chapter 13

“Hey, man,” Jason answered after two rings. “What’s up? Lonely already?”

I cut right to the chase. “Can you come over? I need to talk to you about something. It’s important.”

“Oh, sure, yeah,” Jason replied, his tone taking on a tinge of concern. “I’ll be right there.”

“Thanks.” I hung up and finished up my drink in two swallows. I got up and went to pour myself another, as well as one for Jason, then went out to go wait for him in the living room. Thankfully, Jason was prompt, and it took him less than twenty minutes to arrive. I went to let him in when he rang the doorbell.

“Thanks for coming,” I said, letting Jason inside.

“No problem.” Jason nodded, his brow furrowed. “You said it was important.”

“Yeah, it is. This way.”

I led Jason into the living room and handed him the drink I’d prepared. We sat in a matching pair of cushioned chairs arranged in front of a large fireplace that dominated the far wall of the room.

“So, what’s up?” Jason asked after several moments of tense silenc