I’m an idiot. Please forgive me. Jake.” I found him hammering nails into a fence supposed to prevent Little Johnny escaping: a token gesture for insurance purposes. In reality, Little Johnny did exactly as he pleased, wherever he felt like doing it. Jake banged at the nails with as much enthusiasm as he might use to build his own coffin. I tapped him on the shoulder, making him slip and hit himself with the hammer. “Sorry!” He jerked around, biting back his curse when he saw who it was. “Don’t be.” He held out the hammer. “Here – take a swing. I deserve it.” I ignored the gesture, instead waving my hand toward his face where three angry red lines scored down his cheek. “I think I did enough damage yesterday.” Jake grasped hold of my hand. “I am really, really sorry, Marion. I never meant to upset you.” He grimaced. “I was actually trying to impress you. But now you know the truth: I am a complete loser.” “Woah. Don’t start feeling sorry for yourself.
