I said like that explained it.

“Well, I was just offering to buy you a drink." He joked, “Is he a big guy?”

Michael said, “Huge. He could kick your ass in a second.”

Hayley smacked Michael’s arm. “But he won’t because he’s nice. Michael, get Katie a Margarita too. And pay attention better. Be better at this.”

“Better at what?”

She rolled her eyes. “Just go get us the drinks.”

She turned to me once they left. “Sorry about that, sweetie. I’m going to turn my back on him after this and you won’t have to say anything but to me.”

“You were talking about Magnus in the present tense…”

“Yeah, I guess I was. Not sure how to talk about him. He’s always been coming home before.”

“Yeah, he’s always coming home. And also not coming home anymore.” I swallowed against the rise of tears and my trembling chin. “How did I let you talk me into this?”

She gave me a sad smile. “Talk you into going out? I talked you into it precisely because you needed to be talked into it. It’s not good for you to spend all that time alone in the apartment.”

“I see people.”

“You see Zach, Emma, Ben and Quentin. And you only see them because they make you see them. You only see me because I make you see me. You know it's true. And you know you should try to see people.”

A drink was placed in front of me and I took a swig and picked up the dinner menu. I joked, “Oh Hayley, you are so needy. Why do I have to do everything for you?”