Just like he figured, this wasn’t something Vance could spit out an answer to right away. He sat there for a good half minute, eyes locked on Ashley, weighing his words like he was balancing them on a scale. Both of them knew—without saying it—that this wasn’t about honesty. Not for Vance, anyway.

Ashley was just about ready to roll her eyes from waiting when he finally spoke. “Because you’re my friend.”

Her gaze dropped to the plate in front of her, expression tangled in ...