Page 108 of Something Like Hail

He knew exactly which one belonged toHarold. The faded red one with brown straps that matched theconvertible. Noah had teased him about it once. He handed over thebackpack and focused on buttoning his own shirt. By the time he hadfinished, he was relieved to see that Harold had put on a wornT-shirt, not that it diminished his sex appeal much.

“You look good,” Haroldsaid, “like you’ve been taking care of yourself. Marcello says youhave your own place now.”

“I’m not living on thestreets anymore, if that’s what you mean.”

“I’m glad,” Harold said.“Seriously. I’ve worried about you. A lot.”

Noah forced himself to relax. “How have youbeen? Are you doing okay?”

“Yeah,” Harold replied.“Days get a little lonely. Know what I mean? Speaking of which,let’s talk about our date!”

Noah laughed. “Don’t worry, I won’t make yougo through with it. I get that you just wanted us to talk, and wecan, but you don’t need to pay four thousand dollars for the honor.I’ll cover half the amount. It’s for a good cause, right?”

Harold frowned. “I don’t want you to payhalf. I want my date!”

Wait, he was serious? Jesus, that wasflattering, but… “I’m sort of seeing someone right now.”

“Oh.” Harold shook hishead. “Yeah, of course! I uh… It would still be fun to hang out andcatch up, you know? As friends.”

“Sure!” Noah said. Was hereally letting him down easy? Had the entire world turned upsidedown? Because guys like Harold were the ones who had to find gentleways of explaining why it would never happen.

“Have you ever been to theAustin Country Flea Market?” Harold asked. “Even if you’re not intobuying old stuff, it’s still fun to go and look around. They havelive music and terrible food. The Frito pie is myfavorite.”

Noah laughed. “I’ve never been, but itsounds perfect.” No candlelit dinner or romantic boat ride down theColorado River. Just two estranged friends browsing a bunch ofjunk.

“They’re only open on theweekend,” Harold said, sounding upbeat. “I was thinking Sundaybecause—”

“Mr. Westwood, a word ifyou please.”

Noah knew that voice. Marcello was standinga few paces away. His presence had changed the activity in thekitchen. The waiters were joking less, and everyone seemed to havefound tasks to do.

Even Harold, who shouldered his pack, “I’lltext you with the details,” he said before heading for theexit.

“I want my four thousanddollars, Mr. Franklin!” Marcello called after him, but he wassmiling. At least until he turned back to Noah, the shadows on hisface seeming to deepen. “I understand you took a break from yourduties to explore my home and associate with myfriends.”

Oh boy. “I wanted to talk to Tim, that’sall.”

Marcello’s eyebrows shot up. “That’sall?”

He could either let Marcello rip the truthfrom him, bone by bone, or he could tear open his own chest toexpose his heart. “The letters I got from Ryan recently are moredesperate than usual. I’m worried he might kill himself. I honestlybelieve that Tim can help. The only way he would agree to see Ryanis if someone else was there, so I volunteered. I realize that I’vebroken my promise, and if that costs me my job, then so be it. Atleast I can live with myself this way. If Ryan does take his ownlife—and no matter what you think, I hope he doesn’t—then at leastI’ll know that I did all I could instead of ignoring him for apaycheck.”

He was practically panting at the end ofthis speech, but it didn’t cause Marcello to burst into applause.Regardless of Nathaniel’s advice, his boss didn’t grab his hand tostart shaking it. Instead, he appeared even more displeased thanbefore.

“It’s a shame that ourrelationship is strained by our contrasting feelings toward onesolitary individual,” Marcello said. “Otherwise you would find me avery reasonable person. Not when it comes to Ryan. No. I find itvery hard to think rationally when it comes to him, or anyone elsewho would harm Tim.”

“Why?” Noahchallenged.

“Commondecency.”

“Fine, but why Tim inparticular? Why not Nathaniel instead?”

Marcello examined his nails. “Make nomistake. I would defend Nathaniel just as ferociously, but he iscapable of taking care of himself. Mr. Wyman is too, I suppose. Hedid well considering the circumstances. The only difference is thatI promised one of my dearest friends to look out for his bestinterests, and unlike you, I am not the sort of man who abandonshis word.”

“I’m sorry,” Noah said.Then he clenched his jaw. “But not for talking to Tim. I’m sorryfor making that promise in the first place! I should have come toyou first before breaking it, but it all just sort of happened. Iwasn’t trying to go behind your back or hide anything. I didn’tknow I would see Tim tonight, or that we would talk. It wasn’t aplan. I was only trying to help someone that I once loved. Even ifit costs me my job.”

“Oh, you’re still gainfullyemployed,” Marcello hissed. “A new job requirement has been added,that is all. When you and Tim visit Ryan—and yes, he will agree toaccompany you—then it’syourjob to see that Tim doesn’t get hurt.”

Noah shook his head. “How am I supposed todo that?”