Page 155 of Curveball

Cheetah gives us one of his huge smiles and holds up a key card. “No woman can resist my charms.”

Layton shakes his head in disbelief. “What did you say to her?”

“I can’t reveal every trick in my bag, but I did tell her that I’m like Domino’s Pizza. If you don’t come in thirty minutes, the next one is free.”

I scrunch my face. “Ugh. I can’t believe that shit works.”

He holds up the key card again. “Every damn time.”

Cheetah grabs my shirt, “Quick, hide behind that plant. Someone is coming.”

The three of us quickly move behind a large potted plant. I poke my head out but don’t see anyone. “Who’s coming?”

Cheetah chuckles. “No one. I just wanted to see if you’d do it. This is like an episode ofThe A-Team. I loved that show when I was a kid. I feel like Hannibal.” He was the leader and brains of the operation.

I shake my head. “If anyone is like Hannibal, it’s me. You’re like the quirky, funny, weird sidekick, Murdock.”

Layton tilts his head to the side. “Does that make me Mr. T?” He was the actor who portrayed the brute muscle of the crew.

I shake my head. “No way. You’re Faceman, the good-looking fucker who always uses his charms to help them.”

Cheetah’s chin drops. “We just used my fucking charms to get this key. I’m Faceman. Let Layton be the weird, quirky fucker. I don’t want to be him. He never got laid.”

Layton scrunches his face. “I want to be Mr. T. He was a badass. I need gold chains and a mohawk to complete the look. What was his character’s name? I can’t remember.”

Cheetah gasps in astonishment. “Only one of the greatest characters in TV history. B.A. Baracus.”

Layton enthusiastically nods. “Oh right. I’m definitely him.” He flexes his muscles. “He was jacked.”

I sigh. “Can we cut this stupid conversation short and get back to the mission?”

Cheetah nods. “As long as we can agree that I’m Faceman. I want to be called that for the rest of the night.”

I roll my eyes. “Fine, Faceman. Let’s go.”

I motion for Trey and Ezra to meet us at the elevator, and they do. The five of us ride up together. Cheetah explains to Trey and Ezra that they need to call him Faceman for the rest of the evening, which starts a whole fucking conversation about their characters in our fictitious A-Team. Why did I bring these morons?

Because they’re my brothers and they came without even asking why.

We step off the elevator. Layton starts giving hand signals. None of us know what they mean. I growl, “Just talk. No one can hear us.”

He shakes his head. “You’re a terrible spy. What if the enemy is listening?”

“What enemy? You don’t even know why we’re here.”

He twists his lips. “Hmm. True.”

I point to Ezra and Trey. “You two stand watch by the elevators. We’re going in.”

Trey whines, “Why do you guys get to do the fun stuff? We want to come.”

I respond, “You have a wife and kid at home. Stand watch and stay out of the line of fire.”

Layton furrows his brow. “I have a wifetoo.”

“Ugh. Don’t remind me that you’re married to my sister. I’m still in denial.”

He smiles. “She’s so hot. And so sexy. You know what she did to me the other day?”

---