Save for a nightlight in the kitchen, the house was totally dark when they entered. Jodie groped around in the dark for the light switch while she talked about making up the sleeper sofa. When the room finally lit up, they found the sofa already occupied. “Aw shit, sorry Ingrid!” She yelped. “It’s cool,” Ingrid…
Chapter 1.4
“How’d it go?” Jodie’s voice rolled in gently like seafoam on the shore, her characteristic sharp edges absent. “He’s pissed.” Mitch closed his eyes and braced himself for his friend’s usual tirade, about what an asshole Calvin was and how he had no right to be angry after this and that and the other thing,…
Chapter 1.3
For the remainder of the time in the check-out line, he ignored Jodie’s blatant glares. After paying, he finally broke down with an exasperated, “What?!” “I need a cigarette,” Jodie grumbled, then spun around and put several steps between them. She was already through the sliding glass doors before he processed the words. “Hold on.”…
Chapter 1.2
Unsurprisingly, he tested positive for a mild concussion, and Mitch handled that news as well as anyone in his position could. But then the doctor diagnosed him with a torn rotator cuff, and that announcement sucked out all of the air from the room. Though not so severe that it required surgery, he still needed…
Chapter 1.1
At first there was silence, which was followed by a ringing. It escalated until it became piercing and unbearable. Instinctively, Mitch reached for the back of his head while the rest of his body assumed the fetal position. As far as he could tell, he was on the floor. Not on the safety of the…