At that moment he hesitated, then added, "What if… he wants to fix things?"
Jerry let out a breath, slow and heavy, but still didn't speak.
"I'm not saying forgive him," his friend said quickly. "I'm not even saying trust him. I just think, maybe, let him talk. Listen. Even if it's nothing, at least you'll know. But you reacting the way you did? It just gave him more power to spin it however he wants."
There was silence for a moment between them.
"And look," the man added with a faint chuckle, "I know you. You're as stubborn as they come. You're probably not even going to go. But still—I'm with you. Whatever you decide. I just thought you should know the facts."
At that moment, Jerry gave a small, bitter laugh through the phone and said, "I thought you were about to start slandering me again. Like, seriously, why would you even suggest something like that? That maybe he wants to fix things? Come on, you know better than that."
