“Honey, I’m home,” Sean called out as he pushed open the front door. “Hold the door for me, would you, babe?”

I stood up from the couch as Hailey hurried to hold the door, and watched as Sean carried in two kegs and set them in the middle of the floor.

“Hey, Sarai,” he said with a nod. He handed Hailey a plastic grocery bag. “Here’s the taps. I’m gonna hop in the shower, and then I’ll get them set up.”

He walked away without a word about the house or the food or any apology for being late.

Hailey set the taps on the kitchen table. “We’re all ready now!”

“Hey, babe, come wash my back,” Sean called, making my friend giggle.

“I’ll be right back,” she said, holding up one finger.

She was gone a lot longer than a minute. When someone knocked on the front door, I practically ran to it.

“I think I might have the wrong house,” Alex said, grinning at me from the porch.

“Funny,” I replied, waving him inside. “Please get in here.”

“Where are Sean and Hailey?” he asked as he set a bottle of wine down on the coffee table. Just as he finished his sentence, a loud thump came from the direction of the bathroom, mixing in with the sound of running water.

“Taking a shower,” I said, almost embarrassed that I was standing in their living room while they got busy.

“No way,” he looked toward the bathroom and then back at me. “Did you just get here?”

“No, I’ve been here for hours, helping Hailey get ready.”

“Oh, man.” He laughed a little. “That’s bad form.”

“I mean, am I supposed to just wait until they’re done?” I asked, smiling as he laughed again.

“I say we find some paper and make some scorecards,” Alex replied. “Rate them as they walk out.”

“Tempting,” I said. “But a little creepy.”

“Or we could go for a walk,” he said. “The rain stopped.”

“God, yes,” I agreed.

I hurriedly grabbed one of Hailey’s coats hanging by the door and followed Alex back outside.

“So, how’s school?” Alex asked as we made our way down the sidewalk. “Are you learning all sorts of super-important smart-people things?”

I fought a grin. “Super-important smart-people things?”

“Hell, I don’t even know what you’re studying. Business, right? That’s what an MBA is?”

“Yeah,” I replied. “I’m hoping that I can get an upper-management position when I’m done. I could probably move up at the accounting firm where I work now, but I’m casting a wider net than that. I’m not sure that I want to stay in Missouri forever.”

“Accounting, huh? Sounds boring,” he teased. “Although, if it means you get to stay here…”