Chapter 6

Lud got up and took my empty plate to the sink, rinsing it before placing it in the dishwasher. “I’ll be gone again when you get back from work in the morning.”

“But you just got back!” I said, and cringed at my lack of mouth control. What was happening to me? I mentally backpedaled. “I simply mean that you seem to need more time to, I don’t know, decompress.”

He smiled at me, and it was sweet, damn it. “I appreciate your concern, Deacon. This next job shouldn’t be as bad as the last one. I’ll be gone only a day or two, and then I’ll be back. Will you miss me?”

“You wish.” I stood and placed my glass in the dishwasher. “Thanks for the meal. You have a safe trip, and I hope things are better this time, I guess. Though I’m not looking forward to your version of ‘normal’ when you return.” I would never admit that I preferred “happy and scuzzy Lud” to “sad and clean Lud,” because that would mean I was insane.