Page 101 of A Pizza My Heart

I flit my eyes to Sully, who’s leaned against the sliding back door staring out at the tempestuous ocean.

“He’s good,” Winston says. “He’s probably not even listening to us.”

“He’s not.” Sully doesn’t turn to us when he speaks. “But I can leave if it makes you feel more comfortable.”

“You know what? Nah, you’re good.” I take a seat on my bed—AKA Winston’s couch—and inhale a deep breath, ready to finally spill my guts. “I’m not broke.”

He lights a joint and brings it to his lips, inhaling.

“Okay,” he says through the cloud of smoke filtering from his lungs.

No shock, no anger.

No real reaction at all.

“Okay? That’s it?”

“Yeah. I mean, congrats on being loaded, man, but I don’t know how that affects me at all.”

“I’ve been sleeping on your couch for over a month, not paying you anything for it, and you’re just super chill about it.”

“Yeah. You’re my best friend. I don’t give a shit if you stay here. Sully doesn’t pay rent either, but he’s a total freeloader.”

Sully grunts at the insult.

Guess he is listening after all.

“So what’s up? Why you telling me this shit now?”

“Well, I was saving my money for a down payment on my own place, but my credit is absolute shit right now from the divorce and Layla fucking me in the not-so-fun way.”

“Let me guess”—he grins at me—“you want to give it to Wren for her place.”

“Yes.”

“Save your breath. I tried with my payout from the accident. She wouldn’t budge on it.”

“I figured, but…”

“You thought since she’s in love with you she might let you help.”

“She’s in love with me?”

He shoots me a look, laughing, but ignores my question. “I don’t think she’ll go for it.”

“He wants to do it anonymously,” Sully chimes in. “Which is what your dumb ass should have done.” He turns toward us for the first time. He’s looking at us but not, eyes unfocused. “But you didn’t, because you weren’t supposed to. It was always supposed to be Foster.”

Winston rolls his eyes. “I thought I told your hippie ass to quit doing that weird shit.”

“What weird shit?”

“He thinks he gets these vibes or whatever.” Winston hits his joint again, holds, then exhales. “Like he knows when things are meant to be or some bullshit like that.”

“What did I tell you when you tried to help Wren the first time?”

“That it wasn’t my place.”

“And I was right. It’s not your place. It’s Foster’s.”

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