Chapter 45

“As I said earlier, it’s not like you to be so emotional,” Mickey said.

“I know, Mick, I know. It’s just that everything seems to be crashing down on me and I can’t help but wonder what’s next.”

“What’s next is the two of us riding off into the sunset—together forever.”

“Yeah,” Chris said. “I’ll drink to that.”

“How do you feel physically? I mean, how do you really feel? No bullshit answers, please.”

“I’m kind of tired and I’ve probably overdone it a bit. I really shouldn’t have walked upstairs in your condo.”

“Want to stop and call it a night?”

“No. I want to get on down the road. Besides, I want to spend the night in Smithfield, North Carolina.”

“You want to spend the night in a place I’ve never heard of?”

“I told you about it, Mick. Irv and I had the best barbecue there that I’ve ever eaten when we stopped there for lunch the last time I was on this highway. We should be there by five or six, and I definitely remember seeing a Hampton Inn at the exit for the restaurant.”