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"It’s great Thanks again"

"You’re welcoet in touch once I’ht"

She did sound as if she cared "Bye, Jessie"

"Bye, Jack"

Boy, he thought, one relationship ending, while his and Jessie’s was just waruarantees when it came to love and life

Two days later, Jessie couldn’t handle the not knowing She shouldn’t let Jack’s problems bother her, but for some reason they did He hadn’t called, hadn’t shown up at the diner Noas her day off and she sat on the sa her son play after school Maybe the bench re about Jack since they’d met Twice she’d picked up the phone to call hi? Did they find hi she knew about Jack it was his loyalty to people he called friend Look at her They hardly knew each other and yet he’d put his job on the line for her…fixed her car when he didn’t need to

Sure, he ht not have a kid to take care of or much in the way of responsibility, but he’d spent his ht into his saying he owed a friend a favor Chances were he’d paid soht didn’t even blink at her anymore

Where was Jack now? Could she return the friendship favor and help hi other than sit here in the park and worry

Friends call friends to see how they’re doing

Jack was a friend…right?

Jessie had a sudden feeling of déjà vu She was in high school again, conte whether or not she should call a boy

"Grow up," she chided herself

She dialed Jack’s number and held her breath until he answered When he did, he sounded like he was still in bed

"Jack, it’s Jessie Did I wake you?"

"Jessie? Yeah, hold on"

Muffled sounds permeated the line until Jack returned "Hey"

"You’re in bed?"

"Yeah"

"It’s four o’clock"

Jack released a long sigh "We couldn’t get Dean off his binge until sunrise Then the alcohol haunted him until noon He was a hed "So you found hiht have to spike his cereal hiskey to keep his head fro, but we did find him, drunk as any sailor on shore leave"

"Where are you?"