Page 5 of Beautiful Harmony

Connor laughed so hard that the people in a booth near theirs glanced over. “Are you being serious right now?”

“Yes,” Lucas said. “There’s a dark side to being this popular with the ladies, Connor.”

As Connor snorted more laughter, Lucas leaned back in the booth and drank some beer. The Thirsty Beaver was the most popular pub in Harmony Falls, but it was also a Monday night. Most of the booths were empty, and they only had one bartender working tonight instead of their usual two.

“Lucas, are you okay? Jokes aside, you haven’t been yourself,” Connor said.

“I’m good,” Lucas said.

Connor studied him. “Are you still hung up on Emma?”

Lucas kept a casual look on his face. “Nah, we’re just friends. I told you that.”

“When was the last time you got laid?” Connor asked.

“When was the last timeyougot laid?” Lucas replied.

“This morning,” Connor said.

“Braggart,” Lucas muttered before sipping at his beer.

Connor just shrugged. “When you first moved here, you spent August and September banging various lovely Harmony Falls ladies. But you haven’t slept with anyone since you and Emma started hanging out on a regular basis, have you, Lucas?”

“So what?” Lucas said.

“I’m just saying that’s not like you,” Connor said. “If you’re not in a relationship, normally you’re fucking someone different every weekend.”

“Hey, no slut shaming,” Lucas said.

Connor laughed. “I’m not. But if it’s not because you’re hung up on Emma, then tell me why you haven’t been sleeping with anyone lately.”

“Work is busy,” Lucas said. “Development of Shadow Assassins is starting, and there’s a lot of pressure for it to live up to Shadow Dragons and Shadow Zombies.”

Connor stared silently at him, and Lucas sighed. “Mom’s arthritis has been terrible lately. I’m worried about her.”

“Sorry, man.” Connor gave him a sympathetic look. “The medication isn’t helping anymore?”

“Some, but it’s not enough, I don’t think.” Lucas drank some more beer, but his appetite had vanished. “She can’t even knit afghans with the chunkier yarn anymore. She acts like it’s no big deal, but I know being unable to knit is upsetting for her.”

“Can they try different meds?” Connor asked.

“Her doctor is looking into it,” Lucas said. “She has this scarf that’s a really intricate pattern, and she hasn’t been able to work on it for over a year. She told me last weekend that she was going to rip it out because she’d never have the dexterity in her hands that she needed to finish it. The look on her face when she talked about ripping it out. It was fucking awful, Connor.”

“Sorry, Lucas.” Connor reached across the table and briefly squeezed his arm. “It’s a shitty situation.”

“I took the scarf from her knitting bag when she was in the kitchen with Dad,” Lucas said. “I’m going to finish it for her.”

“When did you learn to knit?” Connor asked.

“Emma has a free beginner’s knitting class every Tuesday night at the store. I’m going to my first class tomorrow night.”

“That’s good, buddy,” Connor said. “Your mom will love that.”

“Yeah. I have my doubts about learning how to knit, but if anyone can teach me, it’s Emma. She’s as good, if not better than my mom.”

“You sure you’re not hung up on Emma?” Connor asked.

“What do you mean?”

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