“That’s why it’s called a coincidence. Very high odds. But not impossible. In fact, given where we live and what you do for a living, I think it’s highly unlikely. Extraordinarily unlikely. Incredibly, unbelievably…”

I held up my hands in surrender. “I get it, I get it. It’s not likely.”

“In fact, it is unlikely. Don’t make me go through the whole story again.”

Timmy sat down at the back of the truck with me. We watched as the first responders made sure the building was secure.

I mumbled to myself, “Alicia’s got no place to stay.”

He said, “What’s wrong with your house?”

“I don’t want her to think I’m trying to take advantage of the situation.”

“I thought you said she’s your girlfriend.”

“I said, sort-of girlfriend. We’re not officially dating. Or exclusive.”

“Have you spent the night at her apartment?”

“Never. I’ve been there a couple of times in the last week just to watch Game of Thrones with her.”

He scratched his head and said, “Sounds like you and I have different definitions for girlfriends. I watch Game of Thrones with my dad. I’m not judging.” He gave me one of his sly smiles.

This was something I’d have to talk over with Alicia. After I thought about it a little while longer.

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

I spent the afternoon at the hospital with my mom. I didn’t tell her exactly what happened at Alicia’s apartment, just that she couldn’t stay there for a while.

My mom had a brilliant idea. She said, “Do you think she’d stay with me while I recover? She’d have her own bedroom, and I wouldn’t make too many demands.”

“So you’re saying you’ll treat her differently than you treat everyone else?” I was sitting a little too close and she was able to reach out and rap me on the hand with her knuckles. It made me flinch.

I calmly said, “I will forward that idea. I think she’d love it. She already spends a lot of time caring for her dad, but he only has one bedroom.”

I rolled back home about sunset and didn’t realize how tired I was until I plopped on the couch and Bart Simpson jumped up to sit next to me. Rubbing his head allowed my mind to wander.

I just couldn’t accept that the explosion at Alicia’s apartment was purely an accident. Even though Buddy “Butt-crack” Wilson from the gas company said it was just a simple gas leak, I couldn’t let it go.

I’d worked with explosives a little bit in the Navy. I was by no means an expert, but I did know modern buildings with decent pipes don’t just explode. I dozed off right on the couch.