Page 105 of Something Like Hail

Tim lowered the cell phonelong enough to give him a look that said,You really want me to answer that?Then he raised the phone to his ear again.

“Please,” Noah said. “Justgive me ten minutes. I only want to talk!”

“Hey,” Tim said, but not tohim. “Are you all right?”

“Five minutes!” Noahpleaded.

“Nobody weird is buggingyou?” Tim said, still speaking to the phone. “If you see Marcelloor Nathaniel, maybe you should—”

“He’s suicidal,” Noah said.“I’m worried he’s going to kill himself.”

Tim’s face went slack as he gauged thegravity of his tone. Then he spoke to the phone again. “I’m stillletting Chinchilla out to go potty. A guy named Noah is with me.He’s one of the waiters. Could you tell Marcello? Just in case heworries.”

Or in case Marcello had never heard of him.Even though Noah had a legitimate reason for being there tonight,it wouldn’t take long for his boss to put the pieces together. Hehad a few minutes at most, and once those had passed, he wouldprobably find himself unemployed. With that in mind, he decided tomake this conversation count. First he wanted to put more distancebetween himself and the ballroom.

“We can talk while you letyour dog out,” Noah said, gesturing away from the kitchen.Attempting a humorous tone, he added, “We shouldn’t keep himwaiting.”

“Her,” Tim said, proceedingdown the hall. “So you used to date Ryan, huh?”

“After you two had brokenup, yeah. All he did was talk about you.”

“I bet,” Timspat.

“Good things!” Noah said,happy when the hall led to the middle of another and offered twooptions. They turned right. With luck, anyone in pursuit wouldchoose the other direction. “Ryan regretted a lot of what he did.He never got a chance to tell you, but he realized that he let—”Noah’s throat went raw, matching the rising emotion. “He let thelove of his life get away.”

Tim looked over at him. “He told you thiswhile you were still together?”

“I know it sounds bad,”Noah said. “Maybe it was, but he and I were both messed up. Thereasons weren’t the same, but we were both lost. Talking about thatwas part of what brought us together. He loved you. Probably morethan he’s loved anyone.”

“He’s got a funny way ofshowing it,” Tim said, his tone softer. They turned down anotherhall, this one leading to a living room. As exposed as Noah now wasto extravagant lifestyles, he still stopped to stare at the largespace. The ceilings were vaulted, the television mounted on onewall was bigger than his bed, and the furnishings were allexpensive and well outside his price range. He was soon distractedby another detail. A head rose from the large U-shaped couch, thedog’s brown fur nearly matching the soft pale leather. A gleefulgrumble and a wagging stub came next as Tim approached the dog andkissed her head. Noah was temporarily forgotten as Tim showered hispet with baby talk.

“Chinchilla! Who’s feelinglonely all by herself? I’ve got some daddy love for you. Yes I do!And some snuggles!”

Tim might not live here, but Noah couldimagine Ryan showing up to interrupt the happy scene, a gun held inone trembling hand. Maybe Tim was having similar thoughts, becausewhen he stood upright again, he appeared grim.

“It sucks that Ryan ishaving trouble or whatever, but I need to think of myfamily.”

“I get that,” Noah said. “Ireally do. I wouldn’t have asked if there was any alternative.Ryan’s parents aren’t there for him. Mine aren’t either. We allhave that in common, right?”

Tim eyed him for a moment. Then he pattedhis leg so Chinchilla would hop down and follow him to a glassdoor. This opened onto a wide patio. A lit swimming pool and decktook up most of the space. Beyond, twinkling on the horizon, wasAustin’s skyline. Tim ignored all of this, leading them to oneshadowy side and the nearest patch of grass where the yardbegan.

“He doesn’t have anyone,”Noah pressed. “I wouldn’t have troubled you with this if hedid.”

“Sounds like he’s still gotyou,” Tim said, keeping focus on the dog. Even in the limitedlight, a scowl was visible. “I’m done with him.”

“He doesn’t have me,” Noahsaid, voice strained. “I cut him off too. Even if I hadn’t, I don’thave what he needs.”

“And what’sthat?”

“Closure. He wants a chanceto explain himself and apologize. I have these letters he wroteyou, or at least I used to, and they… Listen, I don’t expect you tostart visiting him every week, or be his shrink or whatever, but Ifigure it’s worth a shot. He’s been needing this since he waslocked up. All I’m asking is that you see him again, justonce.”

“No.”

Tim’s answer came without hesitation, andeven though it sounded final, Noah didn’t give up.

“Why not?”

Tim turned to face him.“Like I said, I need to think of my family. Ryan might have hisgood side, but he’s still a manipulative little shit. If I show upat that prison and spend time with him alone, he’ll probably say—”Tim shook his head in exasperation. “—something. I don’t know what. That Ithreatened to kill him or anything to get me in trouble and pullhis ass from the fire. I won’t give him that chance.”