Inhabited Read Online Free Page B

something.”
    “Water.”
    “Two drink minimum for dudes.”
    “I’m driving,” Justin said. He held up his house key as a prop.
    The bartender shot him a disgusted look and disappeared.
    “Hey!” Leslie yelled. “You were amazing!”
    Justin turned around and smiled. Kristin approached, wiping imaginary sweat off her brow.  
    “Was it okay? You think?”
    “Yeah,” Leslie said. “You were great.”
    “Hey,” Justin said, inserting himself into their conversation.
    “Oh! Hey,” Kristin said. She automatically looked past him to see who else was there. He might have been acting casual about it tonight, but everyone knew that Carlos was jealous. None of his friends approached Kristin without Carlos around. It was messed up, but she seemed to accept the arrangement.  
    “I left the guys outside so they wouldn’t get in trouble in here. We’re looking for your help to go talk to Joy.”
    “You mean those guys?” Kristin asked. She pointed over Justin’s shoulder.
    Down the bar, Justin spotted his friends. Ryan was waving his arms frantically and talking way too close to some guy who looked very annoyed. Miguel was leaning halfway over the bar, probably describing some infinitely complex cocktail to the patient bartender. Travis was engaged in a deep conversation with several women who were clumped around him.
    “They look like they’re doing fine,” Kristin said.
    Justin didn’t even have time to comment before the situation exploded. The guy that Ryan was annoying suddenly took a swing at him. Meanwhile, Travis had said something to the women. They all began to push him towards the door.
    “Shit,” Justin said. He turned back to Kristin. “Can you come with us to Joy’s house?”
    She nodded and took one more sip of her drink.
    Justin had to fight his way upstream against the crowd that was forming. They seemed to want someone’s blood and they were focused on Justin’s friends.

    -o-o-o-o-o-

    “Wait up,” Leslie said.  
    They were back on the street, walking the blocks between the bar and Joy’s place.
    She was trailing the group. There was one positive thing about Leslie tagging along—with her in the rear, Ryan didn’t lag at all. Leslie had a crush on Ryan and he didn’t want any part of it. With her behind the group, Ryan led the way.
    “I should get her home,” Kristin said. “Let’s stop on the way.”
    Justin nodded.
    “You know,” Travis said. “We can go talk to Joy. You don’t have to come along. Brit might not even be home, you know? Doesn’t he usually work on his car on Friday night?”
    “It’s okay,” Kristin said. “I don’t mind. In fact, I was thinking about tagging along with you guys. I love exploring places, especially underground.”
    “No offense,” Miguel said, “but you’ve been drinking. I don’t think it would be the best idea for you to go stumbling around an old mine. No offense.”
    “What about him?” Kristin asked. She pointed to Ryan. He seemed okay at the moment, but it hadn’t been long since he had been swatting at imaginary bats that he claimed were trying to lay eggs in his hair.
    Justin nodded. He turned to Miguel. “She has a point. Maybe we should ditch Ryan at your place.”
    “No way,” Miguel said. “We’d come back to find a Ryan-shaped spot on the floor once Vince was done with him.”
    “We know too many assholes,” Justin said.
    Kristin nodded.
    Several paces ahead, Ryan turned around. “What’s that?”
    Kristin, Miguel, and Justin shared a laugh.
    Travis had lagged behind. He caught up quickly when Leslie started to advance on him. She had a sturdy, even pace that belied how drunk she was. It was dangerous to get too close to Leslie when she was drunk. She got grabby.
    “Someday I’m going to buy a great big car and we’re going to drive everywhere with the air conditioning on full-blast,” Travis said.
    “You might need to get a job first,” Miguel said.
    “Nope,” Travis said. “I’m going to