“You asleep?”
“No,” Bill said. “I was thinking.”
I shut my eyes. It felt good lying on the ground.
“Say,” Bill said, “what about this Brett business?”
“What about it?”
“Were you ever in love with her?”
“Sure.”
“For how long?”
“Off and on for a hell of a long time.”
“Oh, hell!” Bill said. “I’m sorry, fella.”
“It’s all right,” I said. “I don’t give a damn any more.”
“Really?”
“Really. Only I’d a hell of a lot rather not talk about it.”
“You aren’t sore I asked you?”
“Why the hell should I be?”
“I’m going to sleep,” Bill said. He put a newspaper over his face.
“Listen, Jake,” he said, “are you really a Catholic?”
“Technically.”
“What does that mean?”
“I don’t know.”