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I throw a chip into the center of the table, scowling at hirin in return

For the next hour or so, I focus on the ga She catches on pretty quickly and starts winning hands on her own She even takes the shots, but I cut her off at nuet trashed

"You’re really cutting her off?" Violet asks with a questioning look "Man, you er at her and ued, but I’oing to say, because it’llat the clock, I notice the ti to have to head out to the bar I hate the thought of bailing out on this relaxing night and entering a world that sends

I want to spend a bit ive her back the papers

Lacing h hers, I rise to my feet and pull her up with n to her "But I want to give you those papers back"

Swiftly nodding, she winds around the chair and follows me as I steer her out of the kitchen area and towardI wouldn’t do!" Luke calls out, and Violet cackles, so h Then I walk in behind her and close the door

"Sorry about that" I nod my head at the door "They just think they’re funny"

"It’s fine," she says, seeht not even understand what Luke meant by his unsubtle innuendo She walks aroundat the mattress and clothes on the floor, the few posters on the wall, and the record player and box of albums on the floor

She peers over her shoulder atas I wander over to the dresser "It’s okay It can soet really quiet around here, so I like to crank it on and create some kind of noise"

She crouches down in front of the box and starts ru over the titles I retrieve her papers out of my dresser drawer then sit down on the carpet beside her and stretch out s

I place the torn pieces of paper on the floor then lean forward to sign to her "The older albuave me when I first came home, but the new ones I collected frolances over her shoulder, and her eyes briefly trace the scars on rew up in foster homes until I was about sixteen, and then But, anyway, I didn’t start living with hteen" Please don’t let her ask about where I was during the two year gap or where the scars came from As sheltered as she is, I don’t think she could handle the truth very well

"How come… I mean, would it be rude if I asked why you were in a foster home if you have a dad?"