I will not ... hmmm ... sell Liz to you. That went out long before the lions stopped appearing,” Jeff said, with gritted teeth.“Well, the lions ar... back,” Patrick said as he looked at Liz. “Maybe it’s time some of the old ways came back as well. And I do know your response ... and you, of course, know my response.”“I do,” Jeff said.“You really think you can beat me?” Patrick asked.“Dad?” Liz asked.“Get out of my house,” Jeff said.Patrick smiled and stood up. “I’ll leave you to reconsider but if. ”“Is she still hitting on you?” Jessica asked.“Not as much because I’ve been taking Penny, Charlie, or Tasha with me. Carol is way more circumspect about it with the younger girls there. But she still does the touch-the-arm thing and the hair-flip thing. If Jesse weren’t so enamored with Francesca, I’d avoid her completely. Hopefully Bethany can have a positive effect.”“I’ve seen those moves with nurses and medical student flirting with doctors,” Jessica said. “Be careful.”“He is, Jess,” Kara. Trent was playing PlayStation, killing time before his art show opening. The apartment smelled like paint and Susan. Raine thought briefly about her suitcase. And her paintings. She’d left them stacked neatly in the corner of the bedroom but when she went to get them, they’d disappeared. She stared at the space where they’d been and her first bizarre thought was that the apartment had been burgled. But it made no sense. The only other person around was Trent and what would he want with them?“I. He'd frantically try to plead his case or put the blame back on Brad to justify his actions, and Ben always used to get the short end of the stick. This time, Ben's nostrils flared as he glared at his father."I was kicking Brad's ass," he said, his voice low and even.Ted's fists were on his hips. "Don't be insolent, Son. I gave you an order and I expect you to obey. I came home early to take care of some important business, and I need to get on with that. So explain yourself. NOW."Ben stood.