Page 52 (1/2)

“You’re okay,” he quickly assured her, reaching for his pants He had to get out of there To get houre out what the rest of his life was going to look like and start heading in that direction He shoved his boxers into his pocket

“I’o,” he told her Their appoint was done “I wouldn’t eat the chicken if I were you” Wherever it was He found his socks Shoved the out down his thigh “It’s been too long at room temperature”

“Okay Are youshould we not have done this?”

“Yes Yes, we should, and I’ed the socks and boxers, stuffing them into three different pockets, so that they’d be fully contained, not sticking out when he walked in front of the security ca lot outside “Where do you want to meet tomorrow and what time?” he asked

It was their usual goodbye—setting up the next ride And all he had at the moment

He needed a hot shower

A beer

A conversation with his dog

He absolutely did not need to replay, ever again, his daughter’s touch against his side “It’s a shorter day for me” she started when he asked her about their next bike ride She was going to cancel He’d thought about it, too But didn’t want to let it go yet “Sois it okay with you if we do the college caain?”

“Yes Four-thirty?” He grabbed the lifeline before she could change her mind

She hadn’t left the bed, but he knew from her frown that she was confused At the very least He had everything he needed, even his shoes on bare feet

“Yeah Four-thirty’s good”

“See you then” With a quick nod, he was out of there

Chapter Eighteen

She felt like she’d just lost her best friend Scraht a whiff of chicken fro had brought, which she’d dropped on the floor just outside her door as she’d taken the ht of it made her cry