Page 110 of The Lonely Road

“Food or coffee are your choices because I think you’ve drunk enough strong stuff.”

“Then food and coffee.”

I go to the guest room on the first floor, walk straight into the ensuite, undress, and stand under her shower for twenty minutes trying to wash off the feeling of complete failure.

What her fancy soaps and shampoos actually do is make me smell like peonies and lemons, which is exactly how Taya smells, which is the opposite of helpful.

I change into sweats and a T-shirt and head to the living room.

“There’s lasagna, and there’s coffee.” Lana points to the kitchen island.

I sit and hang my head for a while. “I don’t know why I’m here.”

“Sure you do.”

“The flight to JFK had a layover.”

“That’s a nice excuse.” She pours herself a glass of wine and stands across from me. “Where are you coming from?”

One of the cats, a large gray one named Søren Kirkegaard, sits on the counter and watches me with professional contempt.

“Aspen.”

“Job go bad?” Lana has a vague idea of what I do.

“You know it’s not hygienic to have your cats sit on your kitchen counters.”

“You know what else is not hygienic? Telling your sister how to live her life.”

“Noted.”

The lasagna is good. Most definitely takeout.

Lana can’t cook.

She’s a genius when it comes to coding and running a software company—food, plants, and relationships…not so much.

“Mace, talk to me.”

“How long have you had the philosophy cat?”

“Three years. Stop deflecting.” She strokes Søren. “Spill.”

“There’s nothing to spill.” I drink some coffee. She makes that well. Or rather, her insanely expensive coffee machine does. She likes her cup of joe and buys the best beans and hardware to go with it.

“You didn’t come all the way here to drink coffee and eat lasagna.”

“Or be judged by your philosopher cat.”

“You’re such a drama queen!”

Søren gives me a bored look that says, “Come on, man, show some gumption.”

Fuck, but I’ve been drinking too much if I can read the cat’s face.

“I fell in love.” I feel sick as soon as the words come out.

Lana gives me a pained look. “Wow! Just saying that made you go completely pale.”