I hesitated. Nothing sounded better. Nothing sounded better in the world. Home. Amanda. Henry. Peace and quiet.

But I couldn’t do it. Not yet.

“I wish I could,” I said. “It’s just that we only have six guys. And I’m about to go back in.”

My heart shriveled in my chest. I pictured it as a dried-up black thing incapable of love. What kind of man lied to his wife? Twice in one night?

“Okay,” she said. “I shouldn’t have called. And I know you haven’t been getting out for fun as much. Neither one of us has. And I have that weekend planned. You should plan something like that. Hell, do something with Blake.”

“I’m just glad you called.”

“I can’t hear anyone,” she said. “Are you playing the world’s quietest basketball game?”

“I walked out. To the hallway by the court. But I have to go back. Look, I’ll get out of here as soon as I can. I promise.”

There was a pause. Then Amanda said, “Look, it’s just . . .”

“It’s just what?”

“There’s so much going on lately, you know?”

Was she talking about life with Henry? Our lives as new parents?

Or something else?

I remembered the way she said my name at home when I was going up the stairs . . . and the way the thought remained unexpressed and unfinished.

What was going on with her?

“I know,” I said. “But we’re getting the hang of it, aren’t we?”

“Are we? I’m not sure. . . .”

“Of course we are—”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

“I think I am.”

“Look, I’m going to read my book, but I may be asleep when you get home.”

She then hung up without saying good-bye.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Blake rented one half of a redbrick duplex on the east side of town. He’d lived there for the past three years, ever since he moved from Lexington, where he’d been living near his parents, to Rossingville to take a job as a salesman for an auto parts manufacturer. I hadn’t been thrilled when he moved to Rossingville, where I’d been living ever since college. I’d just gotten engaged to Amanda when Blake came to town. I had hoped to leave those events and memories from college behind, especially anything having to do with the accident.