Page 39 of Stone Coast

We boarded theIntrepid, and Tyson made himself at home, putting on a pot of coffee. The smell of hot Java swirled. It smelled good, and I wanted to join him, but I was wound up enough as it was. I would have a hard time falling asleep.

My phone buzzed with a call from Olivia. "Oh my God, are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

"Is it true what they're saying on the news? Is Grayson…?”

“Yes,” I said in a soft voice, still emotionally disconnected from it.

"I'm so sorry," she said, her voice full of sadness. “Do you want me to come over? I can be there in a few minutes."

"I thought you were on a date.”

"Sisters before misters," she said. "Besides, he was lame. Are you sure you’re okay? You sound surprisingly calm.”

“I’m okay.”

“You’re in shock. I’m coming over.”

“Not necessary. Tyson’s here.”

“Tyson?”

“We have a lot to talk about,” I said.

“That’s an understatement.”

I hesitated. "Did you know Grayson was having an affair?"

"What!?"

"I'll take that as a negative.”

“How did you find out? Did he admit to it?”

"Like I said. We have a lot to talk about."

"There's no way. Grayson loved you. Are you sure?"

"I'm not sure of anything," I said. "Did I ever mention anything to you before? Did I have suspicions?”

"As far as I knew, that wasn't even a blip on your radar. Then again, you always did hold your cards close to your chest. Especially about things like that." Olivia paused. "I'm not going to say that you were secretive. But you were kind of secretive. I mean, you could disappear for days at a time, then come back and write it off as something casual for work. But it always seemed like there was something more going on. Maybe that's just me.”

"I'm sorry if I was ever distant."

"Girl, you ain't got nothing to be sorry about. There is definitely some shit that I don't share with anybody. A girl’s got to have a little mystery."

"I've got plenty of that."

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"I don't know if I’d call anything about my life right nowokay. But I'm fine. Really."

"I'm a phone call away. You know I'll be there in a heartbeat.”

"I know.” In a sincere, appreciative voice, I said, “You’re a good friend.”

I thanked her again and ended the call.