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For a moment we both stare at it.

Then Jude says, “Should we go?”

“Yes,” I say, too fast. I still don’t believe in ghosts, but I’m ready to get back to the finished side of the hotel.

We head out to the hallway, nodding at the workers all coming back from lunch while I mull over everything we talked about. Jude’s right about maybe getting a little help. I make a note to dig up the number of my therapist I used during the divorce. It’d be good to unload some of this shit, so long as I’m starting fresh with some kind of new life, whatever that looks like. It’s only when we pass the third set of workers that I realize they’re all looking at our uncovered heads like we’re aliens.

“It was stupid of us to come in here without protection,” I say. “Seeing as we’re the owners. One more thing for Cass to get pissed about.”

Jude glances over at me. “What are you going to do about her?”

I groan. “I don’t know. Make a public apology.”

“She’s going to skewer you at our next exec meeting.”

“I won’t be going to those.”

“She fired you?!”

I shake my head, explaining to Jude my non-plan about leaving and planning next steps.

“You just want to be free to sail Reese’s boat, don’t you?”

I smile, though my chest aches at the tenuousness of this idea I haven’t wanted to name. “All I want is a life with her. Whatever that takes.”

“Damn, you’ve got it bad, bro.”

“Since when are you so good at giving relationship advice?”

Jude shrugs, grinning. “My best friend is a woman.”

“But you’ve never actually been in a proper relationship? Not even with the mother of your child?”

“I don’t need a relationship. I have Nora!”

I grimace. “Can you hear yourself?”

“Yup. It works for me, okay?”

I can’t help wonder if Nora feels the same way. But I can’t ask him anything else, because as we emerge from the construction zone into the bright light of the lobby, Jude actually puts on his sunglasses. He gives me a tight hug and we make plans to hang out with Cap sometime soon.

I say goodbye, wondering if this version of Jude I’d overlooked for so long is going to say something profound.

Instead, he grins and says, “Wanna race to the apartments?”

So we do. Two grown men, one in a suit, sprinting from the back exit of the hotel to the staff apartments, laughing the whole way.

And the little asshole still beats me, bum knee and all.

I’m happy some things never change.

CHAPTER30

Reese

TRACK:Ashe, “Moral of the Story”

“You’re sure this is it?” I ask, peering at the paper in Nora’s lap again.