Hope on the Rocks by Annabeth Albert

Twenty-Two

Adam

“It’s a birthday, Adam. Not a wisdom tooth extraction.” My mom’s voice crackling out of my phone had me wishing I’d spent my break texting Quinn rather than checking in with her.

“I know.” I took a long sip from my energy drink, the brand Quinn had turned me onto. The summer sun beat down on the back alley, making my choice to leave the air-conditioned tavern less than smart. “It’s just that this is our busy season.”

No one was back in school yet, and it felt like most of the state had waited for late July and early August to take their coastal vacations. We’d been overrun by families of all stripes, and while Mason crowed about being in the black, we’d also been going balls to the wall ever since I’d made it back from camping with Quinn. Even working in my mom’s requests had been hard. Having an August birthday was simply one more item on my too-full to-do list.

“And that’s what you said last year. And the year before. We didn’t even get to do a big party for your thirtieth,” she complained.

“Well, I don’t like a fuss. At least I’m consistent.” I kicked at some gravel. Down the road a piece, Curtis was putting on a chainsaw carving demonstration for a group of wide-eyed tourists. Even with a decent breeze off the ocean, he was undoubtedly sweltering and probably the reason Logan had three different kinds of cold desserts on the menu.

“But it’s on a Tuesday this year.” Mom wasn’t giving up easily. “You can give me one evening. Let me make that cake you love.”

“You do make good cake,” I allowed, resigned to not winning this round. At least if I had to celebrate my birthday, I could have her famous black forest cake with real Oregon cherries in the topping.

“Thank you.” Her voice was so bright I could almost see her smile. “You can bring any friends you’d like. That recipe makes a big cake. There will be plenty.”

I groaned because, of course, she had to go and up the fuss. “Mason and I off on the same day might take an act of Congress, but I know Lilac loves cake, so I’ll see what can be arranged.”

“Anyone else?” she pressed, making a clicking sound on her side of the phone like she was writing notes. Probably an invite list. “How about the doctor who is just a friend but who apparently has taken up camping?”

“Mom.” I’d known that was coming. I hadn’t mentioned my birthday to Quinn. Things were so damn good after the trip that I didn’t want to rock the boat with any sort of future talk. Even with two crowded schedules, we texted all the time, snuck late-night visits, and had long, sleepy phone calls on other nights.

“He doesn’t eat cake?” she asked all reasonably. Birthdays felt like a couple’s thing, the sort of event that came with loaded expectations, yet even knowing the pitfalls, I still couldn’t shake the image of Quinn enjoying Mom’s cake. Quinn there, a welcome distraction and reason to make an early night of it. The only present I truly wanted involved him and a lot of skin.

“He does like chocolate,” I said at last when the wanting him there won out over the potential awkwardness of inviting him. “I’ll ask. He works weird hours though.”

“Like you.” She laughed lightly, the sound of a mom who had gotten her way on all things. “You both work too hard.”

“Like me.” I sidestepped the too hard comment. We were lucky to be this busy. I wanted more hours in the day, but I had no idea where to find them. “I might need to take Quinn his piece, but I’ll ask.”

“My.” Mom drew out the word. “Cake delivery service. That sure is some friendship.”

“Mom.” I had meant what I’d told Quinn. There wasn’t much I wouldn’t do for him. Cake delivery was the least of it, but Mom didn’t need to know that.

“Tuesday. Be there. Bring the doctor,” she ordered with another click as if she was capping her pen.

“Yes, ma’am.” Easier to agree than to take more comments and questions about my personal life. Besides, it was time I headed back inside. We had a fair dinner rush, so I stayed busy even as we slowed around seven to something more manageable.

I was wiping the bar when the sound of a heavy tread alerted me to the arrival of Nash Flint, our chief of police and Mason’s guy. Somehow the guy managed to be intimidating simply standing there.

“Flint. Mason’s in back. or you needing food to go?” On the nights that Mason worked later, Flint often stopped in for food or a word with Mason, or both.

“Actually, I already talked to him. It’s you I was looking for.” His voice was solemn. Even out of uniform, Flint didn’t make social calls. Fear uncurled in my gut, a heavy chilliness that made it tough to talk.

“I just talked to Mom. Just talked to her. Ramona? Tell me—”

“Nothing like that.” Flint interrupted me with a wave of his hand. “But Mason’s mentioned a time or ten how you’re friends with the doctor over at urgent care? Strauss?”

“Quinn? Is he okay?” My skin felt both too tight and too loose all at once, every nerve buzzing.

“Breathe. You’re not usually so jumpy.” Flint frowned.

“Only when it’s…” Someone I care about. Damn. I truly was into this thing with Quinn, far too deep when he could inspire the same sort of terror as Mom or Ramona. Even now my pulse refused to quiet. “What’s up?”

“The doctor has had better days.” Flint’s frown deepened. “Lost someone at the clinic today. We couldn’t get a life flight here quick enough. Ambulance crew was delayed as well. The doctor and everyone else did what they could, but it wasn’t enough.”

“Damn.” I whistled low. Yeah, Quinn was going to take this hard.

“Yep. I was involved because of dispatch and tracking down the medical examiner afterward. Younger patient. Likely a heart problem, and maybe nothing could have made a difference, but Strauss was pretty broken up over it.”

“I bet.”

“And of course, he’s a tough one. Wouldn’t listen to talk about not finishing his shift. I wouldn’t usually go sharing someone’s business, but if you’re friends…”

“We are. Thanks for telling me. He shouldn’t be alone tonight.” My brain was already racing, trying to figure out how I could make this any sort of better for Quinn.

“Exactly.” Flint nodded curtly as a look of understanding passed between us. “Mason said he’ll cover if you want to cut out early. Lilac and I have a date with some pizza and the Disney channel.”

“Appreciate it. Both of you.” Abandoning my cleaning efforts, I hurried to untie my apron. “I might be able to catch him as he leaves his shift if I hurry.”

“Good. You do that.”

“I’ll do what I can.” There likely wasn’t much I could do, but I could sure as hell do my best.