‘I haven’t talked to him. He’s busy.’ Then she added: ‘I did something stupid. I asked if he was in love with me. It freaked him out. We haven’t talked since.’

‘Guys don’t want serious. They want right now.’

‘Al is different. We’re not even having sex. We’re waiting until it feels right.’

Anna’s fingers hovered over the keyboard, and then she kept typing. A smirk flew across her lips. ‘You think he’s going to get hornier as that basketball of yours gets bigger? I don’t think so. Most guys are afraid the baby will reach out and grab their dick while they’re pumping.’

Cat frowned as Anna giggled at her own joke. Then she said: ‘So how’s Fred over at the bar?’

‘Fred is Fred. He’s pissed about the cops and reporters hanging around. Are they any closer to finding the guy who did it?’

‘Stride and Serena don’t tell me anything about that,’ Cat replied.

‘They’re cops. No surprise.’

‘I miss the bar.’

‘Well, Fred won’t let you back in. Sorry.’

Cat knew that Anna was right, and she wasn’t happy. She chafed under the restrictions on everything she did. It was summer. No school. She was free, but she felt as if she’d been locked in prison.

‘I’m low on cash,’ Cat admitted.

‘Seriously? Again?’

‘Yeah.’

‘Don’t the cops give you an allowance?’

‘It’s not much,’ Cat said. ‘I don’t think they trust me with money. They figure I’ll buy cigarettes. Or drugs.’

‘Uh huh.’ Anna took off her wool cap and primped her spiky hair. ‘Well, there’s a church project this weekend if you want. Cleaning out a house in West Duluth. You might pick up a couple bucks that way.’

Cat hesitated. ‘I don’t like doing that stuff.’

‘Hey, the last job worked out okay, huh? Painting that place in Superior? Plus, that’s where you met Al. You complaining about that?’

‘No.’

‘Well, it’s your call,’ Anna said. ‘Do whatever you want.’

‘I’ll think about it.’

Anna flipped down the cover of her Chromebook. ‘I don’t have to be at work for a couple hours. You want to go get a burger and a Coke somewhere? I’m buying.’

Cat grinned. ‘Great!’

‘Where do you want to go?’

‘How about the Anchor?’

Anna shook her head. ‘You just want to run into Al.’

‘I miss him.’

‘Cat, he’s a guy. Guys like him come and go like empty beer cans. Especially when you start throwing the L-word around with someone who hasn’t even poled you yet.’

‘I told you, we’re waiting—’ she began, but Anna waved a hand in front of her face to stop her.

‘Listen, I didn’t want to tell you this, okay? I knew you’d get upset.’

‘Tell me what?’