Chapter 23

Ricky shook his head. “Look at it like that and things will never get better between the two of you.”

“I’m beginning to wonder if that’s possible. It’s been two days now and we’ve barely spoken a word to each other.”

“Even as part of the job?”

Charlie smiled dryly. “Only then, and very short and to the point. Damn it, Ricky, I miss what we had before.”

“It’ll come back in time. He just has to accept that you’ve…Okay, ‘moved on’ isn’t really the right way to put it, but you get the picture.”

“I do.” Charlie scooped the eggs onto two plates along with bacon and set them on the table just in time for Ricky to add the toast. When they were seated, he took a few bites before asking, “Do you have any clever ideas for what I can do to fix things between us sooner rather than later?”

“If I did, believe me I’d have told you. I hate seeing you so down.”

“I’m trying not to be.”

“I know.” Ricky smiled, patting Charlie’s arm. “And sometimes you aren’t. The rest of the time…” He shrugged.