The Legend of Harvey Diamond

A black sports utility vehicle slowed down for a curve on the tree-lined two-lane road. Coming around the bend, the SUV found itself in a small clearing amidst the miles of dense forest. In the center of the clearing stood a series of mix-matched buildings all attached into one interconnected complex. Somewhere in the middle stood the original bait shop built nearly a century ago. From that humble beginning, the shop had expanded into the only grocery store for many miles around. A small four-pump gas station had been constructed onto the north side of the building in the early 1950s, and a diner added to the south side about a decade later. Even nestled into such a remote area, it was a thriving business, with a steady stream of daily customers, whether locals or vacationers.

Harvey pulled his SUV into the parking lot and next to one of the gas pumps. Unbuckling his seatbelt, he turned to look at Jeff, next to him in the passenger seat. "I figured I better top off the tank too. Never know if we'll get snowed in or something." Harvey then turned to look at the backseat and at Fredrick, who was busy staring at his phone. "We're here!"

Fred looked up and gave a quick scan of their surroundings before his shoulders slumped. "Wirchie's? Aw, I thought we were going to an actual store."

"Wirchie's is a store. It's got a little of everything," Harvey replied cheerfully as he opened the car door.

"Gawd, it's like you're still a little kid getting excited because Grandpa is bringing you here," groaned Fred, rolling his eyes.

"Don't worry, Freddie. Your ban ended years ago...I think," joked Harvey as he began to pump gas.

"Yes, it did," grumbled Fred. He and Jeff then hurried toward the building to get out of the increasingly strong winds.

While Harvey pumped the gas tank full, he scanned the surroundings. The ranger station located kitty-corner from Wirchie's appeared quiet. Turning back toward the store, he noticed that the gas nozzles appeared to be brand new. Looking around, he saw several other improvements to the gas station, including a new door for the single service bay. Always a clean, well-maintained business, Wirchie's still had an outdated throwback feel to it. So it was a little surprising to see several new pieces of equipment added all at once.

After finishing up, Harvey jogged to the door as the cold wind finally proved too much for him. Entering, he looked around for his friends, but instead only saw a woman in her sixties standing near the register. The dour woman frowned at him. "Oh, it's you. I thought Laurel and Hardy looked familiar."

"Morning, Vera. When's comedy night at Wirchie's happening?"

"They went that way." Vera pointed then promptly went back to looking down at some paperwork.

Harvey chuckled to himself as he walked down the central aisle of the store. For some reason, Vera never seemed to like him, dating back almost four decades. It took him looking up and down six of the narrow aisles before he found Jeff pushing a small cart. The big bear of a man stood cramped in the aisle, looking back and forth between a piece of paper in his hand and a shelf.

"Where did you get a list?" Harvey asked. "I didn't think we needed that much."

"I need specific spices and seasoning for my recipe. Then Bridget and Kimberly put in requests for some stuff when it's their turn to make breakfast. Plus, Whitney came when you weren't around and added some more snacks for the kids."

"Geez, I had Frida pick up all the usual basics we have around the house," Harvey told him while rubbing his head with his hand.

"And she did. The pantry in the cabin is stocked with more food than you'll eat in several trips," Jeff noted while comparing two different brands of canned black olives. "Not to mention, we need some fresh produce. I'm more worried we won't have enough room in the fridge and freezer for the stuff on this list."

"That won't be a problem. The downstairs fridge only has some beer and soda in it," revealed Harvey. "We probably should put the seafood in there anyways, or we're going to hear complaints that the other food smells like fish." Harvey then glanced around. "Say, where did Fred go?"

"To the diner. Said he was hungry," Jeff answered with a shake of his head.

"Hungry? We just had breakfast!" Harvey recounted in exasperation. "You okay here? I'm going to go find him."

With that, Harvey made his way back to the central aisle and toward the diner on the building's south side. He noticed about a dozen customers roaming the aisles, even in this increasingly foul weather. But they were probably stocking up before the worst hit.

Reaching the diner, Harvey felt like he had stepped back in time. It was the classic 1950s style diner. Black and white tiles lined the floor. The booths, tabletops, and stools were an eye-popping red. An ancient jukebox stood in one corner. The walls were covered with old photos of Wasp Lake and Frog Lake throughout the years. Behind the counter sat Harvey's favorite part of the diner as a kid: the malt and milkshake mixers.

Fred sat atop on the red stools at the counter, next to the only other two people in the diner. The two men looked to be dressed for ice fishing. Harvey knew Wasp Lake's ice covering never grew thick enough to be safe for ice fishing, in part due to the hot springs trickling into it, but several shallower coves and bays could be safely maneuvered. Summer activity on Frog Lake scared off the fish, but one could find success in the colder months. Several deep ponds were located in the park that were perfect for ice fishing, and a number of small rustic cabins, one room or one-bedroom, were located nearby that were used by hunters and fishers.

Harvey shook his head. Fred always seemed to have the ability to make conversation with strangers quickly. It was an ability that, over the years, Harvey both admired and loathed. Walking quietly up behind the men, who hadn't noticed his arrival, he finally could overhear what they were talking about.

"--I tell ya, buddy. That's the whole problem with this park. It's all controlled by those rich fat cats from Honey Hollow. Been like that forever. The Wynwicks, Nobles, Thirlbys, Vandermeers, Diamonds, you name it."

"Come on, Craig. Don't bother the man with politics," said the brown haired-man on the middle stool.

"You don't mind, do ya, buddy?" asked Craig.

"No, no, go on. This is very enlightening," Fred replied.

"See, Darryl. Some people want to hear the truth," Craig told Darryl before continuing. "So you gotta know your history to see the big picture. That Nottingham Noble 'founded' the town. Then the Nobles hooked up with Sheridan Wynwick, Honey Hollow's very own robber baron. The guy was a complete scumbag. Those Nobles, Wynwicks, and Thirlbys all intermarried so many times they are practically incestuous. Sick fucks control--"

"Hey, language, Craig," Darryl interrupted his friend with the admonishment.

"What? Oh, sorry. I mean, those sick freaks control everything in town with that foundation of theirs. They put Dunkley in power as mayor, and when they say jump, he asks how high. That's why we need to throw that bum and all the rest out of office. Power to the people, ya know."

"Wait, you said that the Diamond family was part of this cabal. Tell me about those dirtbags," Fred prodded his new breakfast buddy.

"Cabal. I like that man. I'm going to have to use it from now on," Craig remarked, losing his train of thought until Fred motioned him on. "Oh, yeah, those Diamonds. They weren't rich back in the day like those others. They made money and then nearly lost it, over and over. After the big war, they started to get rich again, kept it, and lost their morals. That fucker--sorry, Darryl--that current one, Harvey, he's like some sex fiend. He's notorious all over the area for all the women he's screwed. Dude blew up his cabin during some orgy a few years back."

"No, it was a fire," Fred pointed.

"Naw, man, it was an explosion," Craig insisted.

"No, it was a fire. I was th--I heard from a guy that was there. Real blazing fire," Fred corrected him.

"For real? Shit, then Frank was wrong. So that Harvey--" Craig started, but he was interrupted when the saloon-style doors that led back to the kitchen swung open.

A well-groomed man in his early forties carried out a plate containing pancakes, eggs, and bacon. He placed it in front of Fredrick while at the same time noticing Harvey coming to a stop right behind his friend.

"Hey, Harv, you want anything?"

"I'm good, Alvin. We just had breakfast back at the cabin before we came here," he responded before leaning down. "Didn't we, Fred?"

"You know Clive's egg sandwiches taste like shit. I just took one to be polite," Fred said as he put a large piece of pancake into his mouth. Chewing it a bit, he motioned to Craig before speaking with a full mouth. "Don't mind me. Keep going. This is all so fascinating."

"Huh? Oh, right. So that Diamond guy fancies himself some sort of a playboy. Talk is he keeps a harem of young women all around his mansion." Craig seemed excited to have a newly receptive audience for local gossip. "Place is huge, like a manor from back in the day."

"Kinda like Bruce Wayne," Fred suggested, but he got only a blank stare back from Craig.

Darryl sighed and filled in his friend. "The guy that's Batman."

"I knew that," insisted Craig.

"Wonder if this Diamond guy has some secret lair under his mansion or cabin. Like his own sex dungeon," Fred continued to egg on the other man while taking a bite of his eggs.

"Alright, I think that's enough," Alvin, the cook, started to say but the gossiper kept on talking.

"You know there was a rumor that the firefighters found an--" Craig recalled before Alvin shut him down completely.

"Darryl, Craig, these are some friends I had growing up. They used to spend most of their summers here," Alvin related to his two customers. "Harv there even worked at the summer camp with me the last year before it closed down."

"You work there too, buddy?" Craig asked his new friend.

"No, they didn't trust him around the children. Too unreliable," Harvey told them while Fred tried to protest the fact with a mouthful of food.

"The old summer camp? That's cool. You guys renting a cabin up here for the holidays?" asked Darryl.

"No, Harvey's family has owned a cabin up here for decades," Alvin said, stressing his friend's name.

"Really? You got one of those hunting cabins over by the ponds?" Craig asked. "Or a place on Frog Lake? Some nice cozy cabins over there."

Alvin continued to lead the conversation. "Nope, Harvey just rebuilt his old cabin. His old one burned down in a fire just a few years back. It's the last one to the west on the north shore."

Harvey didn't take any pleasure watching both men's eyes widen, Craig's jaw actually dropped, but Fred found it hilarious. He didn't bother to hide the broad smile on his face before he took a drink of milk.

Darryl recovered from his shock first, and despite his discomfort, he spoke up. "Uh, that's great to hear. I hope everything works out with your new cabin. Say, we better getting moving before the weather gets any worse. It was nice to meet you, fellas." Turning to his friend, he harshly spat out, "C'mon, Craig."

Craig needed to be almost dragged away as his eyes flashed back and forth in shock at Harvey and Fred. Just before they exited the door from the diner to the parking lot, they could hear Darryl breaking his rule about cursing. "--swear you're a fucking dumbass--"

"Freddie, that wasn't very nice," Harvey scolded the other man.

"Hey, I just wanted to hear more about this evil, sex fiend who controls all of Wasp Lake Park," Fred responded in mock terror. "Sounds like a real boogeyman."

"Sorry about that, Harv. You know how people like to talk," apologized Alvin. "Honestly, there's always been talk around here about your father, but the fire at your cabin started some wild theories. Lots of sex stuff. Craig there at least didn't bring up the whole Satanic cult rumor."

Fred couldn't help himself and burst out laughing.

"It's not funny, Fred. This type of shit gets talked about enough, and people assume there's an element of truth to it," pointed out Harvey. "You see it with all those outlandish tales about Dewey. I don't need Whitney suffering because of it."

"Yeah, those stories about Mayor Dunkley have been all the talk around here. I'm pretty sure talking about it is the only thing that brings any joy to Aunt Vera at the moment," Alvin relayed. "Lucky for him, the locals aren't voters down in Honey Hollow. People aren't dismissing crazy conspiracies as quickly as they should."

"Been hearing that a lot. But speaking of here: what are you doing here, working in the kitchen?" Harvey inquired.

"Their cook ran off with a woman he met. So I'm filling in for a few days until some of the other employees get back from their holidays. Great way to spend my holiday vacation from work, huh," Alvin said sarcastically. "What are you doing up here in this weather? Breaking in the new cabin?"

"I guess you could call it that. We have several friends and their kids up for the week," Harvey told him, but he avoided bringing up Cassie's name. He didn't need Fred getting all pissy at the moment.

"Sounds fun. That new place of yours sure looks like a beauty. Took the boat past a few times this fall when the finishing touches were being done," Alvin said with a loud whistle.

"Hey, when the weather gets better, you and the family should come by," Harvey suggested. "I'll have Whitney give you all a tour. She still likes performing that duty."

"We'll have to do that. That way, I can tell everyone I've been in the new Diamond cabin and lived to talk about it," Alvin joked with a grin.

"Old Wirchie around?" Harvey asked, changing the subject to why there were there in the first place. "We mainly came by to grab some seafood for dinner, and I know that's his specialty."

"Of course, Grandpa is here. Never seems--" Alvin started before he was interrupted by the arrival of a teenage girl. A slim, pretty girl, she looked to be smack-dab in the middle of puberty.

"You called, Dad?"

"No, I didn't, Winnie."

"But I thought I heard you whistle," Winnie half-whined.

"Sorry, I was whistling about something else," Alvin told his daughter. "But now that you're here, you can do me a favor and go find your grandpappy for Harvey."

"Sure thing, Dad! Hi, Mr. Diamond. Is Whitney here too?" the teenage girl asked, looking around with interest.

"Sorry, Winnie. She's back at the cabin," Harvey informed the girl, who immediately looked disappointed. "But if you're going to be around here this week, I'll have her stop in and say hello. I know she'll be happy to see you."

"Really? Cool! It'll make up for having to be here," Winnie admitted before glancing over at her father, worried about his reaction to her comment.

"Yeah, I know you would rather be at home. Now go find Wirchie, okay?"

The teenage girl spun around, her blonde ponytail following a split second later, and skipped out of the diner.

Fred pushed his empty plate away from him with a groan. "That was great, Alvin. Even for an accountant, you can still cook."

"Thanks, Fred. Hard to lose the touch after spending my childhood learning," Alvin said, laughing.

"Great to see you again, Alvin. I'm serious about you coming out to the cabin this spring or summer, so don't forget." Harvey shook his old summer friend's hand and looked over to Fred. "Jeff has likely finished his shopping list, so we better get back to him."

"Alright. Oh! I need to grab stain remover," Fred remembered as he placed some cash down to cover his breakfast. "Do you have any, Alvin?"

"Sure, it should still be over in aisle ten. If you have any problems, ask Winnie. She knows the store better than I do these days," Alvin said with a final wave as the two men departed.

"You know I might have stain remover back at the cabin," Harvey told Fred. "What do you need it for?"

"Uh...I spilled some tomato sauce on my shirt last night at dinner," Fred came up with a lie on the fly. "I didn't notice it until this morning. The stain might have set in already. Now where the hell is aisle ten?"

"It's over that way. Don't get lost," stated Harvey in all seriousness.

"Maybe I better find that girl to help. She's a cutie," Fred wondered aloud. Wirchie's was a maze of aisles, with nooks and crannies everywhere.

"Jesus, Freddie. She's barely old enough to drive," Harvey hissed.

"What...hey, I didn't mean it like that. Fuck, I'm not some pervert," Fred protested. "What's got your mind in the gutter today?"

Harvey watched Fred walk away, grumbling out loud to himself. Probably that I wish a blonde, only two years older than Winnie, was here to take care of my lack of sex. Dammit, get a hold of yourself!

Making his way over to the oldest part of the store, Harvey wasn't surprised to see a man in his eighties finishing up helping Jeff. Nothing got past old Wirchie in his maze of a store, and he must have found Jeff as soon as Harvey left him.

"Figured that was little Harvey's fancy vehicle outside," the elderly man stated, looking the owner of said car up and down. "You look tired and stressed. Everything okay, son."

"Sure, I'm fine," Harvey lied as he gave the older man a firm handshake and a half-hug. "How have you been, Wirchie?"

"Knee hurts, hip's always sore, neck gets stiff far too much, but besides that, I'm still alive," Wirchie rattled off. "I think your friend has everything he needs. Unless you want to add something."

Harvey looked over to Jeff, who shook his head. "We're good. I got some cod, perch, and shrimp. We--excuse me." Jeff's answered his ringing phone and stepped away from the two men.

"How's business been this winter?" inquired Harvey.

"Been steady up until today. The usual with families celebrating the holidays at their cabins on Frog Lake. Always brings in a lot of business this week. Wasp Lake is more active, too, this year. The Wynwicks held their usual December 23rd party. Myles used to get some fancy caterer to handle it, but Fiona insists they get their seafood from here. Good woman that one, even with her choice in men."

"Thought I saw a lot of activity across the lake. Whitney and I came up the day before Christmas to get the cabin ready for our guests."

"More activity than usual on your side of the lake too. I even imagined that I saw a Zurbrugg or two come back. Wondering how much longer until this younger generation sells their cabin. They don't have ties to the area anymore," the old man recapped with a touch of disappointment.

"I stopped in to see the Vandermeers last night. I was kind of surprised to see them up here during the winter. The north side is fairly slow when it's cold out. I don't think Whitney is thrilled about seeing them," Harvey added.

"She still take after her pop?" Wirchie asked. "Better watch that one if so, your grandfather had his hands full with his two kids. You're lucky you just have one."

"I'm starting to wonder how he managed," Harvey admitted with a sigh. Jeff walked back over after ending his call. "Everything alright?"

"Can you take over here? I have to grab a few things over there," Jeff said with a grimace, pointing toward a couple of coolers back behind the produce section. "Jared screwed up again and needs to make it right."

"Sure, go ahead," Harvey said, turning back to the shop owner. Before he could continue their conversation, Fred came strolling around the corner.

Upon seeing Harvey, he held a spray bottle in the air triumphantly, "Got it! And I found it all by myself--" He slowed to a halt at seeing the older man with his friend.

Old Wirchie squinted at Fred and looked him over. "You gonna pay for that or forget this time too?"

Looking down with a sheepish face, Fred answered the question. "I'm going to pay Mr. Wirch. I swear."

"Just to be sure, I think I'll carry that over to the register," the elderly man held out his hand, and Fred handed over the stain remover in shame. Wirchie then looked over at Harvey and winked as Winnie came around the corner. "Here, take this to your Aunt Vera up front."

"Do I have to?" the teenager asked reluctantly.

"Don't worry; she won't bite you," Winnie's grandfather reassured her with a chuckle. As she walked away, he remarked, "My daughter has that effect on people."

"Yes, she does. Never liked me for some reason," Harvey admitted.

"That's cause she could never stand your father," Wirchie revealed. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I think your other friend needs help." They could just make out Jeff's head towering over a shelf as he talked to himself in distress.

"Let's go check out, Fred."

"You steal one bag of M&Ms as a seven-year-old, thirty-five years ago, and the man never forgives you," Fredrick whined as they walked toward the front of the store.

"Larry warned you not to try and steal it."

"I'm pretty sure Larry's guilty look is what got me caught," Fred replied. "Just for that, I'm going to fucking buy a whole big bag of M&Ms. Where's the candy at?"

As Fred wandered off again, Harvey pushed the cart by himself up to the front register. Two other people were already in line ahead of him. The first one, a young man around college age, appeared to be buying a couple of packs of cigarettes. Vera scrutinized his driver's license as if she held forged documents in her hand.

"Come on! You do this every time I come in here. You know I'm old enough to buy them," the young man complained.

Behind him, and in front of Harvey, an older man in a suit tapped his foot impatiently. Harvey half-expected suit man to make an issue over his wait, but he didn't complain.

"Thank you!" the cigarette smoker said in an exaggerated voice when Vera finally accepted his money.

"Just the gas for me," the older man told Vera as he hurried to the counter.

"What pump?"

"What? I'm in the gold sedan. You just watched me pull in!" he said in minor annoyance.

"What pump?"

"I don't know. I'm behind that black SUV." The guy pointed out the window to his car.

Harvey knew Vera wasn't going to break. She wanted the pump number. "He's at number four, Vera."

The cashier gave out a disappointed grunt and held out her hand. The man looked over his shoulder to thank Harvey for his help as he handed over his money and did a double-take. For a second, his face held a look of annoyance before it turned to surprise.

"Hello, Edward," greeted Harvey, to a man a year older than him.

"Har-Harvey...what a surprise! I didn't expect to see you out here," Edward admitted, thrusting out his hand for a handshake. "What are you doing all the way out here?"

"I could ask you the same. I at least have a cabin out here."

"Oh, I'm on my way to visit the Oleskys at their cabin. You know to see my sister and all," Edward replied, his face becoming even friendlier. "That's right. I did hear you finished rebuilding your cabin. Having some friends and family up for the holidays too?"

"Something like that. Is Irene out in the car?" Harvey asked politely about his wife, but he was a little taken aback to see the man's eyes harden at his question.

"Yes, she is. Why do you ask?" Edward countered, his voice now a more neutral tone.

"No reason. I just--"

"What's up, Laffont?" Fred asked in a challenging tone, after appearing out of nowhere and partially putting his body between the two men.

"Singer. I see you're still trailing behind Harvey as usual," Edward Laffont remarked dryly.

"Everything okay here," Jeff asked, coming up behind Harvey on the opposite from Fred.

"Ah, and Lockett is here too. Splendid. How have you been, Jeffrey?" Edward asked, getting Jefferson's first name wrong.

"I'm well."

Edward then reached out to shake Harvey's hand again while also slapping his shoulder. "Great to see you again, Harvey. We should get together for lunch again soon. Have a happy new year."

As their old schoolmate walked toward the door, Fred called out, "Yeah, see you, Eddie. Better be careful out there in this weather."

Harvey turned to Fred once the door closed. "Did you really need to do that?"

"Me? I thought he might take a swing at you. What did you say to piss him off?"

"Nothing. I just asked if Irene was out in the car," Harvey recounted.

Fred gave out a laugh. "That's all? Shit, I thought some old beef had flared up." Seeing Harvey's look of confusion, he filled him in. "Harv, he probably thought you wanted to fuck his wife, or already had."

"What? I've never even flirted with Irene. Edward should know that. We've always gotten along," Harvey replied in disbelief.

"Lots of people think you want to bang their wives. It's nothing new," Fred noted dismissively. "I wouldn't let it bother you. Eddie's been an arrogant dick since at least junior high."

"I wouldn't say that. He's always seemed fine to me," protested Harvey.

"That's because he's kissed your ass since we were teens," Fred pointed out.

"I'm going to have to agree with Freddie on this one, Harvey," Jeff spoke up. "When I was a sophomore on the baseball team, Edward pulled strings to get himself elected team captain. Claimed it was his right as a senior. He also pushed both the school and local papers to play him up as the team leader. Didn't work since numbers don't lie, and his batting average was pitiful."

"Whatever, he's a corporate lawyer, and I can't stand those guys," Fred remarked.

"You work with corporate lawyers almost every day," Harvey noted.

"That's why I don't like them."

Before their bickering could continue, a voice spoke up. "Are you going to check out? Or do you need to talk about who you're asking to prom?"

"Uh, sorry, Vera. We're ready to check out," Harvey said with a hint of embarrassment over gossiping in the checkout line. Turning back to look at Jeff, he noticed what the man picked up at his son's request. "Seriously? I just hope those aren't for Whitney. If Jared pissed her off enough to need those, she's going to skin him alive."

"Oh! We should get some stogies," Fred exclaimed, getting confused looks from his two friends. "You know, to bring with us tonight. You can't play poker without cigars."

The checkout process went by quickly, and as they gathered their bags, Wirchie came over to say goodbye. Harvey remembered something that had piqued his interest earlier. "Say, I noticed you made several improvements outside by the station. Was there a problem?"

The older man got a look of embarrassment on his face, and he scratched his head with his hand before answering. "I'm not too proud of that. Orrin Rusk came around a couple of months back. Said he wanted to help us out as part of a new local business program he started. I didn't want to accept the money, but Vera and her brother insisted."

"Why would he just hand over money to you?" Jeff asked the question that all three men wondered.

"Because he's a good man. One who wants to help locally owned businesses that have to compete with those giant franchises," Vera proudly praised the car dealer.

"Is this program for all local businesses?" inquired Harvey.

"No, just automobile-related businesses. Gas stations, repair garages, carwashes, places like that," Wirchie rattled off. "I've been having second thoughts since the moment I said yes. Most people give you money because they want something."

"Dad, you don't need to be so cynical. Some people believe in the greater good," Vera rebuked her father.

"I think you're on the right train of thought, Wirchie. But don't stress over it," Harvey said kindly. "Well, we better getting going. You have a nice new year."

As the three men carried their bags out to the SUV, Fred started to talk about the new development but was cut off by Harvey. "Not until we're in the car."

After stowing the bags in the vehicle's back area, Harvey sat down in the driver's seat and turned the ignition. "Okay, this changes things."

"No shit, greater good, my ass. Orrin's dreaming of being Mr. Mayor," Fred sneered.

"He's definitely up to something," Jeff agreed. "But we still don't know for sure what he's doing."

"Agreed. We still need to find out more," acknowledged Harvey.

"I still say we interrogate his kid back at the cabin," Fred reminded them of his earlier idea. "Or at least lay out some trap. The kid doesn't seem that bright."

"We're not dragging Austin into this. At least not yet. Orrin might not have told him anything."

"I think Harvey's right. We shouldn't rush into using a teenager like that," Jeff declared. "Anything to do with him should be with Clive's permission. Lacey's been dating him a long time for kids their age."

"Of course, we won't do anything without Clive. I had wanted to wait until New Year's Eve to approach others, but I think we might need to speed up that plan. I'm thinking I might want to head back to town tomorrow afternoon and fill in Dewey about what we suspect." Harvey had a few others in mind, but he didn't feel like sharing those names until he was sure he wanted to include them.

"Why not try asking Miranda?" Fred said with a surprising suggestion.

"Miranda?" Harvey repeated.

"His wife?" Jeff asked.

"Fred, why would Miranda tell us what her husband is planning to do?" Harvey asked his friend, looking up into the rearview mirror at him.

"Not us, you."

"Why would she tell me anything?"

"Because of your..., you know past together," Fred hesitated to finish.

"What past? That she had a crush on me for a little bit?"

"That you fucked her," Fred finished, drawing a look of disbelief from Jeff in the passenger seat.

"I never had sex with Miranda Rusk, Fred. Where would you ever get that idea?" Harvey shook his head at the idea.

"Yeah, you did. It was at Kimberly's graduation party. We had been drinking all day before we headed over to it. Miranda was following you around all night since she knew you and Bev...you know."

The black SUV skidded to a halt as Harvey slammed on the brakes.

"Oh. My. Gawd." Harvey quietly gasped out.

"Shit, I didn't mean to bring up Bev's name--"

"No, that's not it," Harvey assured him. "I can't believe I forgot about that night."

"So, you did screw her."

"No, we fooled around for a little while that night, I think she might have given me a blowjob, but I'm not sure," Harvey remembered or at least tried to.

"How are you not sure?" Jeff asked, finally reentering the conversation.

"I was drunk, really drunk. That day is probably the drunkest I've ever been," revealed Harvey, putting his head in his hands. "We had been making the rounds of all the graduation parties that day. Big men back from college type of attitudes. Then I saw Bev again for the first time...and I started drinking harder."

"Uh, Harv. You might want to either pull off the road or start driving again. This isn't safe," Fred brought up after a car had passed by them.

"Gawd, how did I forget about fooling around with Miranda that night?" He started driving again, to the relief of the other two men. "This is awful. I've never forgotten any woman I've at least kissed. And how must she have felt when I ignored her afterward?"

"Yeah, that probably didn't go over too well," added Fred, not helping the situation. Jeff shot him a glare and mouthed for him to shut up.

"I mean, you can't go up to a woman and apologize for her maybe sucking your dick twenty-one-years ago and that you forgot." Harvey agonized over the situation.

"It would be one hell of a conversation starter," joked Fred. It didn't go over too well in the SUV.

---

"Jared, I have to go!" JoJo exclaimed.

Jared shifted his body off of the back of the brunette's legs. As she leaped to her knees, he slapped her on her butt out of habit, causing her to give a slight moan.

Scurrying off the bed, JoJo dashed over to the bathroom, slamming the door behind her. Over on the bed, Jared's thoughts were consumed by confirming that Sean had a crush on Ramsey. What do I do now? I need to figure out how best to handle this without screwing up.

Moving to get off the bed and stand up, the stocky teenager was shocked to discover he had a raging hard-on. Looking down at the bulge in his pants it caused, Jared suddenly became concerned. Why the hell am I hard? Shit, did JoJo feel it? She sure could have. Gawd, if she did, she might think I'm some pervert.

Jared walked over to the bathroom door and lightly knocked. "Uh, JoJo, are you okay in there?" He waited a solid thirty seconds before asking again.

"No, I'm not!"

Suddenly feeling like a complete jerk, Jared stared at the closed door, unsure what to say. "JoJo, I'm sorry. I got a little carried away with the tickling. Can you open the door so we can talk?"

"I don't want to talk to you right now," JoJo said with a sob.

Oh, hell. Is she crying in there? You dumbass, you not only upset Jo, but now she's crying.

"Jo, please come out and talk to me."

"No, just go away!

"Jo--"

"Go away!"

Jared staggered back from the door as if he had just been punched in his chest. As he realized just how badly he had upset JoJo, his eyes started to glisten. In a daze, he stumbled over to the door and opened it. Walking down the stairs, he grabbed his jacket and went out into the cold.

The teenager wandered aimlessly for several minutes as he tried to think of a way to make it right with his old friend. A small sliver of an idea began to take shape in his mind. Pulling out his phone, he made a call. "Dad, I-I screwed up--no, I fucked up really bad. I need your help."