Page 14 of Acid

“Hell yeah!” Star claps excitedly.

“I will text everyone,” Maggie states before she pulls out her cell.

“Huh?” I ask.

“Spider boxes. He has a fight tonight. You think you are up for coming along?” Acid asks.

I think about how it would feel to be in a crowded space, and I immediately flash back to a memory of getting elbowed in the ribs. Then there is Oliver. I can’t leave him alone.

As if reading my thoughts, Acid continues. “You have a platform away from the other spectators, a safe place, and as for Oliver, Queenie will most likely be babysitting all the kids, including Oliver,” he assures me.

“It’s true. Queenie is a diamond and absolutely loves looking after the little ones.” Star pauses. “The only person I don’t know if she will be coming is Belle, because she’s been really suffering with her pregnancy. Message her anyway,” she tells Maggie.

Maggie nods, her fingers moving at almost lightning speed as she types.

“I don’t know. It’s not fair on Oliver if I just leave him,” I point out.

“Olly!” Acid shouts. Oliver’s head turns in our direction. “Come here a sec,” Acid orders.

Oliver walks over, holding a pool cue. Ghost takes the pool cue from Oliver’s hand, and he looks up at him confused. “Just as second, kid,” he states. “Bambi, take all the pool cues andballs and disinfect them,” he instructs. I look at Ghost concerned as Bambi nods and takes the cue. He shakes his head. “It’s fine, they are always cleaned. I’m just making sure,” he states.

I nod frowning, still not sure why they need to be that clean.

“Fuck’s sake, that was ages ago, Pres,” Spider sighs.

“Yeah well, I don’t want the fucking kid getting pink eye,” Ghost counters.

My mouth drops open as I look at Spider in a whole new light. The brothers, Star, and Maggie all laugh about it. “I told you the parties here can get a little wild,” Acid reminds me.

“No shit,” I blurt out.

Acid turns his attention back to Oliver. “Olly, how do you feel about Queenie looking after you tonight, so your mom can come out with us?” Acid asks.

“Can’t I come out with you as well?” he asks.

“No, it ain’t for kids,” he points out.

“I ain’t a kid. I will be teenager soon enough,” Oliver argues.

“Dude, you’re a kid until you can fuck, buy beer, and ride a motorcycle,” Scar states.

“Scar,” I hiss.

“What?” he asks with a shrug.

As Acid is about to speak, Queenie walks in with bags of shopping. Ghost, Scar, Cash, Acid, and Spider all walk over to her, each of them taking the bags from her.

“Thank you, boys,” she praises.

“Queenie, are you up for looking after the kids with Olly here while we watch Spider?” Star asks.

Queenie walks over, smiling down at Oliver. Reaching out, she ruffles his hair. “Of course. I was going to make a hot fudge sundae and watch a movie. Makes it more fun if I have company,” she states.

“Can I add marshmallows?” Oliver asks.

“Sure.” Queenie nods.

“And I can pick the movie?” he presses.

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