The Rack was lightly filled in the middle of the afternoon. Amanda was cleaning the counters and Josh was at the end of the counter chatting with Andy while she did her homework, or at least pretending to do so.

"When's your shift over?" Andy asked.

"In another hour and a half," Josh sighed. "You want to do something afterword? We could go …"

"No, we couldn't," Andy interrupted. "We could go over to your house for some G-Force for an hour or so before we have to break for dinner."

Josh shrugged, "that would be fun. Do you want to play as a team or do you want me to kick your ass."

"Dream much?" Andy scoffed. "Let's play teams. It's harder to cuddle when we're shooting each other."

When Lori walked in the door, Amanda glanced at Josh and went over to take her order, "Hi, Lori. I haven't seen you here in a while." She looked down at the papers Lori was carrying and added, "Are you here to work on your songs with Mark?"

"I'll be working on my songs," Lori added with emphasis, "Not with Mark."

"Oh," Amanda said, with dawning comprehension, "I'm sorry. What would you like?"

"I'll have a strawberry smoothie," Lori ordered.

She waited while Amanda mixed the smoothie then paid for it and carried it and her papers over to a table. She sat sipping it from time to time while she worked on her lyrics.

After almost an hour, Declan came in and ordered a cup of coffee. While he was waiting for Josh to pour it, he noticed Lori sitting at her table and they exchanged waves.

After Josh had given him his coffee, he walked over to her table and said, "Hey, Trager. Working on songs again?"

"The change of scenery helps." Lori pointed to the seat across from her, "Sit down for a while." Declan hesitated and then pulled out the chair and sat down.

"You were really good last night," Declan said. He tilted his head and nodded, "And, I have to admit, it was nice that someone else was getting roasted instead of me. Your first song was brutal."

"It was, wasn't it," Lori smiled. "There's something liberating about just pouring it out like that." She shrugged, "It took me a while to work up the courage first, of course."

"Well, you're certainly turning into a professional up there," Declan sat for a moment and then remembered, "Hey, I heard 'Thursday' on the radio the other day. It feels weird to hear Willow singing it."

"It does, doesn't it?" Lori said. "It's nice, though." Her brow furrowed, "I'm sorry to hear about Jackie. Why didn't you tell me?"

"There's been a lot going on," Declan shrugged, "And I think I'm in denial."

"I've spent a lot of time on that river," Lori nodded in sympathy. "Maybe she'll come back." She shrugged.

"I don't think so," Declan shook his head. "She told me to find someone else. She didn't sound like someone who expected to come back. She's following her dreams." He sighed and pointed to her papers, "Making any progress?"

"Some," Lori said. "I'm playing with a couple of word variations on the second song. Mom suggested that it would be good for me to get out of the house for a while."

"I just came from there. I had another session with her."

"I thought she had an ulterior motive," Lori nodded with raised eyebrows. "She didn't want me hanging around." She smiled at him, "She has this thing about privacy when she has a client, which you sort of are."

"Sort of, I guess. I don't mind if you're there," Declan sipped his coffee which was still too hot to drink. "What happened isn't a secret from you and the rest of your family."

"We heard the whole story," Lori said. "Declan, you saved the day, you're a hero."

"Lori, I killed a man," Declan's face became anguished, "I don't feel like a hero. All I can think of is him lying dead on the ground. I dream about it, bad dreams."

Lori reached out and put her hand on his forearm and leaned forward earnestly, "You are a hero to me. You saved Kyle. If it hadn't been for you, Kyle would have been killed too."

"I suppose so," Declan admitted. He sighed, "It still bothers me anyway." He took another sip of his coffee and then drank more deeply. He heaved another sigh then stood up, saying, "I'd better get going. I need to go and check the recordings." He took another drink from his coffee and then said with sad smile, "Later, Trager," turned and walked out the door.

Lori watched as he left and then got up and hurried to catch him. When she got out the door he was twenty feet away walking toward his SUV. "Declan," She called.

He stopped, turned around and stood looking at her, curious. "What?"

"Last year after the Prom," Lori said hesitantly, "you said everything was in my hands, right?"

"Yes," he said nodding cautiously.

"So, was there a time limit on that?" Lori asked.

Declan tilted his head and looked confused, "What do you mean?"

"Never mind," Lori put her left arm around his back and her right hand behind his head. She pulled him toward her and kissed him enthusiastically. After a moment of hesitation, Declan put his arms around her and returned the kiss. As they kissed, Lori pressed her body firmly against his, squirming against him.

After a moment they separated, catching their breaths. Declan said, his eyes bright, "That's pretty passionate for out here in the middle of the street, Trager." Then he added, "Not that I minded."

"That wasn't passion," Lori said, "You were pouring coffee down my back."

"Oh, sorry," Declan looked at his hand with the cup in it.

Lori teased, "I pepper sprayed the last guy who poured coffee on me."

Declan objected, "It was an accident, you surprised me."

"But then I wound up sleeping with him," Lori admitted with a twinkle in her eye.

Declan paused. He blinked and said with a wrinkled forehead, "Is the pepper spray an essential step?" He opened his hands, "I mean, I'm willing to have you pepper spray me first if you need to, but is it really necessary?"

"I suppose I could cut you some slack," Lori said judiciously, "If you promise to do better than last time."

"That's a pretty low bar," Declan said. "I think I can manage it. We weren't ready then."

"We'll see," Lori said. "If not, there's always the pepper spray." She put her arms around him and he put his around her, careful not to spill the coffee and they kissed once more.