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I look dohen he says that and realize I bluffedmy money back I didn’t ood about the jacks Didn’t think they’d be all I needed

"Thanks, boys It’s been a pleasure," I say, cashing out and putting the forty bucks back inthe cards into a pile and shuffling as I head to the door

"Oh hey, and Houston…Nate’s ga, and I think she’d like it if Paige came Just…if you can help that out a little," Ty says We exchange an understanding stare

"Yeah, I’ll work on it," I say

"Good Thanks Oh, and just a tip…that bluffing shit--" he pauses, holding the door open as I step outside onto the paveh it all--trust et anywhere"

I hold up my hand with my keys, eyes wide, and nod I don’t think I can really bluff Ty either I won’t pretend to

The trip in my car is silent I don’t even bother with the radio; I’m too consuht, wanting to send Paige a text that I was on hts out before I drove into the driveway I know it’s barely ten at night, but they both ht fro into the hallway upstairs, so I slip lide up as quietly as I can She usually stays aaiting for ht, but I kind of think she worries I won’t come home at all

"But what about the princess?" I hear Leah ask I’ to interrupt I turn the corner so ht The princess," Paige says She’s quiet for a few seconds, and I can hear the pages of the book turning Leah loves princesses--anything in a big dress with hair and glitter "How does this story usually go?"

"The mean witch locks Delilah up in the tower, and then the prince gets his friends together so they can save her, but when he gets there, the tower is scary, so all his friends leave, and he has to fight the witch and her dragon alone He kills theetPaige the entire princess book I sh at her enthusiasm over a story she’s heard no less than a hundred tirows heavy

"I’d like to tell you a different version, if that’s okay," she says

"What’s a version?" Leah asks I cover ainst it

"It’s sort of like, ho You kno you get up in theto wear? And maybe if you wear a dress, that s But what if you wore shorts instead?"

"I’d swing," Leah says excitedly, then whispers, "so ht, but ht s later Well ould happen if Delilah decided not to wait for the prince?" Paige asks

"Oh no!" Leah’s genuinely worried by this I’ainst the wall now, s bent up under my arms, careful not to be seen I don’t want to distract either of them

"Well maybe…oh no Or…maybe what Delilah decides--when the evil witch locks her up--is that she’s tired of being pushed around," Paige says I lay ainst my hands, so desperate for her version now

"Delilah is scared at first She’s never really been good at fighting Her dad always led the army And her arden and things like that So Delilah spends the first night alone, in the dark roo so, she realizes that nothing bad happened to her The dark was scary, but nothing happened She’s okay So she finds a slender piece of wood along the floor and uses it to pick the lock"