Chapter 19

Sinking into his usual seat on the couch, Alan stretches his legs out over the cushions, the way Brooks sits sometimes, taking up the whole thing. “No, he’s upstairs,” he says. “Supposedly studying for a Biology exam tomorrow but more likely texting that little girlfriend of his.”

“Are you surehe’s up there?” Jim’s voice is heavy with thinly veiled skepticism.

Quite sure, mate. The only way he gets to the mall is if I take him.But Alan keeps that to himself.

Instead he says, “Pretty sure. I took him up a can of soda not ten minutes ago. That’s how I know he’s playing on his phone instead of studying.”

“Hmm.”

Silence envelopes them; it’s enough for Alan just to hear Jim breathe in his ear. After a long moment, though, Jim says, “So. Tell me about your day.”

Alan laughs, embarrassed. “It was boring. Nothing to talk about, really. How about you?”

“Mostly paperwork,” Jim admits. “With my partner on leave, I’m more or less stuck behind a desk until all that’s sorted out.”