Page 20 of Bears Behaving Badly
“Pretty weird date,” Dev commented, looking askance at David.
“Agreed,” David replied. “Not to mention major-league illegal.”
Annette managed to keep the aggrieved shriek behind her teeth. “This is not a date. David and Iare not dating.”
“Uh-huh.” Then: “TheDev Devoss?” Pat grinned. “You’re famous around here. I never thought I’d get to meet you.”
“I am?” Delighted, he turned to Annette. “You talk about me at home?”
“I have nightmares about you at home.”
“I dunno how to feel about that,” the boy confessed.
“Well, ponder. Now, as I was explaining, they’re going to be staying… Wait.” She turned to David. “You don’t have to stay here, you know.”
“Disagree. People are trying to run you over.”
“Again?” Pat yelped.
Annette ignored the interruption. “People are also trying to runyouover.”
David shrugged off the attempted vehicular homicide on his person. “And Devoss is gonna be a handful.”
“A handful of sunshine, you bet!” Dev said with what he probably thought was a winning smile but mostly just showed his teeth.
“Anyway. Pat. It’s only for a couple of days, and I’m sorry about the inconve—”
“I don’t give a shit about the inconvenience. This is your house, and you can host the Timberwolves if you want, but who the hell tried to run you over?”
“That’s the question.”
“You didn’t lose another bet, did you?” Pat asked.
“No, thank goodness.”
Meanwhile, Dev had inched closer until the only thing separating him from Pat was the kitchen island, nostrils flaring as he feigned interest in all the orange carcasses. Pat enjoyed watching the boy’s confusion for a few seconds, then said, “Help you with something?”
“No. No, I’m fine.”
“Reeeeeeally?”
“Pat,” she warned. She was fond of her eccentric roommate, but he did like to play with his food.
“It’s just, uh, your scent.”
Pat leaned in, blinking long eyelashes. “Yessssss? You think it’s offensive?”
“No! No, I just can’t figure it out is all,” Dev confessed.
“Which makes you nervous.”
“No.” He paused and considered. “Kinda.”
“No surprise. It makes adults nervous, too.”
“Is that why you… Never mind. It’s nobody’s business.”
She had to give Dev credit. She had never known the kit to deny himself a question before, even if it would land him in considerable difficulty.
