“About time you came over here, Jace,” Pat said after Jace and Merianne joined the rest of the theater company, drinks in hand. “I thought you were going to flake out on us and stay at the bar.”
“Nope. I had car trouble.” He grimaced. “The kind that required hiking to a filling station to get a can of gas. So I needed one of these right away.” Jace held up his drink.
“Plan ahead much?” Charlie asked, chuckling.
“Apparently not.” Jace took the vacant seat next to Merianne’s after she’d reclaimed hers. “At least I finally made it here.” He glanced around as if looking for someone.
“He’ll get here,” Merianne whispered to Jace.
“Who’ll get here?” Ricky asked, obviously overhearing her.
Jace shrugged. “A friend.” He nonchalantly took a long pull on his beer.
“Ah, there you are.” A hand l
