“Well you look like a sad sack of shit,” Luka says coming in. It’s barely eight in the morning and about the only thing stirring is the local store which is open practically 24/7 and me… and now Luka. Mason’s streets don’t usually get popping until nine or ten. Everything moves at a slower pace out here. It’s completely different than Dallas… or hell anywhere else that I’ve been.

“No sleep will do that to you. You here to stay? If so I’ll load my crap up and get out of here.”

God. I’m sounding as grumpy as Luka used to before Petal came back into his life. I’ve got to snap out of it, the problem is I don’t think I can. I haven’t heard from Addie in a week. I’ve picked up the phone a million times to call her and every time I do a vision of Linda floats through my head and I lose my nerve. Luka is right. I am a sad sack of shit.

“I’m in for the day. I had to drop River off early at school for a field trip today.”

“How is school and—”

“The principal is transferring. Word is your sister will be taking over the position.”

“I bet that makes the secretary sad,” I joke.

“She’s gone. The board fired her last week—probably because the principal’s wife was on the board.”

“Probably. That wasn’t his smartest move. I wonder where the horny bastard is transferring too?”

“Word is his wife kicked him out of the house so if I had to guess… I’d say out of the Mason district.”

“Awe love. Fucked up as ever,” I sigh. “I’m out of here.”

“That’s not love Black. What you had with Linda wasn’t either,” Luka says just as I’m about to open the door to leave.

“I didn’t mean it was,” I mumble, not turning around. I didn’t really think that either. I’m fucked up, but I know I was never in love with Linda. “I know what I had with her and it was nowhere in that ballpark, Luka.”

“What you had with Addie could have been,” he cautions.

“Addie is better off without me, Luka.”

“That’s bullshit.”

“Is it? My credit is ruined thanks to Linda and I can’t even manage to rent a damn house. Here I am in my thirties and I’m living with my mother. Trust me, she can find better.”

“You’re rebuilding your credit. Maybe you need to look more long term than rentals.”

“What are you saying?”

“There’s a nice house for sale up above Petal and I. I know the owner and I’m sure Graves over at the bank would give you a loan. I know for a fact you have money squirreled away.”

“I don’t…”

“You don’t know if you want to come back to Mason to stay.”

“I’m not sure,” I admit. “There’s days… I miss being a detective.”

“Then make up your mind and pursue that dream. But you need to make a move soon.”

“Why?”

“Because life doesn’t wait, brother. It just passes you by,” Luka says pouring some coffee in a mug.

“I’ll think on it,” I tell him, opening the door and walking out into the sun. Damn, how did it get so bright so early. Today is going to be a scorcher.

“Hey, Black?”

“Yeah?”

“I had that chance to go to the FBI remember?”

“Yeah, I remember. Surprised the hell out of me you didn’t go—if only for you and Petal to start over somewhere new with a clean slate.”

“Family is important. Petal, River, Rain… they’re happy here. Hell, I’m happy here and I like being in bed with my wife every night.”

“Yeah well, my bed is empty so I’m not sure where this conversation is going.”

“You do, you’re just being stubborn.”

“I told you whatever I started with Addie is over.”

“Guess you don’t care that she’s over at the garage with Hank putting the moves on her then.”

“Don’t care a bit,” I lie.

“That’s good. Hank’s got a way with the ladies, and I heard him asking her if she was single…”

“She is,” I tell him, but I turn around, not wanting him to see my face. The words burn inside of me, too.

I walk out, but like a fool instead of going to my truck, I find my feet walking down the street toward CC’s new garage… the one Hank Raymond manages.

Damn it.