“She can only have the rest of the day off if she comes climbing with me,” I insisted.

Frankie’s hopeful look fell. “Not happening.”

I grinned. “It was worth a shot.”

Bev chuckled at our exchange. “Why don’t you close out that table over there and call it a day.”

“Thanks, Bev.” Frankie looked at her gratefully.

“And it’s been fun having you around. We’ll miss you when you inevitably land that job,” she added, causing my skin to bristle even though I knew it was true.

“Don’t jinx me,” Frankie demanded before pointing at the bar. “Knock wood right now.”

Bev shook her head but tapped on the bar a few times to appease her.

“You’re going to get it,” I said, hoping I sounded casual and not bitter about the whole situation.

“I know.” She smiled to herself before taking off for the back corner to ask the only remaining table in Marie’s if they needed anything.

The thing about the inevitable was that even though you knew it was coming—could prepare for it even—it didn’t make anything easier.

Frankie had stopped being weird with me since the camping trip. The past week had been fucking perfect. We’d gone hiking, slowly but surely. We’d had a few shifts together at Marie’s full of laughter as we both tried to learn to make new drinks. We’d even tried cooking a meal together again and had managed not to burn down my apartment. I wouldn’t trade those moments for anything, but damn if they didn’t make this countdown as painful as it could possibly be.

My friend Jay had already told me I could head to the rafting base camp whenever I wanted. Tours wouldn’t start for a few more weeks, but he’d said I could help out with training. I was stalling though. I planned to be in Key Ridge precisely one day longer than Frankie would be—whenever that was. I wouldn’t leave her, and I didn’t want to be here for any amount of time that she was gone. It hurt too much to think about.

My phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out to see my mother’s name flashing across the screen. I hit the green button and held it up to my ear.

“I’m busy right now, Mom. Can I call you back?”

“Too busy for your only mother?”

I let out a gruff sigh, and Frankie raised an eyebrow at me as she slipped back behind the bar.

“I’m meeting a friend in a few minutes.”

“Of course.” She couldn’t keep the hurt out of her voice. “I just got off the phone with your brother. Can you believe Charlie’s pregnant? I was trying to do the math from the wedding and it’s a close one. He told me he told you first. I can’t believe you didn’t say anything.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “It wasn’t my news to tell,” I said.

“Still, I’m the mother. The grandmother. Someone should have told me.”