Page 48

“It was more than eighteen years ago.”

“How many dates?” Rylie asked.

“I don’t remember,”

I remembered.

Four.

Dinner at a burger place where Judy stole half my fries.

A high school football game neither of us watched.

A movie we arrived late for and didn’t understand.

A walk beside the lake the week before I left.

Four dates.

One kiss.

A few phone calls after I moved away.

Then nothing.

Trigger leaned toward me.

“Did you kiss her?”

“Go away.”

“That means yes.”

Wolf looked amused.

I didn’t appreciate it.

Rylie crossed her arms. “Judy never told me Mason Walker became an Army Ranger.”

“She didn’t know.”

“You didn’t keep in touch?”

“No.”

“Why?”

“People don’t always keep in touch.”

Rylie studied my face.

I picked up the glass again.

This time, I dried it.

The front door opened.

I knew it was her before I looked.