Joe shrugged and then lifted his bottle. The others all did as well.
“To another 10 great years in Livingston,” I said.
“To another 10 great years in Livingston,” the others said.
We all clinked our bottles together, and I gulped down the rest of mine.
* * *
I decided to walk home from the Wild Mustang. For one thing, I didn’t drive there to begin with, so I didn’t have my car to worry about, which was a good thing because I’d ended up drinking way more than anyone there.
The June night was cool and pleasant, a nice night for a walk, and it’d help me sober up a little. It wasn’t crazy. Livingston was safe. Our crime sprees consisted of teens shooting people’s cars with paintball guns. The sheriff did have to chase down some stolen cattle last year. That was a pretty big deal.
After a brisk few blocks, I pulled out my phone and dialed my mama. Next to Perri, she was my closest friend. I don’t know if that made me sad or a good daughter, but I felt good about it most days.
“Why you calling me so late, Aspyn?” Mama answered.
I groaned. “Sorry, Mama. I didn’t realize how late it was.”
“Huh, you sound a little funny. Long night at the Wild Mustang again?”
“Oh, come on, Mama. We haven’t gone there in about a month. We were talking about the reunion.”
“That is coming up, isn’t it?”
“What was your 10-year reunion like?”
Mama laughed. “I wouldn’t know. I didn’t go.”
“You didn’t go? Weren’t you curious about what everyone was up to?” I turned a corner and nearly slammed into a stop sign because some cat caught my attention.
I wanted to shake my fist at it, but it was my own damn fault.
“No, Aspyn. Everyone I was close to stayed in town. And though it hurt that a few people I liked left, that’s just life. You move on, and you continue to live your life. Life is change, honey.”
“I guess I didn’t think of it that way,” I said softly.
“Just as long as you’re not stuck in the past.”
My pulse raced. Did Mama also know how I’d been obsessing over Alex lately?
“What do you mean?” I said, trying to keep my voice casual.
“I know it’s been hard for you growing up without a daddy.”
I let out a sigh of relief. I’d come to terms with that a long time ago.
“Daddy died serving his country, Mama. That’s what I remember him for, even if I can’t remember him.”
“You would have loved him, Aspyn. He was such a warm-hearted and good person.” Mama sighed.
Great. Now I’d depressed Mama.
“I’m not really sad about that. I’m looking forward to the reunion because I think it’ll be fun. Nothing more.”
“That’s good to hear.”
“Okay, Mama, I’m almost home, so I’ll let you go. Goodnight. I love you.”