said it like that. In front of everybody. It wasn’t fair to you. You asked me to pretend, and I—”
“Was it true?”
He stopped.
He turned and looked at me. In the dim light from the streetlamp, I could see his face. He looked scared. Big, tall Edward, who could build anything with his hands. He looked absolutely terrified.
“Yes,” he said. “It was true.”
“Eight months?”
“About eight months.”
“Since the crackers?”
“Since the crackers.”
I looked at him.
“Why didn’t you ever say anything?”
He was quiet for a long time.
“Because you were going through hell,” he said. “And you needed a friend. Not somebody else who wanted something from you.” He looked down at the steering wheel. “And because I figured you’d say no. And then I’d lose lunch.”
I laughed. It came out wet.
“The sandwiches,” I said.
“I’m a terrible liar,” Edward admitted. “
