Page 20 of Crash

I look at her, and she’s not my type. She looks like a deranged gypsy with her hair all over her head, her eyes shooting fire at me for no reason. I’ve never had a problem getting a woman to warm up to me, but this one is like a damn glacier.

And because I feel like a cornered animal, I strike.

“My family likes me fine. Didn’t your dad kick you out?” I regret the words the minute I see the hurt look in her eyes. In an instant, her eyes fill with tears, and I can already count the many ways Jake will kick my ass when Vivi runs to Sandy to complain about me. I approach her again, but she walks away and stands on the other side of the wall. She wipes at her eyes, but she refuses to look at me.

“I’m sorry. I had no business saying that.”

She finally turns to face me, and I can see more tears have pooled in the rims of her eyes, but they refuse to spill.

“You don’t. You don’t know anything about me, and you never will.” The fire is back, and I’m slightly relieved. “Get your dirty dishes and get out.”

Just as I’m about to offer another apology, her aunt walks back inside, with a happy Travis walking next to her, a cookie in each hand.

“He has big appetite. He ate food and still has room for sweets.” She looks around the room and sees my empty plate. “He’s big eater like little trouble. Vivi, take the plate away.” Vivi’s nostrils flare at her aunt’s orders, but her angry glare is only directed at me.

“Yes, Auntie,” she says, smiling at her aunt. But before she does, she approaches Travis, gets on her knees, hugs him, and kisses the top of his head three times. When she gets up, Travis runs to me.

“Look, Yunkie Yuke. Cookies!” he screams as he takes a bite from each.

I catch Vivi’s smile as she takes the tray with the dirty dishes and walks out without a word. I watch until the door closes behind her and turn back to find Mrs. E looking at me. She shakes her head.

“What is it with the men in your family?”

I shrug, pretending I don’t know what she’s talking about.

“You like the food?” she asks, thankfully changing the subject.

“It was delicious. Can I have the recipe? I’d like to make it.”

“I don’t have recipe. I cook from here.” She taps her temple and then her heart.

“Can you show me? I like to cook.” She looks at me, gauging to see if I’m serious.

“Tomorrow. The bakery will close early. Come to my house at four o’clock.” After hugging her goodbye, she hugs and kisses Travis, and tells me to stop by the counter; that Steve will give me a box of goodies to take home.

On the way to the lobby, I stop in the bathroom to change Travis, and a few minutes later, I’m carrying a clean and giggling toddler. I tickle him under his ribs, and he throws his head back and laughs. All of a sudden, he hugs me, and puts his head in the crook of my neck.

“Tired, buddy? Uncle Luke’s going to take you home, okay.”

“Two out of three!” I hear Steve yell at Vivi, who’s jumping up and down clapping her hands.

“Nope. We’re watching Terminator 2. We watched Die Hard last time, and you’re cooking. And I changed my mind. I want fettuccini Alfredo with shrimp.” She sticks her tongue out at him, and he gives her the middle finger.

“This is for you, man,” Steve says as I approach, pointing to a large box. “Carry it to his car for him, Vivi. I’m going to close up and we can go,” Steve says.

I expect her to argue or tell me to go fuck myself, but she comes close and ruffles Travis’s hair. Instead of taking the box, she grabs Travis’s hand and kisses it. She tries to reach for him, but he holds on tighter to me.

She crinkles her little nose and pouts at the rejection.

“He’s sleepy. He gets clingy when he’s tired,” I say, trying to lessen the sting, but instead of smiling at me as she did to Travis, she just grabs the box, and orders me to follow her.

As I admire her ass, I realize she’s not wearing a jacket, and when I unlock my car door, I catch a glimpse of her t-shirt. Down with the patriarchy is written in pink letters across her chest.

I ignore her as I secure Travis into his car seat. Once that’s done, I take the box from her and put it in the front seat. Instead of walking away, she opens the back door and sticks her head in the car, her tight ass sticking out and close enough to touch.

Travis laughs at whatever she’s doing, but all I can do is stare at her ass. Her t-shirt rides up, revealing the flawless skin of her lower back. She has a black beauty mark, and I almost reach over to stroke it, but I remember myself and stuff both hands in my pockets.

She finally finishes with Travis and steps away from the car. I take off my hoodie and offer it to her.

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