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"Pretty sure you'd end up in jail if you threatened an eleven-year-old girl," Liza says with a laugh. "She'll figure it out."

"You know, I would’ve bought her the books. Why didn't you tell me when I was buying those?" I hook a thumb toward the coffee table. "I didn't realize things were that tight for you guys."

"I didn't tell you because you do too much anyway. We can't always expect you to bail us out."

"Why the fuck not?"

She huffs and shakes her head, which makes Fate smile. "We're fine. She's fine. More people need to use the library anyway. It's a dying trend. It's just a rough patch."

"What about that piece-of-shit ex of yours? Is he not helping out? Doesn't he have damn child support to pay?" I say through gritted teeth. Hate that damn bastard. Told her that even before him ditching her and Mya.

"He says he doesn't have it. Can't take what's not there, I guess. There, done." After wringing out Pops’s hair a few times, Liza helps her up and wraps a towel around her shoulders. "Listen, we gotta run. I have a client coming into the salon for a perm in a bit. Send me pictures when it's dry and let me know if I need to come back and fill in any spots. But it looks good from here."

With an unsure smile, Fate nods and clenches the towel tighter around her shoulders. "I'm sure it's great. Thank you again for... I'm ready to have this part of me back," she says with a growing smile. "I like being unique. Weird to some people, I guess."

After a quick goodbye to Mya, Pops heads up the stairs.

There's shit everywhere, from boxes to dirty towels to... Saran wrap? I'm picking up the kitchen when Liza says from the door, "Just so you know, I can see it."

"See what?" I ask, looking around the kitchen for something I've missed.

"Why you fell for her." She shoots a quick glance up the stairs. "She's pretty great, so don't be scared of telling her how you feel. I know you've pushed people away since Brandi, but—"

"Thanks for coming over, Liza. It means a lot."

"Right, see ya."

Once the front door closes, I fall onto the stool and stare unseeing at the floor.

Why the hell did she have to go and bring her up?