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I spend the rest of theclothes that got dusted yesterday Once I’m sure the items are like new I place them back on display

Lola and I chat I ask her about Trick and what’s new

She responds, "I’ on with Trick Just when I think he’s going to make a move, he stops And I’’s holding hihtful Nik told me Trick moved back in with his Mo to do with her Maybe she’s sick? I don’t want to make assumptions to Lola and freak her out so I stroke her pretty brown hair and utter, "Be patient, honey Trick isn’t a player There must be a reason"

She nods and replies sourly, "Hope he’s worth waiting for" She looks at me and immediately softens "Because I will, you know? I’ll wait" She lowers her head and nods as if reassuring herself "For Trick, I’ll wait"

I squeeze her shoulder and et there I see an olderhis chest and using his bowler hat to fan hi to faint!

I run to the staff rooe and snatchout the door I run into traffic usingto help someone; luckily the cars stop

I reach the short, African American man just as he’s about to fall I put my arainst The White Rabbit

I quickly ask, "Are you okay?" I open the water and hand it to hi hands, drinks a little and replies breathily, "Oh, thank you, child It seems the sun has it out for me today"

My heart slows its pace and I plop down next to the old man

I open up my stash of raspberry bullets and hold it out to him He raises a brow but takes one and pops it into his mouth

With the candy at the side of his e his shoulder slightly and reply a little over excitedly, "Me, too!"

Bonding with an old e me

He chuckles but quickly fir over here, child Best not be doing that again"

I nod and reply, "Sorry, I’d pro down the way you were, I probably would"

I hold out a hand to him and say, "I’m Tina"

For some reason, his face looks stunned for a moment

He covers it quickly, takes my hand and replies, "Jer over candy and water on a dirty sidewalk

This is how good friendships start

I’m just about to ask Jermaine to come to the store for coffee when I hear, "Uncle Jer wide eyed at the two of us

Oh, Crudsickles

This sweet old , bad Uncle Jerm of the Sixes? How can that be?

My face must show ain he chuckles

He looks up at Max and replies, "Was just co to see my boy Nik Felt a little dizzy when superwoman over here flew in and saved me" He shuffled sideways and takes my hand in both of his "You knohen people told ht a woman is a woman" He kisses one of et it You a special type of wolad to have met you It was an honor and all my pleasure Be sure of that"

My throat thickens

That’s one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me I don’t kno to respond I just open and close my mouth like a fish out of water

Uncle Jerm smiles at me and hold his hands up to Max He says, "Help an old man up, son"

Max helps Uncle Jerm up and holds his arm with one hand Then he holds out his other arm to me and I use it to pull myself up

I dust et back to work"

I kiss Max on the cheek then do the same to Uncle Jerm I knoho he is but I feel we have a connection after today’s incident I’ and kisses it

Then I waltz back over to the store leaving Max s his head

Chapter Twenty-Three

Attack of the She-Devil

Poker night has turned into board ga too much money to Ghost who has a supreme Poker face and no tell whatsoever

Max, Ghost, and Lola sit at the dining table asking the others if anyone else wants to play I see Nat raise her hand and walk over to the table

Uh oh

I don’t even try to hide my worry

I walk over to Max and speak softly, "Are you sure you want to play with her?"

Max looks confused and replies ,"Sure, T We’re a player short"

I raise , drawn out, "Ooookaaay" Then I lean closer and whisper, "Don’t say I didn’t warn ya"

Ithis with reat because she doesn’t give in easily when I whoop her butt

Nik, Trick, and Miather around me as I deal We all take our cards and play

Nik tries to cuddle ive him a don’t even think about it look that h because he raises his brows, puts up his hands in surrender and backs away

Shit alot serious

We play three rounds I win the first two and I’m actually happy when Meeround saying, "You want a piece ofMimi seems a lot happier these days

Just as I juame sucks"

Oh poop!

Ghost smirks at her and responds, "No You suck"

Why, oh why, Ghost?! Don’t taunt the bull!

Nat stands and leans toward him over the table I see her eye twitch

That can’t be good

She whispers in eerie calm, "Oh yeah?"

Ghost doesn’t even look at her when he replies a firm, "Yeah"

Nat picks up the board and throws it across the room It hits the wall and bits and bobs fly everywhere Then she stands and walks coolly to the sofa where she plops down and says sullenly, "I’m bored"

I s Ghost, and a pissed Lola

I say sweetly, "I told you so"

Max nods his head and says, "Game over, Red Rover"

"Daddy?"

I look to theher way to the kitchen for a glass of water for Ceecee

S to myself, I think about how perfect aBecause on’t ever experience that together

Max watches Tina with a small smile