Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 80892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 404(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 404(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
“So, what have you been up to since you left the Hawks?” Will asked, once we were both settled. “Sorry to hear about your old man, by the way. He was a good guy.”
“Thanks, man. Yeah, I’ve just been back in Castle Falls temporarily, tying up loose ends and trying to sell his flower shop.”
It was a little surreal to be sitting across from someone I’d known back then. Even though I hadn’t done a good job of keeping in touch with any of my old friends, Will was still a link to my past. He was the first person I had seen since I’d been back in town who had actually known me back then.
And while it didn’t necessarily make me miss those days—not completely, anyway—it made it impossible not to think about that time in my life. Things had definitely been different then.
“That’s what Joanne said when she was in here last week asking about a loan. I was surprised at first, but…” Will chuckled and shrugged a little, “it’s not like I can really see you keeping the place and working there, either.”
I had barely heard the last part of what Will had said. I hadn’t heard much past Joanne’s name, actually, aside from the word loan.
“Um, what? Joanne was here for a loan? For what? To buy the shop?”
It wasn’t any of my business, of course, but I’d been so surprised by the news that the question had slipped out before I could stop myself.
In an instant, Will’s expression changed, a wary look replacing the open, friendly expression he’d been wearing. When he spoke again, he was all business. “I probably shouldn’t have said anything. And of course, I can’t say whether another client of the bank actually got a loan, or what it might have been for. I only brought it up because I assumed she’d spoken with you about it.”
I stifled an exasperated sigh. I wasn’t trying to get Will in trouble for divulging top-secret information or whatever. I’d just wanted a few more details.
“No, Joanne didn’t mention it. And I’m not gonna bring it up with her, obviously. It just caught me off guard, that’s all.”
Will looked relieved at my explanation, no doubt thankful that he wouldn’t have to explain the reason he’d been discussing one customer’s business—no matter that he’d been maddeningly obtuse about it—with another customer.
“That’s understandable,” he said. He stood up and pushed the folder of reports across the desk to me. “I guess I won’t keep you too much longer. Here’s the paperwork you asked for—say, do you ever talk to any of the guys anymore?”
I shook my head. Even without mentioning names, I knew which guys Will was talking about. Another pang of nostalgia hit me as I remembered our old football buddies—Stu, Cole, and Ben—and some of the fun times the five of us had had together.
“I can’t even remember the last time I’ve talked to any of them,” I said. “In fact, I don’t think I’ve seen any of them since graduation. I heard Mike Finnegan made it to the NFL as well a few years back, but God, even that feels like forever ago.”
Mike “Finn” Finnegan had been our high school football team’s superstar and an all-around nice guy. I hadn’t been particularly close to him, though.
Will laughed. “Yep, he did. They’ve practically got a whole shrine to him at the high school, now. And yeah, it was forever ago. Let’s face it, buddy. We’re getting old. Anyway, the reason I ask is because we still try to get together a couple of times a month—go out, have a couple of beers, nothing fancy—and I thought maybe, if you weren’t too busy, I’d make a few calls and try to get something going tonight.”
“Tonight?” I blinked, then exhaled. “Um, I don’t know. I, uh…”
I wasn’t sure what I was going to say. I didn’t have anything else going on, of course, but was I ready for another blast from the past? Then again, I hadn’t really done anything fun since I’d been in Castle Falls, and those guys did know how to have a good time.
“What?” Will asked, eyebrows shooting up at my hesitation. “Don’t tell me you already have other plans. A hot date? You haven’t even been back in town that long, have you?”
“No, it’s not that. Not a date. I just…” I shrugged. I just what, exactly? I was scared? Nervous? These were guys that—for several years of my life—had been good friends, after all.
“Then stop trying to give me the run-around.” Will clapped me on the shoulder and steered me back out into the lobby. “I’m going to call the guys and let’s plan on meeting up at the bar down on Main Street around six-thirty. Okay? I know they’ll all be as excited to see you as I was.”