Chapter 107

"John, do you mind pouring us a refill?" Juliet asked. "I have such a hard time with those big bottles."

"Of course," I said. "I’ll be right there."

Juliet and Melanie sauntered over to the bar, but I stayed behind briefly.

"How are you doing?" I asked Katie.

"So good," she said, fingering the stem on her glass. "I’m sort of overcome by happiness and grief at the same time. I feel ashamed."

"You’re among friends," I said. "You don’t have to be ashamed at all."

"I mean, everyone is so nice, they’re not even doing coke out in the open," Katie said.

"So I noticed," I said.

"Like, isn’t that the sweetest thing?" she continued. "They don’t have to do that. I’ve never had a problem with coke, and it doesn’t bother me at all. But it’s just the gesture is so kind."

"That’s how it is when you’re around peo