Page 153 of The Lonely Road

“There’s a pool?” Joy wants to know.

“There’s always a pool,” Birdie Lorraine says, mildly offended by the question.

We keep watching.

“The pump,” Bree says, quieter now. “You actually fixed my pump.”

“Yes.”

“That wasn’t an operation.”

“No.”

“You just fixed my pump.”

“Yes.”

“At eleven o’clock at night?” She’s crying now, sniffling between words.

“The pump needed fixing. You needed someone to fix it. That had nothing to do with the job.”

Her eyes lock on mine.

“Is this—is this why you wouldn’t⁠—”

“Yes.”

She shakes her head and wipes her tears.

Kaz says something we can’t hear.

“I’ll cry if I want to,” Bree shouts this. “I’m so angry at you, Kaz.”

“I know.”

“You should leave me alone for a while.”

“Okay.”

“A significant while.”

“I understand.”

She walks away from him and toward us. When she’s close, she turns back. Kaz is still there, watching her.

“You hurt me.”

“Yes.”

“You’re an asshole, Kazimir Chase.”

“Yes, Honey Bee.”

“I need a cry and then a drink.”

We pull her into a group hug, and Bree starts to sob.

Kaz stands on the sidewalk, his shoulders hunched, looking defeated. Then he walks away.