Chapter 49

Jesse took his right hand in his. “You remember what I said the night I gave you this ring?” He took hold of the ring with his thumb and index finger, and twisted it on Denny’s hand.

Denny nodded, looking down at the ring. “You said they were promise rings, friendship rings.”

“And,” Jesse went on, “I said we’d wear them on our right hands until you were ready and then we’d switch them to our left.”

Denny looked up at Jesse. He thought for a moment he might cry, but he gritted his teeth and beat down the emotion.

Jesse slipped the ring off Denny’s finger. “You’re not ready now, and I doubt you ever will be,” he said with a weak smile.

He took the ring off his own finger and held both rings in the palm of his hand for a second or two before closing his hand around them.

“You’re free, Dennis,” he said with finality.

Denny didn’t say anything for a time. When he finally spoke, his voice was a whisper. “Maybe there’s a chance—”