“I’m just going home.”
“Sure you are,” Stud mocked.
“I wouldn’t do that,” Cade advised. “That’s how Looney ended up on the floor.”
“He turning into Shade?”
Calder left before his brother could provoke a fight. When they were younger, they used to go at it to see who could beat the other’s ass. He had no intention of not being able to ride his bike if they ever managed to figure out their last clue.
He kept telling himself he was riding home, but when he put on his blinker to turn toward Sex Piston’s shop, he knew he had lied to himself.
The lot was almost empty, except for Sex Piston’s and Crazy Bitch’s cars, and a middle-sized bus.
When he cut off his motor, he could hear music drifting from the building next to the beauty shop.
Calder frowned. The sign in the window of the beauty shop glowed that it was closed. Had they left to go run around with Fat Louise, Killyama, or T.A. and had left their cars there? Maybe they were still inside and just turned on the sign?
Curious, he went to the shop, seeing through the window that, unless they were out back, the shop was empty.
Drawn to the music next door, he strolled to the next window. It was a dance studio. The large room was filled with little girls of all ages. When his attention was caught by Star, his heart started beating in a painful tug of emotions.
The little girl wasn’t very coordinated, but she made that up with enthusiasm, trying to mimic her teacher’s movements until it was almost painful to watch. The poor kid had inherited his dance skills.
When the teacher said something to Star, Calder glanced at her, ready to barge in if it was a harsh criticism. He felt his mouth drop open.
Star’s teacher had her back to him as she moved forward to work with Star. From her profile, though, he instantly recognized Crazy Bitch.
He moved to the side so he could lean forward and watch without being seen.
She patiently worked with Star until she mastered the steps, and then clapped to draw the other girls’ attention.
She motioned for them to form a line. “It’s time to cool down!”
The girls dropped like flies, rolling around on the floor, giggling. Crazy Bitch pretended to jump over Star then dropped down beside her.
Calder was sorry when the music stopped playing and the girls started gathering in a large circle as Sex Piston and another woman he hadn’t met before passed out boxed juices.
He returned to his bike, not wanting the mothers who should be arriving soon to see him lurking around.
The door opened, releasing the girls as the woman Calder didn’t recognize led the line, getting them to the opened bus door.
“Uncle Calder!” Star screamed when she saw him.
He stood when Star started running toward him, his hurried long legs meeting her halfway. When she took a running jump, Calder easily caught her.
He didn’t smile back at her ecstatic face. “You didn’t even look to see if a car was coming.”
He was still reprimanding her as Sex Piston was finally able to catch up with her.
“Star! You know better than that,” his sister-in-law reproved her.
“I’m sorry, Mama. I’ll be more careful next time, I promise.” She laid her head on his shoulder, patting his chest. “Did you see me dance?”
“Yes.”
“I’m not very good, but Cra—Anna-Kate says I’m getting better.”
“You are,” Crazy Bitch said after the bus closed with all the little girls inside. She waved at them as it passed by. “Star, did I see you running across the parking lot?”
“I’m sorry. Calder and Mama got mad at me for doing it.”
“That makes three of us. You have to be careful. Who would help me teach the class if anything happened to you?”
Calder was amazed at the way Crazy Bitch didn’t focus on punishing her, just making Star realize how she could have been hurt.
“Hug Calder bye; your father is waiting.”
He kept his face impassive at Sex Piston’s reference to Stud being her father.
He bent down to place her feet down onto the pavement. “I’ll see you tomorrow, buttercup.” He smoothed over her slicked back bun, messing it up until it hung drunkenly.
“Bye, Uncle Calder. Don’t forget; tomorrow is pizza night.”
“I won’t.”
He watched her and Sex Piston go to their car, forgetting that Crazy Bitch was watching.
“She’s a cute kid.”
“All of Stud’s kids are cute.”
He forced himself to act natural. He would pay the price of the mistakes he had made in his youth for the rest of his life, and he would die before he would let Star be hurt because of them.
“What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to know why you didn’t respond to my text.”
“I was going to, but I got busy.”
“Bullshit.”
Her shoulders went back. “Maybe I needed time to think.”
“About what? Me and you? You should have taken the time to think,” he stressed, “before you let me fuck you. Did I fart or snore last night?”