“Oh, you know Jim,” he said, waving a loose hand.

“Always working himself up about the new job.

I was just giving him some advice.

Helping him think about his future.”

Helping him take the fall for yours, I thought.

“That’s generous of you,” I said, and I smiled at him, and the smile cost me more than anything I had ever done.

“You’re always looking out for my family.”

“Always, Chloe,” he said.