WARD
"Iam not faking my own death."
Ben Gilbert laughed, throwing his duffel bag over one shoulder.
"You could."
"I could not."
Scott Walter grinned.
"You've got at least two hours before we sail."
Mark Phillips nodded thoughtfully.
"We could make it look convincing."
John Edwards looked at me with mock sympathy.
"I'll miss you."
"You'll be standing next to me at the wedding."
"True."
He shrugged.
"I'll still miss you."
Laughter rolled through the marina.
Normally...
I'd have been the loudest one.
Today I just smiled.
It was easier.
Smiling kept people from asking questions.
Ben clapped me on the shoulder.
"You okay?"
There it was.
The question I'd been avoiding for weeks.
Months, maybe.
"I'm fine."
He studied me for a second longer than I liked.
Then he nodded.
"Good."
