Page 8 of Calling a Cease-Fire

Slamming my car door shut, I hiked my bag up on my shoulder and walked around the front of the car to the sidewalk. I paused when my phone rang and debated pulling it out of my purse. Maybe it was someone with an update on one of the calls. And I wasn’t sure if I wanted to risk it being more bad news.

Of course, not knowing would bother me more, so I grabbed it to check the display before accepting the call. I could always send it to voicemail. I was mostly relieved to see Nicole’s name pop up, and swiped the answer button. “Hey, did you change your mind about coming out tonight?”

“No. Between studying for my exit exam and getting my clinicals done, I am so overwhelmed.” She let out a long breath. “But three months and it’ll be done and I’ll finally be a nurse. If the stress doesn’t kill me first.”

“You’ll be fine.” I started walking, heading to the local bar most of us frequented after long or difficult shifts. “Anything I can do to help?”

“Actually…yes.”

Silence filled the line, and I internally groaned at what that meant. She didn’t want to ask me for the favor she needed, which meant it was something she knew I wouldn’t like.

“Get on with it,” I coaxed. There were drinks waiting for me inside the bar. And hopefully some stranger who could take my mind off the day I had, too.

“I told Izzy I would help plan the co-ed bachelor/bachelorette party she and Logan want. But I just don’t have the time.”

“And you’re asking me?” I tried to mask the surprise in my voice. Based on Nicole’s reply, I didn’t think it worked.

“Well… yeah? You literally used to help manage events and big parties at that restaurant you worked at, right?”

That felt like so long ago. Lyla and I had grown up together in another small town about forty minutes away. My generic business degree gave me a lot of options, but I just couldn’t see myself working primarily in an office setting. So, when I came home from college over five years ago, I got a manager position at a local restaurant. And then I got sick of the restaurant business. Between the constant turnover of employees and the amount of complaining I had to deal with, I just found myself dreading coming to work. There was nothing about what I was doing that was in any way fulfilling.

I think in some way I’ve always wanted my work to make some kind of difference. But now I was second-guessing my latest career choice too. Some days it felt like I still wasn’t making the kind of impact I’d hoped to.

“Not to mention you did plan a bachelorette party for your friend from college,” she added. “That counts as experience in my book.”

Well, that was true. Although the only planning I did for that was where we were meeting and which bars we would go to.

“Please?” Desperation laced the single word.

“Fine.” I sighed, and then a thought hit me. “But what about Jay?” Wouldn’t Logan’s best man want to be involved?

“He said the guys are fine with whatever we decide. Honestly, with his wife being eight months pregnant, he’s probably not going to be much help. But I’ll keep him in the loop.”

“Just text me his number. I’ll make sure to keep him updated.”

“Okay. And thank you. I really appreciate this.”

“No problem.”

Sigh. Small problem. But I would deal. I always did.

We said goodbye and I threw my phone back into my purse before swinging the door to the bar open and stepping inside. I glanced around the small space, spotting the group quickly, and stomped over to where they were sitting around two square high-tops pushed together.

Slamming my hands on my hips, I scowled at Zack. I had a serious bone to pick with that idiot.

He wore that stupid smile of his as he ran his gaze slowly up my body. “I haven’t even said anything and I’ve already pissed you off. Must be a new record.”

What I would give to be able to wipe that smirk off his face. “Lyla said you’re the reason we were inundated with calls today.”

He glanced over at Lyla. “Oh, did she?”

Lyla shrugged. “Technically, Adam told her while I had her on speakerphone.”

Adam’s eyes widened slightly before he shot Zack a smirk of his own. “I kinda hope she rips you a new one and teaches you to stop using that damn Q word.”

“Amen,” Logan said, lifting his beer in the air.

Zack turned back to me. “I didn’t take you for a silly superstitious person.”