Chapter 9

“Hey, all that shit? It’s sewage under the bridge for me.” Luke smiled. “Really. You don’t need to feel guilty about it.”

“I feel like shit about it.”

“Don’t.” He tossed the pillow and blanket on the couch. “Lily is usually an early riser. But since she’s sick, maybe she won’t be out here at six in the morning. Maybe.”

Noah helped me spread the blanket across the cushions. “Thanks for the warning.”

“It’s the least I could do.”

“And, Luke? Thanks for…everything else.”

“If you need anything, I’m right down the hall.”

Noah nodded. A part of him wanted to ask Luke not to go, to stay with him a little bit longer, to maybe have another drink. It wasn’t even that late. Noah didn’t believe for a minute that Lucas actually intended to go to sleep. But he felt emotionally exhausted, and staying up all night with Luke would not be a good idea.

“Right.”

“Here’s the remote. If you come across a channel that’s locked, the password is one-seven-one-one.”