She stared at him blankly, disbelieving. Had he really just said that? “So…wait, did you tell him?” she asked, staring at his eyes, hoping to discern the truth.

“No. I couldn’t. I couldn’t do that to him, cuz he’s a nice guy, he doesn’t deserve to find out from me. And he really thinks you’re something, you can tell by the way he talks about you. You need to tell him.”

“But I can’t! I can’t tell him. What’ll he think? What’ll he say? No, better for me just to leave.”

“Well, I say you come back. And you can stay, it’s fine by me. I won’t tell him. But just know, if something does happen between you, he needs to know. And no matter what, truth will out. Sometime, somewhere. Besides…do you really want to sleep out here? Bad, bad idea. This isn’t Ashby.Bad shit happens at night.”

“OK. I’ll come back. But you have to promise me you won’t tell him.”

“I promise. Why the hell would I want that job? Ever heard of the phrase ‘Don’t shoot the messenger?’ Well it was invented for a reason. “