Page 22 (1/2)

“You should have shoes on,” he said, picking a slow, lilting melody

I didn’t answer A second chair sat a few feet away frouitar by the neck as he reached out to drag the chair closer I eased into it, aware of his tension, his hand waiting to reach out help me

“How’s the foot?” He lifted the bottle to his lips, took a long sip, then handed it to me

“Hurts” I took a hesitant sip Whiskey burned hing

Colton chuckled “Jameson Irish Whiskey, baby The best whiskey there is” He reached down to the other side of the chair, and handed me a beer “Here Chase it with that”

I took it and cracked the tab, sipped “Trying to get ed “You can always say no”

“Does it help?” I asked

He sipped froh yet” He took another shot from the Jameson “I’ll let you know”

“Maybe I’ll find out on ot the alcohol froe”

“What alcohol?” I took another fiery slug frouilt and grief didn’t dissipate, but it did seeht of the whiskey

“If you don’t drink much, I’d hold off on anymore It tends to sneak up on you”

I handed the bottle back and clutched the cold beer can in my fist “How do you know I’uess I don’t know for sure But you’re not”

“How can you tell?”

“You’re a good girl Kyle wouldn’t have dated a party girl” He lifted his hips up and dug in his jeans pocket for his shter “Besides, your reaction when you took the first shot told ot haht But hangovers always suck” He blew a plu into the starry sky

We sat in silence for awhile, and Colton kept drinking I let the buzz roll overwith a second beer

“You can’t hold it in forever,” Colton said, apropos of nothing

“Yes I can” I had to

“You’ll go crazy It’ll come out, one way or another”

“Better crazy than broken” I wasn’t sure where that caht it or ” He stood up unsteadily and strolled to the edge of the dock I heard a zipper, then the sound of urination