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“Whatever we do, we can’t let them get back on stage,” Duncan said to Izel when Orion was out of earshot.
Izel winced. “It was like hearing a cat dying. No pun intended, cheetah.”
Duncan burst out laughing. “You’re actually a pretty cool guy.”
“I try.” Izel grinned as Orion returned with their drinks.
“Since I’m balling on a budget, Hayden opened a tab under your name, Duncan.” Orion set the drinks on the table. “Now scootch over so I can sit. Being up there singing made me hot.” Then he looked at Izel. “Do you have any money, or are reapers as broke as I am?”
“We have no need for worldly possessions,” Izel said.
“Then where do you chill?” Orion asked, taking a sip of Izel’s water. “Is there a reaper motel in some remote place on earth?”
“No.” Izel shook his head, but Duncan could tell he was enjoying Orion’s questions. “We simply exist. No bathroom needs, no hunger, no debt.”
“But you ate breakfast with us this morning,” Duncan pointed out.
“And thoroughly enjoyed it. We can eat. We just don’t have to.”
“Why do you switch between contractions and long-form words?” Orion asked. “I’ve noticed that.”
“Most of the time I am speaking the way we did when I was alive, and the contractions, most of them, are from listening to people talk over the past two thousand years.”
“Ah.” Orion nodded. “I visited my aunt in the south once, came back talking with a drawl. It drove my mom crazy until I finally let it drop.”
“I bet you were a cute kid,” Duncan said.
“I was twenty,” Orion replied. “I see Santee heading back toward the stage. I’m gonna join him.”
“No!” Duncan cleared his throat. He hadn’t meant to yell the word. “I was just enjoying our conversation.” He nuzzled Orion’s neck, softly purring. “What say we get out of here and make our own music?”
“After one more song.” Orion sighed, leaning into Duncan. “We’re gonna sing ‘I Want to Dance with Somebody’ by Whitney Houston.”
Duncan froze. There was no way he could let his mate slaughter that song, plus there were too many high notes that just might shatter his eardrums. “That’s not a duo song.”
“I could get pulled away at any time,” Izel said when he leaned closer. “Why don’t we head back to Duncan’s?”
“Ugh, fine.” Orion downed his shot of vodka. “Let’s go, old men.”
“Old?” Duncan narrowed his eyes.
“I’m not even twenty-one,” Izel reminded them. “I died a day before my birthday.”
“Then you shouldn’t be in a bar.” Duncan stood. “Let’s go.”
“But he’s drinking water,” Orion pointed out.
Duncan grabbed Orion’s hand, pulling him from the booth. Beckett smirked at Duncan, as if he knew why Duncan was hauling ass out of the bar.
When they were outside, Orion sucked in a deep breath of air. “You don’t realize how hot and sweaty a place is until you come outside.”
Duncan agreed.
“If you don’t sleep, how come you slept so peacefully next to me?” Orion asked as they walked to the parking lot.
Duncan shook his head. “Do you ever run out of questions for Izel?”
“I haven’t even scratched the surface.” Orion spun around, walking backward as he smiled at them. “Why, does my curiosity bother you?”
