“That said, I’m afraid I’m gonna have to ask you to leave. Joe can see you at school, but he isn’t allowed to go anywhere or have anyone over for the next month.”

A cold chill filtered up from my guts. I knew Mark well enough now to see his frustration at Mom’s comment in the little wrinkles around his eyes. If Mark couldn’t come over to see Joe, I’d have a hard time seeing him. His brother, Mason, would make being at his house impossible. The cold chill boiled to steam at the unfairness of not seeing Mark because Joe was a horn dog.

“Sure, I understand,” Mark mumbled...