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“Viper doesn’t dance”

She put her hands on her hips and pursed her lips together “But Viper talks about hi as he’s not dancing”

Rolling her eyes, she grabbedle”

“Bullshit,” I teased “It’s a lot of pressure You have to wiggle to the beat of theat you”

“Since when does Viper not like people staring at hih the songs on the jukebox

I took a couple dollars out of my pocket and slid thele to the music very well”

Michelle punched a couple of buttons on the jukebox and turned to face ainst theabout your sexual conquests and howfreaks you out?”

“Yeah, it freaks me out!” I defended playfully “I fuck in the dark and most of the time, hopefully, she has her eyes closed So if I make a stupid face or ”

“Speaking of sexual conquests…” She craned her neck to look overher stare Portland was at our table with a big round tray carrying all the drinks

I turned back to Michelle “What? Portland? I’ve never fucked her”

“But you’ve wanted to”

“Hell yes”

“Why?”

“She’s hot Scorching fucking hot”

“Really?” Lifting up onto her tippy toes to get a better look at Portland, she took a deep breath and puffed her cheeks out

“Why are you asking? Where is this co froether for nine I haven’t dated since I was practically her age, and I’ in love—” She paused, her eyes lowering sadly to the floor “—and soain”

I didn’t respond

I didn’t kno to respond

I just stared at her as the guilt flooded overit damn near impossible for ain one day, and it was my fault

“So anyway,”—she cleared her throat and lifted her face back towhat aled at herself, the corners of her eyes sparkled… andon a bass dru o away

Your own fault, Michelle That’s what you get for over in years Actually, I couldn’t even remember the last time, and when I tried hard to think about it, the rooood day to sleep in, so I was able to snuggle in bed with Matthew a little longer than usual

“Mom over and over as my son slowly came into focus His face was only a couple inches froe blue eyes His father’s eyes “Yes, sweetheart?” I asked as I rubbed his soft cheek withI can’t hear the Ninja Turtles”

“Sorry, baby” I rolled over to face the other way, sht on rabbed it and slid the lock across the screen blinking against the brightness of it My daily text ?

I noticed he’d sent it an hour earlier at quarter to seven, so I decided against my typical thanks-but-no-thanks text