Page 49 of Falling For Us Again

Thirty minutes later, the meeting finally wraps up. People shuffle out of the hall, eager to reclaim their Saturday night. I stand and stretch, my limbs stiff from sitting for so long.

Maggie nudges me with her elbow.

“Wanna hit the bar with Lola and the others?” she asks, already knowing the answer.

I shrug. “Why not? Could use a drink after that and we get to discuss this new admirer.”

“You’re making things up now.”

“I swear he was looking at you like a puppy dog. It was kinda cute.”

“I didn’t notice.”

“Ms. Oblivious. That’s why you’re still single.”

“Ouch,” She chuckles. “I thought I told you about my situation.”

“And we agreed that guy’s a damn fool.”

She smiles, throwing a glance at me. “He sure is.”

We make our way outside, and a few of the others—Lola, Jake, and some folks from the committee—are already huddled together, making plans. These are the moments I enjoy the most. Nothing beats hanging out with your best pals.

Maggie and I exchange glances as we see Tom; he’s talking to Lola. I wink at her and whisper. “He’s even hanging around because of you.”

“When did you add being an insufferable matchmaker to your traits? Anyone would be doomed to take advice from you.” She waves me off, a laugh bubbling in her voice.

“Let’s hit up O’Malley’s,” Lola says, her voice a little too loudly, the way it always gets when she’s in the mood to cut loose. “First round’s on me!”

O’Malley’s isn’t anything special—a local dive bar with worn-out stools and a jukebox that skips every third song—but it’s ours. It’s where we go when we want to forget about the world outside for a little while. We all pile into our cars, and ten minutes later, we’re crammed into a booth at the bar, drinks in hand.

Vivian—a fellow committee member and one of the girls we went to school with—leans in, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “So, Dylan, how’s that food stall planning coming along?” She’s leaning so much that I can see just enough of her cleavage, and her fingers lightly touch my arm. Vivian flirts a lot with me, butI’ve never had any interest in her. Maggie teases me about it every time Vivian comes around, but I dismiss it.

I grin. “Oh, you know, just trying to figure out how to avoid another pie-related incident. Maybe I’ll ban cherries this year.”

Jake laughs from across the table. “Good luck with that. You know Mrs. Thatcher would skin you alive if you tried.”

We all laugh, the sound filling the dimly lit bar, and for a moment, everything feels easy. Like we’re back in high school again, teasing each other over drinks and making plans we never really intend to follow through on.

The night stretches on, the drinks keep coming, and soon enough, Lola is slurring her words and telling everyone she loves them.

“I love you, Maggie,” Lola says, cupping Maggie’s face in her hands, giggling uncontrollably. “I really do.” She throws her arms around Maggie, who shakes her head at her drunken display.

“Okay, lightweight, time to call it a night,” Maggie says, pulling Lola to her feet, though she’s barely able to stand on her own.

I stand too, stretching. “I’ll help you get her home.”

“You’re leaving, Dylan?” Vivian asks with a pout. “I’m a little drunk too; maybe you can help me get home.”

“I can help you get home, Viv,” Paul, one of our other friends, immediately offers.

Vivian throws him a snarky look before downing the shot in her hand. Maggie chuckles softly beside me.

We say our goodbyes while the rest of the group stays behind to enjoy the night some more. As we make our way out of the bar, the cool night air hits like a slap to the face. I glance up at the stars scattered across the sky, bright and indifferent to our worries.

We’re halfway to the car when I spot something out of the corner of my eye. A couple standing near the edge of theparking lot, half-hidden in the shadows. I’m about to look away, dismissing them as lovers hanging around when I hear the man’s voice.

My eyes narrow, and then I freeze.

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