She smiles and throws her hand out between them. “Doctor?”

I pat Alan’s shoulder. “Have fun, kids.”

“No!” he shouts.

Logan cackles. “Go easy on him, Ms. Hudson,” he says, and we both walk away.

Logan runs to Amanda, no doubt to spy, and I walk over to Mr. Preston, Lucy’s dad, sitting around one of the tables with a couple of his sons, Cam and Lucy. I’d planned to go see him since I got out of the cast, but never had the time. He stands when I get to him. “Good to see you, Dylan!” he says, his handshake strong and his pat on my arm even stronger.

“Thank you, Sir. You too. Thanks for coming out.”

“Ah, Lucy called this morning, told me what it was about—mentioned free food—so here I am.”

I chuckle under my breath. “So I’d been meaning to come by and have a chat with you but…”

He tilts his head. “What’s up?”

“You got any jobs going?”

His eyebrows shoot up. “You want to work construction?”

“I’ll work anywhere, Sir. My leg’s good. My shoulder’s good. I don’t have any real experience in construction but I’m good with my hands—”

“So hot,” Lucy cuts in.

“I’m right here!” Cam yells.

Lucy laughs and takes his hand, kissing it gently. “I love you the mostest, baby.”

“Shut up.”

“Anyway…” I say while Mr. Preston shakes his head at them. “I’m back now and—” I point to Riley, “—I got a girl to take care of, you know? I understand if you don’t have anything going at the moment but I’d appreciate it if you kept me in mind if anything does come up—”

“You come see me on site Monday. 7 a.m. Cameron will give you the location.”

My eyes widen. “Really?”

“Of course!”

I shake his hand again. “Thank you, Sir. This means so much.” I look over at Riley again, sitting with Dad and laughing at whatever he’s telling her.

“Did your old man play football back in the day?” Mr. Preston asks.

I nod. “High school. Wide receiver for West High.”

“I thought he looked familiar. I probably tackled him a few times.”

“Oh yeah?” I smile, looking back at him. “He probably remembers it too, Sir. He’s not the forgiving type.”

“Watch the boys,” Mr. Preston says over his shoulder. “Malvin Banks,” he says, the name rolling off his tongue. “He was a hero back in the day.”

“He’s still my hero today, Sir.”

Five minutes later, they’re recalling their high school game days like it happened yesterday.

Riley takes my hand and walks us over to Eric while Sydney unfolds a napkin and hangs it off his collar.

“What’s wrong with you?” I ask him.

He stuffs half a burger in his mouth. Sydney lifts the napkin revealing a streak of ketchup on his shirt.

Riley laughs.

“He’s such a kid,” Sydney says.

“Who’s that talking to Dad?” Eric asks, his mouth full.

“Lucy’s Dad. Apparently they played football against each other.”

Eric swallows. “Naw. Our old man’s making friends. They grow up so fast!”

“Sorry to interrupt,” Mandy—Jake’s mom—says, stopping in front of us. “I have to pick up Julie from her date—”

“I’ll pick ’em up,” Jake says, one arm around his mom’s shoulders.

“No you won’t, Jacob,” Mandy snaps. “She told me you threatened her boyfriend’s kneecaps with a baseball bat.”

Jake lifts his chin. “Did not.” He totally did.

Mandy rolls her eyes. “Dylan, I’m sorry to bother you with this but my car’s making this noise…”

I stand. “What kind of noise?”

“This um…” Her face scrunches. “Cluck cluck cluck.”

Jake stifles his laugh. “How’s that go again, Ma?”

“Cluck cluck cluck.”

I suppress my smile. “One more time?”

“Cluck cluck cluck.”

I nod slowly and rock on my heels. “Well, that’s your problem, Ma’am. Your car’s a chicken.”

Mandy’s car is an easy fix. I tell her I’ll order the parts and drop by to replace it. By the time I get back in the yard, furniture has been rearranged and there’s a cake on a table and a single chair behind it. “It’s not my birthday,” I tell Riley, coming up behind her.

She spins to me, her palms flat on my chest when she says, “There’s no celebration without a cake.”

She guides me to sit in front of what could possibly be known as the ugliest cake in the entire world. “This is um… nice,” I tell her.

She giggles. “Lucy made it. Isn’t it lovely?”

I look at Lucy and nod. “Thanks, Luce.” Then I eye Cameron. I get it now. His eyes widen as he returns my nod. I fucking told you. Lucy’s little brothers look at me, their eyes bigger than Cam’s. Don’t fucking do it.

“Where are the candles?” Riley asks.

“For what?”

She smiles. “Don’t you want to make a wish?”

I shrug. “I guess.”

“It’s under the tray,” Lucy tells her.