Backstabbing Friend's Self-Inflicted Shame novel · Chapter 9 of 24

Chapter 9: Mitch

We sat on the kitchen floor with our backs against the cabinets because neither of us could stand to be in a chair.

Rafe held the silver frame in both hands and did not look at it.

"He showed up in June, three years ago," he said. "Valeria said her brother had lost his job and had nowhere to go. He had a duffel bag and a very nice laugh."

"Tate has a very nice laugh."

"He fixed my dock. He made breakfast. He told me he'd always wanted a brother-in-law who understood money."

"How long did he stay?"

"Five weeks. At the end he borrowed thirty-eight thousand dollars for Valeria's mother's surgery."

"Valeria's mother has never had surgery. I've had Thanksgiving with her mother. She's the healthiest woman in Tucson."

"I know." He closed his eyes. "I found that out last year."

I got up and found my phone.

Three years ago in June, Tate had told me he was flying to Charlotte for five weeks to close a mattress contract.

I remembered missing him so badly that I had slept in his shirt.

I scrolled back through the photographs until I found the video call from the second week.

Tate on a hotel bed in Charlotte, he'd said, his hair wet, laughing at something I'd said.

I turned the phone and held it up.

"Look at the wall behind him," I said.

Rafe took the phone and looked for a long time.

The wallpaper was pale blue with a pattern of small silver fish.

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