Page 68 of This Kind of Forever

But what if it’s not?

I rest my cheek against the top of her head. Her hair smells like bonfire smoke instead of her usual apple scent. But pressed against me, she’s soft and warm. She feels like home.

It isn’t long before Hallie falls asleep with her head on my chest. I don’t dare move. And then I find myself drifting off after her.

TWENTY-FIVE

HALLIE

“To Hallie!For finally taking pity on me and coming home.”

I laugh as Clara holds her shot glass aloft before tipping her head back and swallowing without a flinch. Delilah takes hers, too, but her face twists as the sting of the alcohol hits her. I grimace in sympathy.

“You sure you don’t want one?” Delilah asks.

I shake my head. “I’m good, thanks. Besides, someone has to stay sober here.”

“That’s Gabe’s job tonight,” Clara says. “But we won’t pressure you, babe.”

It isn’t like I’ve never had alcohol before. I went to the liquor store and bought some on my nineteenth birthday like everyone else, but I’ve never been a fan of the taste. And admittedly, I don’t like the idea of getting drunk and feeling out of control. Or using it as a crutch like Amanda has in the past.

“What’s it like being the one drinking the drinks tonight instead of pouring them?” I ask, nudging Clara’s side.

She grins. “I love Dockside with everything I have, but I won’t deny that it’s nice to be away from it for the night.”

“Cheers to that,” Delilah says, raising her empty glass in another toast.

The bar in Tobermory—not the one with the karaoke, much to Luke’s delight—is a very different vibe than Dockside. Although Clara conceded on participating in karaoke, she still wanted us to get off the island for a change of scenery.

And this certainly is a change. The music is loud, the voices even louder, and the floor feels a little sticky beneath my boots. Beer signs line the walls, interspersed with old licence plates from all over. It’s a bit of an eclectic mix, but I find I don’t mind it. In small doses.

“And,” Clara adds, “I get to hang out with my bestest girls.” Her nose wrinkles. “Plus, my brothers.”

“They’re not so bad!” I defend.

Delilah nods. “Yeah, I happen to be particularly fond of one of them.”

Clara waves us off. “Neither of you had to share a bathroom with them growing up. You wouldn’t be sofondthen.”

We turn back to the bartender, and they return their shot glasses. Clara and Delilah both order some kind of mixed drink. I stick with my water.

“This is the first time I’ve been out since I took guardianship of Parker and Sophia,” Delilah says. The statement is more factual than sad, but I know it’s still hard for her to talk about sometimes.

Clara wraps an arm around her. “All the more reason for us to do this tonight. You deserve a break.”

Delilah hugs her back, but then she straightens, her eyes lighting up. “Hey, Luke told me about the movie shoot. I’m so excited!”

“Movie shoot?” I ask.

Clara doesn’t answer, so Delilah jumps in. “A production company reached out to Maggie and John a bit ago and offeredthem a very hefty amount of cash to rent part of their parking lot for a couple weeks.”

My eyes widen. “What movie is it?”

It isn’t unheard of for bigger Hollywood productions to film some scenes in small-town Canada to save a few bucks, but crews have never come to Kip Island before. At least, not since I’ve been alive. It is a bit surprising, though. Our little island would make the perfect setting for a cute, cheesy Christmas movie.

“I have to pee,” Clara declares, abruptly changing the subject. “I’m going to the bathroom.”

I look to Delilah, but she only shrugs. “I’ll come with you,” she says.