Page 37 of Adrift

“Holy shit!”

“Recognize us?” Alph grins, reaching out to hug me one-armed around the shoulder and slap my back.

“I sure as fuck do.” The other guys lean in to take their turns, and then we all step back as I put my hands on my hips and stare between them all. “You rememberme? Or did Kieran put you up to this?”

“Yeah, nah, man,” Carter laughs. “He told us, but we remembered you. Zach and Drew are at work, but you’ll see them soon. Oh, and… you remember Flick? This one’s little brother?” He points at Alph. “Felix is all grown up now.”

“And marrying Carter,” Alph adds, elbowing his best friend as I laugh with surprise.

“Really? Whoa. Congrats, dude.”

“Really.” Carter grins. “Andthisone,” he jerks his thumb at Alph, “found a guy of his own.”

A guy?

We were all at that age where we didn’t really talk about girls—or boys—but I sorta knew about Carter. Alph? That surprises me.

“And he just put a ring on it,” Carter adds, and Alph grins with pride.

“Holy crap. Congrats to you too!”

The moment I look at Murph and open my mouth, he shakes his head.

“Nope.”

I guess some things never change.

Murph was the quietest of the bunch, but I swear he’s gotten even better at saying more with less. I don’t remember if we ever said two words to each other when we were alone together. But it was a nice, comfortable silence.

“His turn next,” Alph says cheerfully, clapping Murph’s shoulder.

All Murph says—in the exact same tone—is the exact same thing.

“Nope.”

The three of us burst out laughing, and even Murph joins in.

Then it’s my turn to catch them up. “I ended up studying marketing. Took a gap year to work in orchards around the country. Came back, finished my degree, lived in Vancouver for a few years, until I realized how much I want to be here.”

“Is it true that you’re starting Sunrise Cider up again?” Alph grins. “That would be so cool. Can’t get more local than that.”

I can’t help bracing myself for the reaction I get from pretty much everyone. “Yep. It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do.”

Alph claps my shoulder. Carter’s holding out his hand for a high-five. And even Murph inclines his head in a slow nod of approval.

“Really?” I look around at them, half-heartedly slapping my palm against Carter’s. “Most people think it’s sort of… crazy?”

Carter shrugs. “Good. You’ll fit right in. Who else is gonna live on Sunrise?”

Huh. He’s got a point.

“What about you?” Alph asks. “Is there someone…?”

I sigh. “No. Nothing serious. I tried dating a couple guys here and there. But I was so career-focused in Vancouver, there was never any time.”

Carter nods wisely. “You can’t live your life like that. I’m sure glad I came home. Life’s too short.”

Then he pauses and glances apologetically at me, but I just smile and nod, because he’s right.

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