Page 10 (2/2)

“Naw,benefits to an already complicated situation”

“Stupid”

“Yeah, it was”

“But not anymore?” Houston asks

“No, it was pointless If I was going to settle doith her permanently, I already would’ve Ipiece by piece She’s too needy andI’m too old for that shit sho, and I don’t want my son to think its okay to be an adult that has te of her departure from the hospital Every conversation we’ve had since has been strictly about Rolly and ice-cold

“Well she is his h draood care of him”

“Thank God for that When we’re not together, she doesn’t act like that, man It’s like she’s another person Which is what used to pull ed”

“Why the sudden wake-up call?” Houston steps back

I sigh as I study the di at it now you would never guess it collapsed e swa

p ondeath in the face to , and what you really want This thing withto be er It has to do with us not gelling on a deeper level I think we keep hooking up because after four years it’s comfortable and we have Rolly It’s not fair to either of us”

“Dude Did you see a white light when you got shot, or what?” Houston asks quietly

I shake my head “Or what I know I’ve never been known for rew up We’re forty-one and pushing forty-two I can’t stay in that sa froirls I could I chose to leave that lifestyle behind when I signed on with you to run the shopbut I kept the behaviors”

“Dude, don’t be so hard on yourself It’s not like you were a scu”

I laugh Leave it to Houston to say exactly what I need to hear “I don’t know I think there are a feoree with that”

He snickers “You always let the serious I couldn’t do it, but I admired you for it Re ere like”