Page 81 of The Long Way Found

And although Jack had finally said "I love you," it was too late. It came after he'd already destroyed everything. Luke deserved someone who said it when it was scary, not when it was strategic.

Jack drove home, then walked into town for dinner and a couple of drinks. It was getting dark, and the street seemed empty. He didn't recognize anyone at the restaurant, which he'd never visited before.

He took out his phone. Hallicks had texted a short, friendly reminder that he wouldn't be at school on Monday. "Hope Luke's party was a smash!"

His mother called, and he let it go to voicemail. He was in no condition to put on a performance.

She left details of their arrival on Tuesday and confirmation that they'd rent a vehicle and stay at the hotel.

"It will be nice to be back in Calder Ridge," she said. "Patty sounded so nice on the phone, as she always did."

He made a note to tell Luke about the visit. Or had he even mentioned it to him? He honestly didn't know.

Now he had just one more person to call.

CHAPTER 30

JACK

Jack stared at his phone, trying to think of anyone else he could call, but he knew she was the one who could help the most.

Since the divorce, he and Anna had maybe three conversations a year—holidays, the occasional check-in, the comfortable, low-maintenance contact of two people who'd ended things without catastrophe. She remarried two years ago. Her mother still sent Jack a Christmas card.

He finally punched his own thigh in frustration and pressed call. It rang four times. He almost hung up.

"Jack?" Anna's voice was warm, slightly surprised. "Everything okay?"

"No." The word came out before he could stop it. "No, I fucked up. I need your help."

Silence on the other end. Then a door closing. “Hold on, I’m—Okay. Hi.”

"Hi. Sorry to call out of nowhere."

"Don't be. What's going on?"

He'd planned to ease into it. Instead, he said, "Do you remember me telling you about Luke Calder?"

A pause. "High school, Luke."

"Yeah."

"I remember."

"He's here. In Calder Ridge. I've been—we've been involved, and it was going great, and I screwed it up."

Silence on the other end, and then Anna exhaled a bit of a laugh. "Of course you did."

"That's not very helpful."

"I'm just … I always wondered about him. You only mentioned him a couple of times, but I knew he was important.”

Jack hadn't realized she'd noticed.

"What did you do?" she asked.

He told her. About the birthday party, the meeting, the choice he'd made, and the choice he'd made afterward, not going even when he could have. Then Sunday morning at Luke's kitchen table.

Anna was quiet for a moment after he finished.