Page 63 (1/2)

"Heyyou okay?"

"Are you a dickface?" His voice is a rasp, which htness in my throat spread down to my chest

I notice he's holding a Solo cup in one hand "Is it good to drink tonight?"

He takes a sip "You should tell me This is root beer"

I give hio"

"Fuck you, Ezra"

"Yeah, yeah Wish you could" I step closer to hi you You’re really obvious"

"Oh yeah How is that?" He shuts his eyes and leans the back of his head against the spine of the couch I feel bad abouthi him with Arnie like a jealous boyfriend

"It's just obvious topool, but you were sitting down a lot of the time otherwise Your face is tired When you so home"

He ht, Dad?"

"Daddy's here to take you home, kid"

His eyes holdinto onna take me"

"Arnie?" I ask

"Maybe"

My chest feels like so it "Well, is he?"

"Might be"

"He’s a fucker if he hasn't followed you in here" Then a worse thought hitsfor him?"

"No" He rubs his head Now thatto the dark, I can confirm he looks exhausted

I hold a hand out for hio”

"I don’t need your hand" He gets to his feet

"You want to meet me outside? You need to say bye to anybody? Arnie Warnie?"

He shoots me a fuck-off look "I’m ready now"

As we say bye to everybody in the living area, I notice Arnie's eyes on DG, who's telling the others he isn't feeling well

I step outside first, and I feel him behind me half a second later

As we pass Greene, he says, "You leaving me?"