Hank shrugged without enthusiasm. “Sure. Why not? I’ll cut it short here and be there by seven-thirty.” His gaze narrowed. “No prying questions, though. Are we clear on that?”
Sean bit back his disappointment, but he nodded. Since he was no more interested in talk than Hank appeared to be, he could hardly complain about the embargo. “See you then,” he said, staring after his friend as Hank trudged into the gym with all the energy and enthusiasm of a man walking toward the gallows.
Something wasn’t quite right here, but Sean couldn’t put his finger on it. However, given Hank’s edict about keeping all his questions to himself and his own determination not to discuss Ruby with Hank, he was at a loss.
He thought about all the possible explanations for Hank’s mood on the drive back to his apartment. No matter which way he looked at it, it all came back to Ruby.
Of course, there was one subtle way to get some answers, he concluded, picking up the phone before he could change his mind. And didn’t he owe it to his friend to try to pinpoint the problem? Indeed, he did, he thought nobly. He had a duty to make the call.
At the sound of Deanna’s voice, his mouth went dry. What the hell was wrong with him? No woman had ever rendered him tongue-tied before.
“Um, Deanna, this is Sean.”
“Hi. How are you?” she said, not even sounding particularly surprised to hear from him, much less shaken by the sound of his voice.
“Fine. Just fine. You?” he asked irritably.
“Fine.”
“And Kevin?”
“He’s fine.”
Sean nearly groaned. Could this be any more awkward? He couldn’t imagine how. “Look, I wanted to ask you about something. It’s probably none of my business, but I have to admit I’m a little worried.”
“About?”
“Hank,” he blurted before he could think better of it. “Oh?” she said, a wary note in her voice. “What about him?”
“Has he been seeing Ruby, I mean since the other night at the station?”
“Why don’t you ask him?”
Good question, Sherlock. “Because I’m asking you,” he said, unable to keep a testy note out of his tone.
“I’m not really comfortable discussing Ruby’s social life with you,” she said.
Sean could hardly blame her. He’d known when he picked up the phone that he was crossing some sort of line and that he was asking her to do the same. “It’s just that I’m really worried. I’ve never seen him like this.”
“Like what?”
“I can’t explain it. I ran into him at the gym about a half hour ago. He’s not himself. He looks as if he’s been on a two-day bender, if you want to know the truth, but Hank doesn’t drink more than an occasional beer, so I know it wasn’t that.”
“You really are worried, aren’t you?” she asked, sounding surprised.
“Yeah, I really am. It occurred to me that it might have something to do with Ruby, and that if it did, you would know about it.”
“The truth is, I don’t know what’s going on between them,” Deanna admitted, her own frustration plain. “Ruby hasn’t said much since the other night. She’s been going out as soon as I get home, then getting in late, but she hasn’t said who she’s with. I don’t like to pry. Usually I don’t have to. She pretty much tells me whatever’s going on.”
“Sounds like Hank.”
“Sean, they’re both adults,” she said reasonably. “I’m sure they can handle whatever’s happening between them without any interference from us.”
He hesitated. “You don’t think maybe we should get together, see if we can figure out what’s going on? They’re our friends. We pretty much threw them together.”
She laughed at that. “Please. Those two flew together like magnets. They’re not our responsibility, though I must say I’m impressed by your concern.”
Her words echoed, annoying him. Impressed by your concern? Now wasn’t that just about the most boring compliment any woman had ever paid him? Sean was absurdly offended, despite the sincerity in her voice.
He sighed. What reaction had he been expecting? Had he hoped that this ridiculous excuse he’d dreamed up just to hear the sound of her voice was going to set off all sorts of bells and whistles that would have her swooning over him?
Maybe he ought to switch gears, focus on her for a change. “Okay, let’s forget about Hank and Ruby for the moment. What about you? You’re not working too hard, are you?”
“I imagine that depends on who you ask,” she said wryly.
Sean could hear the smile in her voice. “What if I asked Ruby?”
“I thought we just agreed to leave Ruby out of this conversation.”
He laughed. “Ah, then she would say you’re still working too hard, wouldn’t she?”
“More than likely,” Deanna admitted.
“You’re home early tonight.”
“Joey insisted on it. I suspect Ruby got to him again. I honestly don’t know how she does it, but if I ever find out, I’ll put a stop to it.” She sounded annoyed.
“Good for Ruby,” Sean enthused. “Tell me about this restaurant. Is it any good?”
“The food’s filling, and there’s plenty of it. Actually the meat loaf isn’t bad. And everyone seems to love the spaghetti special.”
Sean pounced on the mention of his favorite food. “What night is that? I love spaghetti. My mom’s was the best,” he said, a wistful note creeping into his voice.
There were only a handful of things that could drag him right back to his childhood. Spaghetti was one of them. Ironically, when he’d first gone to his brother’s pub, he’d noticed that spaghetti wasn’t on the menu there. Of course, it was an Irish pub, but still, spaghetti had virtually become a universal menu item. Ryan had claimed it wasn’t on the menu because he hated it. He’d also sworn that he didn’t remember their mom making it. Either Ryan was lying or he’d suppressed the memory. Since Sean had done his share of that, he’d kept silent.
“You still remember your mom’s spaghetti?” Deanna
