“I used to take swimming lessons from him when I was a half-turn,” Austin chimed in. “Man, how long ago was that? Six years?”
“How old are you?” I asked.
“Twenty-four,” he said. “How old are you? Like seventeen?”
“I’m twenty-two, asshole.”
Adam snickered, likely remembering the jab I’d taken at him earlier for the same reason.
“For real? How the hell are you a twenty-two-year-old half-turn? Isn’t that shit supposed to happen during puberty?” He let out a dickish chuckle. “You just now going through puberty?”
My face got hotter. “Fuck off.”
“You look like you’re still in high school.”
“That’s kinda hot.” Roscoe shoved me playfully. “Gives me an idea for our little business.”
“You’re crossing a really creepy line right now,” I said, scooting away.
“You’re forgetting how puny you used to be,” Darryl said, grabbing his scratched-up cell phone from the table. “He was the town twink. Let me see if I can find a picture.”
Austin slammed his fist on the table. “I thought you fucking deleted that!”
Darryl kept scrolling, and his ears pressed against his head. “I may have, actually. Shit.”
The other werewolf grinned smugly before leaning back in his chair. “I may have been puny, but the marines made a man out of me. Well, not exactly a man.”
“Wait,” I interrupted. “I thought you said you weren’t in the military.”
The werewolf went silent and continued eating.
“Way to blow your cover in the dumbest way possible,” Adam said. “This is why we’re being evicted, by the way.”
“Why? Because he was in the marines?”
“No, because he went AWOL, and they’ve been looking for his ass. That’s why I couldn’t list him on the state contract. I didn’t know that until after he gave me this stupid chain.”
Darryl sighed. “How long do you have?”
“A week, maybe. I don’t know what I’m going to do. If Austin and I get separated, I lose my chance to not end up a bum on the street when I turn.”
“You’re a trust fund kid, so what the fuck do you have to worry about?” Austin snapped. “I didn’t get to make a kuu with a werewolf back then, and this is my last chance.”
“That’s not my fault.”
“Why did you go AWOL?” I asked, breaking up their argument.
Austin sat back in his chair and slapped his chest. “You know what I enjoy doing the most in life? Living. That’s why I left.”
“But there aren’t any wars right now.”
“Listen. I don’t wanna get into this shit but just know there’s a reason werewolves shouldn’t join the military. Lesson learned.”
I turned to Adam. “Do you lose your income, too?”
“Thankfully, no.”
“You guys should move in with us,” Roscoe blurted.
