by Jeremy Bates
“Ducks & Drakes?” she said, frowning. “I’ve been here. In fact, you were here with me for that school thing when I first got here.”
“Ah, right,” he said. “I must’ve forgotten.”
She gave him a curious look but followed him to the door. She went in first—to a completely dark room. Before she could say anything, the lights flicked on and a chorus erupted in: “Surprise!” Katrina was amazed to see all her coworkers and friends huddled together in the center of the room, holding drinks. Crystal stepped away from the crowd, restraining a grinning Bandit by the leash. She kissed Zach on the cheek, then gave Katrina a big hug.
“Happy birthday!” she said.
“My God.” Katrina felt herself glow. “Wow, Chris. This is … wonderful.”
“Thank Zach. He organized everything.”
“Thank you, Zach,” she said. “This means a lot to me.”
He nodded, color touching his cheeks.
“Come on, Kat,” Crystal said, “let’s get a drink.”
Katrina started toward the bar but stopped when she noticed Zach staying behind. “You’re not coming, Zach?”
“I’ve quit drinking.” He shrugged. “New Year’s resolution.”
“Congratulations! I’m so proud of you.”
His color deepened. “Thanks. How about you? Anything?”
“I didn’t make one.”
“No time like the present.”
She thought about it for a moment. “To run a background check on all potential boyfriends.”
“Good one,” Zach said, and although what she’d said was meant to be a lighthearted comment, a haunted look passed briefly behind his eyes. Like her, he wasn’t over what had happened yet, and he probably wouldn’t be for a long time to come. “By the way,” he added, “I’ve been meaning to ask you. Have you made up your mind on whether to stick around Leavenworth for a little longer? There’s been talk that you might leave at the end of the year.”
“To be honest, I’ve been thinking about it.”
“And?”
She glanced around the cozy pub, seeing the many people who had become her close friends. “Let’s just say I’m not going anywhere quite yet.”
Zach nodded. “Fair enough.”
“Hey!” Crystal called from the bar. “You guys coming or what?”
“You take care of her,” Katrina told him. “She’s all I got left.”
“I will, Katrina. Of course I will.”
“Good.” She smiled. “And Zach?”
“Yeah?”
“I think it’s about time you started calling me Kat.”