Valerie glanced past my shoulder toward the dining room doorway, where Garrett was carving the chicken.

“Garrett mentioned you were having trouble keeping steady,” she said, resting her palm flat on her hip.

“Garrett notices plenty,” I said, taking a small sip from the glass.

I walked past her toward the glass balcony doors and left the water glass sitting untouched on the side table.

Cool November air hit my face the moment I slid the heavy glass panel open and stepped out onto the concrete terrace.

The Dallas skyline spread out in long rows of yellow office windows six floors below us.