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aloud. He’s not smiling anymore.
    No. And he doesn’t like what Hoff is doing in this. Aside from Hoff being too out front after the deal goes down, there’s something Nick’s not telling him. Maybe that doesn’t matter. Maybe it does. As Trump says at least once a day, Who knows?
3
    There’s a hose in the basement, coiled up and dusty. That evening, as the heat of the day is starting to fade a little, Billy lugs it outside and hooks it up to the faucet bib on the side of the house. He’s standing on the front lawn, dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, spraying the grass, when a man comes over from next door. He’s tall, his own tee blinding white against very black skin. He’s carrying two cans of beer.
    â€œHi, neighbor,” he says. “Brought you a cold one to welcome you to the neighborhood. Jamal Ackerman.” He’s got both beers in one big hand and holds out the other.
    Billy shakes. “David Lockridge. Dave. And thanks.” He twists the hose shut. “Come on inside. Or we can sit out on the steps. I haven’t really got the place sorted out yet.” No need of the dumb self here; in Midwood he can be a more regular self.
    â€œPorch steps’ll do fine,” Jamal says.
    They sit. They open the cans: fsst . Billy tips his to Jamal’s and says, “Thanks.”
    They drink. They survey the lawn.
    â€œIt’ll take more than water to bring that mess back,” Jamal says. “I’ve got some Miracle-Gro, if you want to use some. They had a BOGO deal at the Wally World Garden Center last month and I have plenty.”
    â€œI might take you up on that. I’m planning a trip to Wally World myself. I might get a couple of chairs for the porch. But probably not until next week. You know how it is, new place and all.”
    Jamal laughs. “Do I ever. This is the third house we’ve lived in since I got married in ’09. First one was her mom’s.” He pretends to shiver. Billy smiles. “Got two kids, ten and eight. Boy and a girl. When they bug you, cause they will, holler them back home.”
    â€œIf they don’t break the windows or light the place on fire, they won’t bug me.”
    â€œYou buying or renting?”
    â€œLeasing. I’ll be here awhile, don’t know just how long. I’m… it’s a little embarrassing to come right out and say it, but I’m writing a book. Trying, anyway. Looks like there’s a chance I can get it published, might even be some real money in it, but I’ll have to buckle down. I’ve got an office in town. The Gerard Tower? At least I think I do. I’m going to look at it tomorrow.”
    Jamal’s eyes have gotten very wide. “An author! Living right here on Evergreen Street! I’ll be goddamned!”
    Billy laughs and shakes his head. “Easy, big fella. I’m just a wannabe for now.”
    â€œStill, man! Wow. Wait ’til I tell Corinne. We gotta have youover to dinner some night. We’ll be able to tell people we knew you when.”
    He holds up a hand. Billy slaps him five. You get along with people without buddying up to them , Nick said. It’s true and it’s not a shuck. Billy likes people, and he likes to keep them at arms’ length. It sounds like a contradiction, but it’s not.
    â€œWhat’s it about, your book?”
    â€œCan’t tell you.” This is where the editing begins. Giorgio may think he knows it all from reading a few writers’ magazines and online posts, but he doesn’t. “Not because it’s a big secret or something, but because I’ve got to keep it bottled up. If I start talking about it…” He shrugs.
    â€œYeah, man, got it.” Jamal smiles.
    And so, yeah. Just like that.
4
    That night Billy browses Netflix on the big TV in the rumpus room. He knew it was a thing these days but has never bothered to investigate it when there are so many