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“We both know you’re going to him” Then he relayed Michael’s full address

“Thanks, Jeff”

He nodded and then took a step toward uy, Dahlia I’m sorry it couldn’t be lad it’s Mike You deserve that”

Too , and that’s what he was giving! I didn’t want anyone’s blessing I wanted to check on Michael, make sure he was okay, and scurry into ain

The cartons in my hand contained falafel wraps packed with hummus, salad, and spicy sauce I had no idea if Michael liked falafel but the deli across fro

If he was tired, he was probably hungry too

I took a deep breath as I stared at his crisp, white-painted front door “You can do this,” I whispered to myself “Friends check on each other” I knocked before I could talk myself out of it

A few seconds later, I heard his footsteps as he approached the door The chain sounded, then the lock, and he opened the door wearing a black T-shirt, jeans, no belt, no shoes or socks Oh, and he was holding a gun casually at his side

“Expecting soun

I didn’t like guns

My dad kept a gun in the house; Dermot and Michael both carried them for their jobs, so I was used to them

I just didn’t like them

He squinted at me, and I noted the dark circles under his eyes and the pale pallor of his usually olive-toned skin “What are you doing here?”

“I brought food” I pushed inside, taking in the s The apartround-floor balcony Light spilled into the white roolossy kitchen cabinets and island along the back wall Center of the roo area where Michael had a black leather couch, arlass TV cabinet, and a huge flat-screen TV To my left, a doorway led to a narrow hall, which I presumed led to the bedroom and bathroom