Page 43 of Dakota

That sounded weird.

“Maybe he just doesn’t have any.” I thoughtit was logical…somewhat, at least, but Austin started giggling.

“He’s just too young for skeletons.” Thatslightly slurred comment had everyone looking at him.

Including me.

“Huh?” The math wasn’t working right in myhead, but he had to be in his early thirties, right?

Austin giggled again. “When you’re onlytwenty-two there’s only so much shit you could’ve gotten up to. Unless you’reme, of course.”

Jonah was nodding. “Yes, you’re not likeregular people.”

Was Tristan regular people?

Wait…

“How old is he?” I washowmucholder than him?

Austin laughed so hard he slid right offthe chair then looked around, startled. Before he could start lecturing thefurniture again, I threw a pillow at him.

I couldn’t remember where it came from, butit was handy.

“Stay focused. How old is he?” I needed tostart either drinking more at these things or less.

Austin was looking around at the floor likeit was getting ready to bounce him back up to the chair. He was slightlywobbly, so I couldn’t decide if his face thought that was a good idea or not.Knowing him, he would have probably found it exciting.

“Austin.” Damned drunk. “How old is he?”

The drunk tease looked up. “Who?”

I definitely needed another drink. Stealingthe shot in front of Wade because he was already so giggly he wouldn’t notice,I drank it in one smooth motion.

That was much better.

The fire that raced through me dulled moreof the insanity I seemed to be surrounded with, but it wasn’t enough to make meforget what we were doing. “How old is Tristan?”

Austin’s head bobbed back and forth, makingthe room spin. “Stop that.”

“Stop what?” His body swayed again. “Do youknow how to stop the room from moving?”

“Less booze.”

“Fuck that, then.” He gave the floor a patand looked over at Wade. “We just need to get Wade a more stable place to live.I’m going to talk to Silas about that. He’s very helpful.”

Wade nodded. “Oh yes, he’s very helpful. Ibet he’ll fix the floor.”

“Or he’ll find someone to help. He knowseveryone.” Austin’s tangent was making it hard to remember why I needed to stayon track.

Were they always this hard to talk to? Ihad a feeling I hadn’t been paying enough attention on booze nights. “How oldis Tristan?”

Austin huffed. “Why are you so loud?”

That was it.

I sent another pillow flying.

Why did I have a pile of decorative pillowsaround me?