I got to the brewery after closing up the café and grabbed a seat at the counter. I was happy to see Paul was bartending, not just because he’s good company, but because he always pours me my beer before I even ask. He came over and put a pint down in front of me. “Where’s your partner in crime?” he asked.

“She wasn’t feeling well,” I said, taking a sip. “I sent her home early.”

“Too hungover to work? I’m pretty hungover myself.”

“No, she wasn’t hungover. She hardly drank at all, but she did throw up this morning. She’s worried she gave everyone food poisoning. Have you been sick?”

“Nope, but my head is killing me.” I could tell he was trying to gage if I liked the beer or not. It was good, but I gave it a few more sips before giving him my review. It was heavy but really nice. I was able to correctly name a few flavors, which impressed him. He then listed off the ones I missed and explained the process he and Jason used to make it.

I smiled and nodded, pretending to be interested. The truth is, what was really catching my attention about him wasn’t the beer, but the way he always took the time to explain things to me and make sure I knew what I was drinking.

He was thoughtful.

He was also handsome. I had to laugh to myself as I thought that. Why had I never noticed before? I mean, I’d noticed he was a good looking guy, but I’d never really considered him more than a friend. I imagined what it might be like to be more than friends.

Would I be able to do it?

Had we already passed the point of no return, where anything romantic would be too awkward to consider?

I began to picture him naked, what his cock would look like, what it would feel like if I were to allow it to slip into my mouth and suck on it!

“Hey,” I heard someone say from behind me, pulling me out of my naughty imaginings.

I turned around and then almost fell off my seat.

It was Kane!

I had been worried sick about him but never let on to Meadow because I knew it would only make her a million times more worried.

“What the hell?” I said.

“Kane!” Paul said, hopping right over the bar to give him a hug, and maybe to double check that he was really there.

“Is that really you?”

Kane lifted Paul right off his feet.

“It’s me, brother. Who else am I going to be?”

“Well!” I blurted, almost bursting into tears from the shock of his sudden reappearance. “Where the hell have you been, mister?”

Kane looked at me and then at Paul, but it was clear he had no explanation. He just stood there silently.

“Get the man a beer,” I said to Paul, pulling out a stool for Kane.

Kane sat next to me and I looked at him, actually I stared at him. He’d changed. His skin was ten shades darker than it had been, like he’d been out in the sun nonstop, and his usual five o’clock shadow had become a full on beard. His once white t-shirt was now a sandy off white color and smelled of salt water.

I was just glad he was okay.

As soon as the initial shock wore off, I went from being amazed that he was back, to being completely upset with him for the way he’d disappeared out of the blue. Especially Meadow! I mean, I knew she’d messed up too with her complete psycho rampage when she saw Carolyn’s picture, but just disappearing like that, and ghosting all of us, that wasn’t fair!

“We were worried sick about you, buddy,” I said while Paul was off pouring someone a drink.

“I know, Sandra. I’m sorry, but I had to get away.”

“Where were you?”

“Mexico. I found a nice place and just stayed there.”

“Surfing?”

He nodded.

“Enjoying the beach?”

“I know, I should have called.”

“Yes, you should have. I must have left you a million messages. I know Paul and Meadow did too.”

He said nothing and I just looked at him.

“Well, you just decided to let us worry?”

“I didn’t have my phone with me, Sandra. It wasn’t on purpose. I left town unexpectedly when I realized that I … that I needed to process a few things. I forgot the phone. And then once I realized no one could contact me, I just sort of liked it like that. I needed the space.”

“That’s pretty selfish of you. There are lots of people here who care about you and who have been worried sick,” I said.

“I know, Sandra. All I can say is, I’m sorry. You’re right. I should have been more considerate.”

I looked at Paul and he shook his head.

“Well,” I said, “at least you’re still alive.”

Paul left to serve some customers who’d just arrived and I took Kane’s arm.

“It wasn’t just old friends who were worried about you, you know? Some people who only knew you for twenty-four hours were pretty devastated when you went off the grid like that.”

“She told you what happened?”

“Damn right she did. We’re girls, Kane. She told me everything.”

“What did she say?”

“She said she was afraid she made you run out.”

“Oh, no,” Kane said. “I didn’t think of that.”

“You didn’t think of that? What did you think?”

“I thought she’d hate me and never want to see me again for not telling her about Carolyn.”

I shook my head. Guys can be so unbelievably, ridiculously, outrageously stupid sometimes.

“No, she doesn’t hate you. She’s sorry she overreacted.”

“Is she still in town?” he asked.

“She is, and she’s doing amazing without you. You really hurt her. She soldiered through. She’s been working hard at the café and has her own place now. She decorated it and it looks stunning and she’s even starting her own interior design company. She’s done it all on her own. She refused any help from anyone. She’s a completely different woman,” I said.

I was purposely laying it on thick. I wanted to be sure he knew how far she’d come and how ridiculous he was for leaving her hanging like that.

“Oh, and she got her divorce too,” I added for good measure.

Paul came back and put a pint down in front of Kane.

“No thanks, man,” Kane said, and Paul and I looked at each other with raised eyebrows.

“It’s the new brew,” Paul said. “Come on. It’s some of our finest work.”

“I haven’t touched the stuff since the night before I left,” Kane said.

“Really?” I said.

“Wow, Kane, that’s actually pretty cool to hear,” Paul said. Then, looking at me, he added, “Leaves more for us.”

Paul took a big sip of Kane’s beer and Kane laughed.

I hit Paul’s shoulder. “It’s not a joke. It’s really great, Kane. You look a million times better than you did when you left.”

I couldn’t deny I was proud of him. I don’t think there’d been one day since the accident he hadn’t drunk heavily. Going over a whole month without one, cold turkey, was a big deal. Something had certainly changed in him. Despite my resistance, I got up and hugged him. He deserved it.

“But I’m still mad at you,” I said in his ear before sitting back down.

“I know,” he said.

“I know she messed up too, and she desperately wants to apologize to you. But she deserves an explanation and an apology too. It’s not fair to just leave her hanging like that.”

“I know. I’m really glad she’s still here. I thought she might have gone back to her husband.”

“Never!” I said, more loudly than I intended. “She’s a new woman and she’s got a real life here now, Kane. She’s not the girl you knew.”

Kane nodded, clearly happy to hear that.

“And she knows about what happened with Carolyn and Tamara too. I know you don’t like people talking about it, but I had to tell her. She was convinced you were a married man when she saw those photos.”

“I’m glad you did. She deserved to know the truth.”

“You should have been the one to tell her.”

“I know.”

Paul came back and took another sip of Kane’s pint.

“You should have been the one to tell who what?” he said.

“Tell Meadow about Carolyn,” he said.

“Tell Meadow what about Carolyn?”

Kane and I looked at Paul with the same blank stare. Then we looked at each other.

“Wait. You don’t know?” I asked Paul.

“Know what?”

“About Meadow and Kane?”

“Meadow and Kane?” Paul said, completely taken by surprise.

I let out a huge sigh. Like I said, guys can be the most ridiculously stupid creatures God ever created at times.