Chapter 24

“How in the hell did you hook up with someone like him in the first place?”

“In the city. We used to come up here too back in the day. We were in town together when he found the house that he made the restaurant into, in fact. Things kind of went sour after he moved up here to run it. It’s hard enough to rein in a playboy when you’re living in the same—” his tongue skipped over the word house, caught it and replaced it before it managed to slip. “When you’re living in the same apartment. It becomes impossible when you’re three hours away. He makes a far better friend than anything else. It’s good this way.”

Silence settled in the car while Jack absorbed the words. “You know something?” Jack said finally. “I’ve only heard of two friends in your life so far and they’ve both sounded like jerks. I’m starting to think this is a recurring theme.”