Chapter 56

Craig smiled, a bright, fast, dazzling smile. “Great! That makes us good to go, right? How about spending the night? Any place you need to be before tomorrow?”

Roy shook his head, then nodded, so overcome for a moment that words would not emerge. “No…err…I mean, yeah. It’s all right. Like really all right!”

With a whoop of delight that had Sam scurrying in to see what was going on, Craig gave Roy an exuberant, crushing hug. For a moment, Roy thought he was going to be picked up and swung around in a circle, but Craig didn’t go that far. Sobering, he released the embrace and raised both hands to cup Roy’s face.

“I know you’re older than you look. My first impression that night was what’s this kid doing working in a bar? You looked about sixteen, but I know you’re older. How much older?”