“Thanks, gentlemen,” I said, swiping the tip left for me on the bartop and waving to my departing guests. As Rose had predicted, I was earning a decent amount for my work at The Haven. I was only there part time, but if things kept up like this I’d definitely be able to afford the driver I wanted to hire for Rose’s bachelorette weekend. I put the cash in the tip jar and was about to throw out the napkin they’d left behind when I noticed a name and phone number scrawled on it. I slipped the napkin into my back pocket with a grin-- Rose definitely wasn’t going to have to worry about my ability to fill that plus one spot.

Thinking of my friend, I grabbed my phone to text her.

Life is so hard. Yesterday I got Gabe’s number, and tonight I got Scott’s. Like, what is a boy to do? There’s only so much of me to go around.

Uhhh did you get last names?? Bc I work with a Gabe and a Scott.

Omg can we have a take your bestie to work day?? Sounds like I could get some browsing done!

Idk how I feel about you fucking someone from my office. Also you can do better than Gabe. Scott’s OK.

Pretty sure he was here tonight on a date but still left his number. But like… can’t say I haven’t done that before.

What if we tried to find you a nice boy? Like as an experiment

Nice… looking? Nice… in bed?

I just want you to be happy you mf

I get to see you all the time. Of course I’m happy.

If you think you can distract me with affection then you’re right. What time are you done work? Want a ride?

Soonish, but I think I’m just gonna walk. It’s not far and tbh I haven’t exercised like at all since I got here. Gotta stay fit since basically every guy in town wants me.

At least your ego is still in shape.

***

It was just after sunset as I walked home, the sky overhead a deep, clear blue. I’d never admit it to Rose, lest she think she had a way to keep me, but I had always loved looking at the night sky in Wild Haven. There was a crispness to the air, even now in the height of summer, and I loved watching as the silhouettes of the mountains were slowly absorbed into the inky sky.

I paused as I walked down the sidewalk. It wasn’t that late but still most of the shops were closed, lights dimmed for the night. The pitched roofs were rather lovely against the blue-black sky and my fingers suddenly itched for a camera that wasn’t there. I did have one in my cell phone, of course, but it wouldn’t be the same.

I hadn’t stopped taking pictures intentionally; it was a gradual thing, an unconscious decision to spend less time on my passion born over years of struggling to find work and needing to make money. To make it as an artist you had to really believe in yourself and I… well, I certainly hadn’t made it as an artist.

As I stood there, briefly contemplating my life decisions, a soft humming sound caught my ear. I turned around, hunting for the source. I realized that I could feel it, more than hear it, a quiet current thrumming through the air, sending the hair on my arms reaching skyward. I twisted around until a possible source, or at least something unusual, finally caught my eye. Among the row of brick-fronted shops I could see a green light shimmering from deep within the local bookstore. At first I thought it was some kind of emergency light, like an exit sign, but as I watched it swung wildly around, more like someone wielding a flashlight. The light arced like a pendulum, and my eye was drawn to the front door, where a CLOSED sign hung in no uncertain terms. I pulled my phone out and dialed a number.

“Hello?” I said when the operator picked up. “I think I need to report a robbery in progress?”