Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
JAY
Six Months Later
Jay stared at the map on the seatback in front of him, watching the flight progress en route to Jamaica.
He’d hardly spoken a word since meeting up with Rob and boarding the plane at LAX.
In an hour, they’d land in Montego Bay. Another couple of hours and they’d finally arrive at their destination: a cliff-top resort on the westernmost side of the island.
He’d done his best to get out of the trip, but Rob Bradley had the persistence of an ant, determined to move something much bigger and much heavier than himself no matter how difficult it might be.
"Would you like another beverage?" a flight attendant asked.
"Uh, no… thank you." Jay forced a smile.
“Feeling okay?" Rob asked.
"Fine. Just tired," Jay answered.
"You've been really quiet."
"I guess I don't have much to say." Guilt will do that to you.
For months, Jay had slipped into a deep, dark place. It didn't matter that they'd lived separate lives and were on the verge of calling it quits. It didn't matter that her death was accidental. He'd placed the blame squarely on his own shoulders and his insistence she drive home.
I was hell-bent on making her feel like shit.
It's my fault. It's all my fault.
"I don’t remember if I told you, but Abby arranged to have a driver meet us, so we won’t have to deal with a crowded shuttle. It will be just us, nice and quiet."
"Why are we doing this again?" Jay asked, turning his pale, thin face up to his best friend.
"We’re doing this,” Rob gripped Jay’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze, “because it’s time you took a step toward rejoining the human race.”