“If you say so.” The way Dan says it, and the way he raises his eyebrows, makes it clear he doesn’t believe Price at all. There’s a focused look in his eyes; if he ever meant anyone ill will, it might be considered predatory.

Dan’s much more dangerous than his gentle disposition suggests. He’s smart, good at picking up clues and identifying patterns, and it means he can smell sensitivity like a bloodhound, means he can piece together pictures of the people he’s around quickly and usually quite accurately. He’s had to be, to survive on the margins like he has. Maybe that’s why he’s so upset at Stacia and the others; Dan isn’t used to being surprised by people, isn’t used to misjudging, and it’s threatening to have done so.

So now he’s trying together a read on Price, and there are stakes if he’s wrong. Price has his good looks that he feels are vanishing; Dan feels uncertain about the emotional intelligence he’s always needed to stay alive.

“How’s your vodka?”