Chapter 33

“What’s the game you’re playing?”

“This.” He showed Tristan the screen full of numbers of different colors.

“And how does thiswork?”

“You slide and add and slide and add and slide and add, until you have big numbers in every square.”

“And you’re good at this?” Tristan leaned in closer, happy to share a precious moment with this sweet kid.

Pip smiled and laughed. “Nope.”

Tristan stared at Pip for a moment. “How long have you been sitting out here, Pip?”

“Dunno.”

“Are they fighting?”

Pip bit his lip and shrugged again. “Look.” He showed him the screen again. “Thirty-two is green and sixty-eight is orange.”

“Cool.” Tristan’s heart beat faster. He was dying to know what the hell was going on at Rain’s place. He stood and put his hand on Pip’s shoulder. “I’m glad you’re sitting in my chair.”

Pip played on, his expression changing, until he was completely absorbed by his world again. Then he looked up. “Can I play Little Big Planet?”