Ashley answered after three rings, saying, “I was going to call you” before he got a chance to speak.

“What about?” Ryan asked.

“About having lunch tomorrow before I head down to my parents’ place for Christmas.” Ashley’s family home was two doors down from his own.

“I can’t make tomorrow, but how about coffee?”

Ashley laughed. “You are always so busy. Coffee would be great. When?”

“How about now? You know the coffee shop a block from the office?”

“Of ...