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Silence.
Shit. Had she really just told him to get a girlfriend and get out of town?
“I’m glad you found him,” Nick said. “I’m glad you found him, and I’m glad you’re here.”
“So am I,” she said. “Hey, Nick?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m always here,” she said. “Now, tomorrow, in the middle of the night—whenever. You don’t have to have a reason to call.”
“Thanks, Hayley. Same goes for you.”
Damn it. He’d gone polite on her. Cheerful but polite, and some of the life had gone out of his voice. She tried teasing him. “You say that now, but when I call at threeAM…”
“Diner’s open all night. We’ll go get milkshakes.”
She’d failed. Nick had reached out, and if anything she’d made things worse. Hayley ran a hand through her hair and tried to think of how to reassure him.You’ll find someone. You’re a great guy. I really will answer the phone when you call.
Except they both knew he might not find someone, even if she could get him to believe he was a great guy. And Nick would have to be hurt and bleeding before he’d even think about bothering her at threeAM. He’d taken a chance with this call, and what had it gotten him? A reminder that she had a boyfriend and he was driving home to an empty apartment.
“I’m parking the car,” he said. “I’ll let you get back to your book.”
“Okay,” she said. “Lunch Wednesday?”
“Lunch Wednesday. Hey, do me a favor?”
“Anything.” She tried not to sound too eager.
“Call Denise,” he said. “She misses you.”
“How do you know?”
He said, “I would.”
17
“Want to stay for lunch?” Kevin was rummaging in his refrigerator. “Plenty of burgers here.”
“Sure,” Nick said. He gripped the arm of the couch and felt the ache of stiff muscles as he heaved himself to his feet. Sitting through the movieHeathad been nearly a three-hour commitment.
“Who were you rooting for?” Kevin asked him. “De Niro or Pacino?”
“Pacino. You?”
“De Niro,” Kevin said. “True commitment.”
“To what? Himself?”
“His craft. He takes down scores, he looks out for himself, and he doesn’t let anything distract from that.”
Nick walked slowly toward the kitchen. “Kind of a shitty life philosophy.”
“Nah, man. Works for me.”
Nick laughed. “No, it doesn’t. You didn’t leave Hayley behind like Neil left … what was her name?”
“Eady.” Kevin was piling patties and cheese on a plate. “And it’s different. Hal’s my partner in crime.”
