Page 3 of Luke: The Bears

“Yes, but not late. And you have to help me pack until it’s time to leave.”

“You got it.”

Eisley picked up a flat box and opened it, securing the bottom with tape and flipping it over on the end of the bed. “You know what? I think something good is going to happen tonight.”

“How do you figure?”

“I don’t know. There’s something in the air.”

A strange shiver moved through Valley, her spine sparking. The wariness at her choice to move away roared back to the forefront of her thoughts.

“I think you’re just a loon.”

“Well, maybe,” Eisley said. “But what does that say about you?”

“That I have a very sweet nature. And attract nuts.”

Eisley laughed. “I’m going to miss you.”

“It’s only two hours.”

“I know. But be serious. That’s two hours one way. One way! I might not have much of a social life, but at some point, I’ll find my forever guy and start a family, and I won’t be as free to travel. And you’ll be working hard setting up shop with Margie. I know you’ll come visit your folks, but it won’t be the same.” She shrugged. “When I said one last hurrah, I meant I wanted it to be memorable because moving changes things in ways we can’t anticipate. I’m not trying to bum you out about the future. However, I do think something amazing will happen tonight. And if it’s just you and me enjoying our last Friday out, then it’ll still be cool.”

They packed until the sun lowered some more, chatting about old times and finishing their identical iced coffees. Then Valley changed into denim shorts, a moss green tank, and a light floral kimono just in case it got chilly on the deck. As she tied her canvas shoes, Eisley looked up from her phone. “The burger of the week is Audrey’s ‘We’re Gonna Have a Gouda Time’.”

“It must have gouda on it.”

“Yep. And Audrey must work there,” Eisley said.

“I wonder what kind of buns they use and where they get them from,” Valley said as they walked out of the apartment and down the stairs, stopping to pet Kevin, the old hound dog waiting at the bottom.

“You’re such a baker.”

“I can’t help it. I’m curious where people get their baked goods.”

“You can’t ask that in public, it sounds dirty. Where do you get your buns?”

Valley laughed. She gave Kevin a pat on his rump and he waddled off to find her dad.

As she and Eisley drove through Mill Creek to King Lake, Valley texted her parents that she was going out to eat and she’d see them for breakfast for her mom’s famous banana walnut pancakes and her dad’s hickory smoked bacon that he made in a huge smoker he’d salvaged from a closed restaurant.

Eisley turned onto the road leading to the bridge over the Pine Run River. The windows were down, the warm June air rushing into the car, and the music was a low hum in the background, one of Eisley’s eighties playlists.

They crossed the bridge and parked in The Amber Howl’s lot. There was a short line forming at the door already, so she was glad they’d come when they did.

As she got out of the car and tugged her shorts into place, something tightened in her chest.

Was it Eisley talking about this being their last Friday hurrah?

She wasn’t so sure.

But the odd flutter in her chest had come back, a little stronger than before, and made her feel like every step toward the tavern was one in the right direction.

Eisley gave their names to the big guy at the door and said they needed a table for two, then they walked to the end of the line.

They stood in silence for a few minutes as a crowd formed behind them, and the band on the deck checked their instruments and the sound system.

The door opened.