CHAPTER 120

Their hour with the kids flew by. Eric had more energy than all twenty kids put together. On their way out the door, Eric pounded Jace on the shoulder. “Let’s go grab a beer or two. What do you say?”

Jace smiled. Was he finally making that elusive connection with Eric? “Yeah. Sounds great.”

Two beers turned into ten or twelve. Jace lost count. Being a quiet drunk, Jace stared into his magically refilling mug while Eric chattered enough for five people with everyone in shouting distance. He kept himself and half the bar entertained. Jace wasn’t sure that Eric was even aware of his presence. He wondered what Aggie was up to. Three weeks was long enough to let his pain fester. Maybe he’d drop in on her the next day. Assuming he didn’t die of alcohol poisoning or asphyxiate on his own vomit in the night.

“You drunk, yet?” Eric asked near midnight.

Jace closed one eye to get rid of the three or four extra Erics in his line of sight. “Define drunk.”

“Wanna go get a tattoo with me?”

Jace nod