Sleepover V

"Yeah," Tad answered, half expecting some kind of reaction. No one even blinked.

"Cool, he's been lonely," Dave said, then leaned over to whisper. "Fair warning, don't mention Richard."

Tad was feeling a little bewildered, but nodded anyway. "So you guys all go to school here?"

"Yeah, don't you?" asked Wallis.

"Next year," Tad said and took another sip of beer.

"Yo Dunc," Tiny yelled. "When'd you start robbin' the cradle, man?"

There was a laugh from the kitchen. "That's it, I'm spittin' in your plate."

Tiny reached over to playfully punch Tad's arm. "Then I'm swappin' with Fresh Meat, here. He'll appreciate your sauce more than I will."

Tad grinned at the laughter, amazed that he'd been accepted so easily by Duncan's friends. If he ever brought Duncan to meet his friends it wouldn't be anything like this.

Tad's phone rang, so he dug it out of his pocket to see who it was. Mark's name made his stomach clench, but he didn't want to avoid him. Stepping down the hallway for a little priv