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“What’s up?” I say, wincing when my voice cracks.

“You know what’s fucking up,” he mutters. He’s looming over my station, over me, holding my cart so he can get right in my face. “I suggest you go take a cold fucking shower, Kit. And if I ever see you look at Tink like that again, I’ll cut your dick off.”

He all but shoves the cart at me and stalks off.

And I can’t say I blame him.

Because it’s not just that she’s a girl. Not just that the sight alone of her all dolled up has me popping a boner like a hormonal lunatic.

It’s more that…

It’s more that I want to do things to her that I’ve never done before.

To anyone.

And that scares me.

CHAPTER 15

FOX

ALL RIGHT, IDIOT, DON’T MESS THIS UP.

I shrug my shoulders back in the bathroom mirror and take a good hard look at myself.

I found a shirt with a collar that’s somehow clean, a pair of jeans that aren’t too ripped or dirty, and the shiner I got at the greyhound track is a nice yellow-green now.

Do I look like someone who’d be willing to waste a lot of money in a casino?

I tilt my head at myself. Hard to say.

I just want to get it right, make the right impression—on them, I add mentally. On the casino people…or whoever. That’s all. I swallow the steamy shower air in the bathroom that’s thick against my dry throat and lean in a little closer. Should I floss? I wonder, rubbing my chin. Shave?

God, I’m as nervous as if this is a real date. At least I think I am. I’ve never really been on a real date. Certainly not dressed like this. But⁠—

“Fox?” I hear a voice, her voice, from out in the hall, and cough in spite of myself. “Yeah,” I call back, a little hoarsely. “Be right there.” I stick my tongue in my cheek and give my reflection another once-over. Take another deep breath of body-wash-scented air. Feel the weight of the folded bills in my pocket.

You’ve got this, I tell myself. Be cool, be normal. If you look nervous, she’ll be able to tell you’re nervous—I mean, they’ll be able to tell, and that’s no good. I grin at my reflection. And then immediately grimace, because the hell kind of corny crap is that? It’s not putting anyone at ease, least of all myself.

Resigned, I push open the bathroom door. And almost walk right into my brother. “Oh hey,” Kit says. “Sorry, I was just—” He looks me up and down.

“Yeah?” I say, hunching my shoulders a little. “How’s it, uh…” I spread my arms a little. “How’s it look?”

“Yeah, yeah, good. Great,” Kit says. “You’re gonna do fine.”

He barely glances at me. Seems…distracted. Is something up? I wonder. Immediately, my mind races to all the things that could be bothering Kit: something with Wendy, something with Blue, a bad client, a bad day, even just a bad memory. Any of those could make him⁠—

I could stay behind. I’m sure we could reschedule. If he needs me. I could just hang out with him until he calms down, make sure he doesn’t spiral into⁠—

“Here.” Kit’s dug something out of his pocket, which he presses into my hand.

I look down, confused, and see that it’s a stack of bills. “Huh?” I frown at him. “What’s that?”

“Just for the tables,” Kit mutters, not really meeting my eyes.

“I’ve got cash,” I remind him, and I wince at how whiny my voice sounds. “Remember? That was the whole thing. I don’t need⁠—”

“Yeah, I know. Just—” Kit lifts his shoulders and stuffs his hands in his pockets. “Just take care of her. That’s all.”