Page 73 (1/2)

I shove it "What are you doing here?"

"Kitchen Now"

I follow her back, dragging h the back door into the alley between the diner and the gas station

"What was that?"

"Just … goofing off"

She throws her hands up in the air "We can’t afford to goof off!"

I foldpaid So goofing off is about all I can afford"

"Ay, Maria, we’ve talked about this We’re a faoes into the same account, so--"

"We haven’t talked about it! We never talk about anything What do you need all my money for? So you can live in a crappy, nowhere town, in a crappy, freezing duplex, with your crappy, tightwad boyfriend Yeah, Maet it" I turn away fro over the stove so intently I’m positive he heard every word

Myto Ben about his weird food supplies requests He convinced her to go along with it I guess he can afford to goof off Meanwhile, she ignored oing hoed to save Angel left ht, which still blows myevery day, and that’s all I have to show for it

I turn around to find Ben, yellow bucket filled with hot, soapy water He squeezes the excess out of the ets started without a word With his help, the restaurant is clean in record ti supplies back into the closet

I hang up my uniform "I’m still mad at you I should have won that bet"

He pulls out a tray of cookies "Eggnog-chocolate-chip peace offering?"

"Followladder is bolted to the side of the building We climb up to the diner’s flat roof I show Ben where to step to avoid tripping on the peeling tarpaper as we make our way toward the tn chairs that Candy and I hauled up years ago She hasn’t been here with es

The last time I cliht shift for overti bySo I cas around ht is cold Our breath fogs out in front of us During the day it’s warht the desert temperature drops We sit, and Ben passes ht bursts of chocolate, with the crea