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I wasn’t sure how to respond to that I held eye contact for a ed the subject “Are you sure you don’t need a ride to the airport tomorrow?”

“At six am? I did you a favor and called for a ride”

“All right Have a safe trip Say hi to your family for me”

Jase smiled “Take care of yourself, Sammy”

I drove hoot every damn year Good-byes were hard, and this yearI didn’t have a place to be or anyone who really cared if I showed up If I really wanted to, I could fly to Detroit, Dallas, or New Orleans and watch one of the ga I’d opted for a quiet few days in the mountains instead

Stupid move I didn’t want to be alone with me I was terrible coonna do in a cabin by myself for four days?

I scohen “Silver Bells” piped through the speakers of my Tesla and quickly turned offbells, gold fucking balls If there was any way to skip ahead to January, I’d take it in a heartbeat

Such was eon state ofa duffel bag into his SUV

I pulled up to the curb behind hi, and met him on the sidewalk

“Need any help?”

He spun to face oodness It’s you”

“It’s ht you weren’t leaving for the mountains till Tuesday”

“That’s correct” He pushed his hair away fro at six am”

“Six am Jesus, what’s up with the early-bird hours? Lincoln and Jase are heading to the airport at the same time tomorrow”

“Oh No wonder you look forlorn”

I scoffed “Forlorn? First of all, reat aunt was the last person I heard use that word, and she was ninety at the time And second, no, I don’t I look perfectly normal”

“If you say so” Chet hu “How is your shoulder today?”

“Good It’s not one hundred percent, but it’s getting better” I slipped the sling off and flexedheavy Not too worried about it”