Deacon showed up on the dot of seven. Jack opened the door, saying, “He’ll be down in a second. He’s just checking how he looks, for the tenth time.”
“I was not,” Max protested, coming across the living room to join them.
Deacon laughed, asking Jack, “Do you want a lift anywhere?”
Jack pumped his fist. “I didn’t want to ask, but if you don’t mind. I usually walk, to save on gas.”
“To you girlfriend’s?”
“Yes. She lives about five blocks from here.”
“No problem. Are you ready?”
Jack gave Deacon a thumbs-up—already on the phone to tell Karen he was on his way over while he got his, and Max’s, jackets from the hall closet.
After dropping Jack off, with Deacon’s admonition that he wasn’t to leave until they returned to pick him up, Deacon and Max headed to the movie theater. They arrive
