Page 23 of When We Were More

“He’s playing on Thanksgivingagain?” I ask.

“Yup. But he’ll be home at Christmas this year, so that’ll make Mom happy,” Hayden adds.

“Speaking of Mom, what do you all think of her dating?” Harrison asks.

I sit back, instantly uncomfortable.

“As long as she’s happy,” Hayden offers.

“And safe… I mean with money. I don’t want to see someone take advantage of her.” Harrison’s face is red now. Holden sees the opportunity to razz him a bit.

“She should besafe, too. Right, Harrison? You meant that as well.”

Harrison tosses a throw pillow at him. “Don’t be gross. Mom doesn’t have sex.”

“Oh, okay,” Holden snorts.

Hayden pinches the bridge of his nose. “Can you two not do this tonight? Let’s keep it light. Okay?”

I narrow my gaze and study him for a few seconds. He looks drained. Dark circles under his eyes.

“You okay, Hayden?”

He looks over at me, then shoots Holden a quick glance. I notice Holden’s face is instantly serious, and he gives Hayden a subtle nod. When Hayden looks back at me and Harrison, his eyes are glossy, and the corners of his mouth have curved downward in a frown.

“Um, not great. But I’m okay. Charlie—” He clears his throat and stares down at the floor. “She wants to separate… not be married anymore.” No one speaks. Hayden’s been with Charlie since their freshman year of college.

“Is there any chance she’ll change her mind?” I ask.

Hayden looks up at me and shakes his head. He opens his mouth to say something, but nothing comes out. Holden watches him closely, and it must be a twin thing because he knows when to speak up instinctively.

“She’s moving to New York. Already has a job and an apartment lined up.” Holden’s voice is quiet, solemn.

Hayden clears his throat. “I didn’t plan to spring this on you at guy’s night, so let’s talk about something else. But I wanted to tell you both. I might be a little off for a while.”

“Do you need anything? Anything at all?” I ask.

Hayden shakes his head, then looks over at Harrison. “Well, actually, I was hoping you’d be my lawyer. Read over anything before I sign it.”

“Of course, man. Anything you need.” Harrison shoots me a quick glance. He represented me during my divorce and custody hearings with Jeana.

“I think we need the good whiskey.” I stand and walk to the liquor cabinet to retrieve it.

When we’ve all got a glass, we sit in silence for a while, sipping our drinks and getting lost in our thoughts.

“Henry, are you going to be in the office tomorrow? I have those drawings for the Michigan project that I want to go over with you. It’ll need to be early. After, I have to head to the city to meet with the city council about the variance on that restoration in the historic district.”

Hayden’s voice is steady. You wouldn’t know that a few minutes ago, he told us his marriage was ending. But if that’s what he needs to get through this, then we’ll do it.

“Um, I can be. What time?”

“What time? Isn’t a workaholicalwaysat the office if you’re not here with the kids?” Holden’s tone is teasing and light.

Harrison snorts.

For fuck’s sake. Really?

Harrison throws up his hand, the one that isn’t holding his whiskey. “Sorry, that was an accident.”