Page 90 of Take Your Breath Away

Jayne shot me a look. “This is between me and him.”

“Whoa,” Tyler said. “Better be careful what you say, sis, or he might kill you.”

The room went quiet. Jayne looked as though she’d been slapped across the face. It’s possible I looked the same. Even Tyler appeared surprised by what he’d said, realizing he’d crossed a line.

“Get out,” Jayne said. “Get out of my sight.”

He was happy to oblige. Tyler left the kitchen. Seconds later, the front door slammed.

I didn’t know what to say.

It was Jayne who broke the silence. “So he knows.”

“He was listening in, yesterday. To Hardy, and then us.”

She closed her eyes and slowly lowered her forehead to the table. I rested a hand on her shoulder. She raised her head and asked, “Who called?”

“Brie’s mother’s been in the hospital. One of the family called to tell me she passed away today.”

“Oh,” Jayne said. “Did she think the worst of you, too?”

“She came around to my side at the end.”

“Well, that’s something, I guess.”

There was nothing more to be said about it.

We’d just gone upstairs to our bedroom, a few minutes before ten, when we heard someone enter the house. Tyler was back. Jayne and I glanced at one another, decided it was good news that he had returned at a reasonable hour, and there was no need to make a big deal out of it.

I was starting to unbutton my shirt when the sound of an incoming text came from my phone. It was Greg.

Out front. Got a sec?

“What is it?” Jayne asked, and I told her.

I tapped back: 2 mins.

“What’s he want?” she asked.

“Why don’t you join me and we’ll find out.”

We came out the front door together and found not just Greg waiting for us, but his turquoise-coiffed girlfriend, Julie. In fact, she was standing ahead of him, Greg half hidden behind her, as though using her as a shield.

Greg, out of respect, stepped out when he saw Jayne. “Hey,” he said.

“Hi, Greg,” she said.

He introduced Julie, who shook Jayne’s hand. “I’ve heard lots about you,” Julie said.

Jayne only smiled, not sure whether that was a good thing or a bad thing.

“What’s up?” I asked them.

Julie turned to Greg, priming him. “Go on. Ask him.”

Greg took half a step forward, eyes on his own feet. “We shouldn’t have come. It’s late. This can wait until tomorrow.”

“You’re here now,” I said.