Chapter 66

“No.” The events bothered him. The car left his garage with a clean MOT and full service.

“You’re not God. You can’t control everything. You certainly can’t stop things from breaking down. It’s all right.”

“No, it isn’t.” In a few months, maybe, but Dean had given John explicit instructions to check beyond the usual tests. Anything suspect, he had replaced. The way Jay described the car stopping troubled him.

Jay yawned, and what seemed like a moment later, Dean opened his eyes to darkness. The empty mug and half-finished packet of biscuits remained on the bed in the small space between them, gap smaller now because at some point Jay had rested his head on Dean’s chest. Dean tried to move the items to the side table without disturbing Jay, but Jay mumbled, following, an arm snaking around Dean’s waist. Muffled sounds of a party filtered through the walls with a rhythmic, soothing beat. Minutes later, a cheer arose. The clock explained why.

“It’s the new year,” Dean whispered.