him rent-free, but our agreement was that I’d help with the housework and make his meals, which I’d made diabetic friendly, horrified at what he used to eat. But the bottom line was that I was supposed to be taking care of him in exchange for a place to live, not the other way around. However, Marco had pointed out that I might be making him too dependent on me, thus stealing his independence. Hank got along pretty well for a man with one leg, and I needed to give him more space. I’d spent a lot of time at Marco’s over the last week, leaving Hank to manage on his own, and he seemed to be doing pretty well, although I’d come by a few times to make him some meals and put food in the fridge.
I lugged my overflowing basket to the door, but Big Joe hopped up and rushed over to take it from me.
“Let me help you with that.”
I started to protest, but I decided it wasn’t a bad idea to get one of Hank’s friends alone. “Thanks.”
I let him grab the handles, giving Hank a little wave as soon as my hands were free, but he suddenly didn’t look as happy as he had before. Was he worried about me or his friend?
I opened the door and let Big Joe out, then walked around him to the back of my car, using my key fob to open the trunk.
“You can put it in here,” I said, making sure my tone was upbeat. “How do you know Hank?”
“We were both born and raised here,” he grunted as he walked around to the back of my car. “In a town as small as this, you tend to know everything about everybody.”
“So I’ve learned,” I said with a laugh, then decided to take a risk. “Rumor has it you used to work for Hank.”
He set the basket on the ground and looked me over. “And just what do you think you know about Hank’s business?”
There was an edge to his voice that would have scared me if we weren’t right outside Hank’s front door.
“I know he used to be a large marijuana distributor,” I said. “Hank hasn’t hidden it, and I don’t judge. But he doesn’t talk much about anything from his past, even Mary and Barbara.”
His brow lifted, but his face remained blank. “I ain’t the person you should be askin’.”
I was about to ask him who I should talk to, but he finished stowing the basket in my trunk and turned to me. “How do you like livin’ with Hank?”
I wasn’t sure where this question was coming from, so I treaded carefully. “I love Hank. We seem to get along well.”
The light was dim, but I could still see him narrowing his gaze. “You’ve got yourself a boyfriend now. Why are you still livin’ here?”
I put my hand on my hip. “I think that’s between Hank and me.”
“You know how it looks with you livin’ with an old man? Just the two of you?”
So much for me getting information out of him. If he thought so little of me, there was no way he was going to give me anything useful. “If you think either of us cares about the way it looks, then you don’t know your friend very well and you obviously don’t know me. And if you think I’m after his supposed fortune, then you’re barkin’ up the wrong tree. There is no money. He may have had it at some point, but it’s gone now.”
Surprise flickered in his eyes at the mention of Hank’s supposed money, but I figured we might as well get that misconception out of the way.
“And I’m still living here with him,” I continued, “because while I have a boyfriend, I don’t want to leave Hank high and dry without any help, not that it’s any of your damn business.”
His face hardened. “I find it hard to believe some young sweet thing is livin’ with a grumpy old fucker like Hank for shits and giggles.”
I tilted my head, looking him square in the eye. “I might be able to forgive you for questioning my trustworthiness if you can explain to me why you’re actin’ like a good friend to him now, when I haven’t seen hide nor hair of you the entire time I’ve been living here.”
Anger tightened his jaw.
“I appreciate you looking out for Hank,” I added, “but I can assure you that I have no ulterior