Chapter 10

* * * *

Josh jerks awake a few hours later to Eddie hovering over him in bed.

The room is nearly dark, Josh notices. The lamp on his nightstand envelops the room in a warm orange glow.

Eddie says, “Did I scare you?”

Josh rubs his eyes and looks up at Eddie, dazed. “What time is it?”

“Nine-thirty.”

Josh heaves a sigh.

“If you’re up for it, I’ve got something for you,” Eddie says.

“What is it?” Josh asks, still groggy.

Eddie reaches his hand out to him. “Let me show you.”

Josh’s eyes flitter open and he sees Eddie smiling at him. Josh’s voice is strained with fatigue. But he manages to lift both legs over the side of the bed and sit straight up.

“Take your time,” Eddie says.

Josh lifts his head. Fletcher ambles down the hall towards them. The German Shepard looks into the room at the two guys, his head cocked to the side, tail wagging like an oscillating fan.

Eddie says, “Fletcher wants you to see the surprise too.”