Page 5 (1/2)

Unfortunately for her, after this stunt, I have to cut her loose

This doesn’t bother me I’ll send her a text when Tina leaves It was fun but it is what it is

I look at Tina and say, "I’ you trouble I would have cut her loose sooner"

Tina looks up at me ide eyes and responds, "I don’t want you to break up with your girlfriend because of irlfriend, just a casual acquaintance She was becoo"

"So," Tina frowns and purses her lips, "what do I do if she turns up at the store? I don’t want herback" She looks uneasy

I get up, walk over to the fridge and take out two sodas I sit back down and place one in front of her

Without even a thank you she opens it and sips like she’s been playing Uno with us for years I respond, "Leave that to ht away"

Nodding, she plays with the ring of her soda can and turns to check the time on the clock on the wall

She jumps up and yells, "Crudsickles! I’ve been here for an hour; I’ve got to get back" She looks around the table, sain soon"

Crudsickles?

She turns to ain, "Thanks Nik I appreciate it"

The guys watch her leave Well, they watch her ass sway as she leaves

Knuckleheads

Trick s to the door He declares, "I like her!"

Yeah…Me too

Chapter Four

I was just in the neighborhood

I wake up with a start

Sweat pours down my face, my stomach knots, andup, I place h bed

I haven’t woken like this in at least three ht, sometimes multiple tiital alarm clock on my bedside table 4:57 am

Fan-freakin-tastic

I don’t have to start getting ready for work for an hour and a half but I’hter and Mo Mia cry in the ht and would find

I really need you right now, Mos Coround, I was raised very affectionate I would never leave the house without giving boththe worst day ever, but a war seem okay Every time I was in a bad mood she would ask, "What’s the matter, Dušo?" and alwaysis my release I love to bake; ood Actually, good is an understatement My cupcakes are the bomb

You’re up now Get your butt out of bed Let’s get baking

I reach over and flingBuize to my sweetheart "Sorry Bear Come here, honey" He stretches and walks over me I pick him up and scratch him all over When I reach under his chin he purrs loudly and drools I chastise him softly, "E Bear, control yourself"

When Mia was a year old she spoke her first hich was cat As a reward for ot him from a shelter, he was really fat, but after months of diet cat food he was back in shape

Bear is a super sweet and very affectionate ( black blotches on his back, a co a black Zorro mask

I look down at et you some breakfast"

Bear walks beside me as I exit my room and make my way to the bathroom to brush my teeth and wash my face

I reach the kitchen, cover my mouth, and yawn

Bear is already on the kitchen counter doing so which can only be described as the Give Me Food dance He struts back and forth, purring loudly, bus Every now and then he looks back at ht?

I reach under the counter for one of his many bowls, put some wet food in it, and place it on the counter

He purrs while he eats I scratch his head and say in a cutesy voice, "A fancy feast for my fancy beast" I love Bear, he is the ideal cat I tell hiet baking"

Bear finishes his meal and jumps off the counter I wipe down the counter with disinfectant spray and go about getting anized

I place them all on the counter, whip up a chocolate mud batter, and divide it evenly between the patty pans

I pop them into the oven to bake and‘Working 9 to 5’ in the shower, loudly When I’m done, I step into the hall and the delicious smell of chocolate mud cake attacks my nostrils My mouth waters and I know one of those babies has my name on it for breakfast

As I walk into the kitchen, the oven bell dings

Perfect ti

I take them out of the oven, cover them with a tea towel and put them on the counter to cool

After, I heat cream on the stove top, not too hot I pour the warm cream over some semi-sweet chocolate and slowly stir I put it aside and wait for it to cool

Yum!

My stomach rumbles and I pat it

Soon, e for work I decide on a linen pants and blouse combo Add some heeled sandals and voila!

I scan my bathroom counter for my small bounty of makeup I don’t really wear a lot of irls, I’ll apply it a bit darker I never wear lipstick, only clear or lightly colored gloss I like the natural color ofat loss

A glance atthe cupcakes so I make my way over to the kitchen counter

There is so a piping bag, I carefully ice all 12 of thery at this point I take the wrapper off one of the cakes and shove the whole thing in

What on earth?

I’ when I answer the door There stand two ot about the ,a truck of furniture"

I nod but aer pointed up The universal signal for one minute, please

When I’ at the ot and have to be at work soon"

The other man looks at my mouth, clears his throat and speaks up, "I’m sorry ma’am but someone needs to be here for us to unload"

Darn it!

My brain goes Ping!

I get an idea I walk past the movers to the apartment next door and knock quietly

The door opens and I’e s back at her, I say, "Hi Molly! I need a really huge favor"

Molly looks down at ot chocolate all up in yo’ teeth!"