Looking for life out there

 No way did Alfie want to lose touch with anyone. Of course, it felt that way with Steve, but Alfie knew when to leave well enough alone. Steve was in a world of his own at his library job. Sure, he wanted to listen to all of Oakley's problems too. And she seemed to like it if he texted her during lunch. They would catch up with what was going on in her life. It was nice to be there if she did have any worries.

"I'm just worried about Boone," she'd texted while he was having lunch with Gage at the new Coffee Shop which was a work in progress with the new owners. It was a much more sunny atmosphere, but he didn't always trust the menu. Since most of the cooks were in training.

 Alfie only sighed.

"What's up?" Gage said in a very calm way that didn't sound like a silly commercial.

"Oh, I don't know," Alfie kind of laughed. He then mentioned that he and Zoey loaded up the car when they got off work on Fridays now and spent a good portion of the weekend at Ross and Janine's campground.

"It's hardly camping dude," Gage cracked a smile.

"And when have you ever been camping?" Alfie smirked back just as their fat burgers arrived with plenty of fries on the side.

"Oh, I wouldn't call it camping, but I've made do on occasion and there was no AC involved." Gage bit into a fry.

"Well, you're living the life now, you and Nora." Alfie nodded as he looked over the burger and was happy to see all the tomato and lettuce on it. All he needed was a little mayo-mustard and it was good to go.

Gage nodded and took a bite of his burger. So did Alfie. Maybe it was good to be quiet and eat. They only had an hour to kill.

Halfway, through the lunch Gage mentioned Nora wanted to adopt Alec.

"What?"

"Yeah, she and Alec decided." He dipped a fry in ketchup.

"Can she do that?" Alfie squinted.

"We'll get married first," he nodded. It was then Gage told Alfie about all his troubles with Alec's Mom. "She's in England, and well, she's not even very good with keeping up the phone calls. I did try to tell her about what Alec wanted. It was just a voicemail. She hasn't gotten back to me yet."

Gage sighed heavily as if this was not what he wanted his summer to be, but then again Halie had never sent child support of any kind. 

"You're supposed to be happy, aren't you?" Alfie would hate for it to be just a chore for Gage to marry Nora.

"I am, it's just..a little nerve-wracking," Gage confessed. "I don't like that Nora has to go through this too, but we know it's the right thing to do."