Page 19

“Trust me, I know better than to compete with breakfast.”

Roxie started opening a container and paused when she spotted Crash.

“Hey, you’re the new kid, right?”

He nodded, swiping the back of his hand across his mouth.

“He’s visiting,” I said. “That’s all.”

“You’re kinda cute.” She reached out and rubbed Crash’s bristly head. “What’s your name, sweetie?”

“Gavin,” he said.

“Gavin?” I repeated, confused. I turned to Big G. “I thought you said his name was Jimmy.”

Big G shrugged.

“It’s close enough.”

“Not really.”

“Does it matter?” he countered. “You just call himkid.”

Roxie continued petting Crash’s head, stroking his shoulders. He inhaled sharply, and thumped his chest with his fist to dislodge a bite of food from his throat.

“Big G, can I play with him, too?” Roxie asked.

Crash wheezed and the tips of his ears turned pink.

“You can have whatever you want, sweetheart,” Big G said.

She squealed with delight and immediately reached for Crash’s fly.

“Let me take a peek, sweetie.”

“Whoa, hey, wait, I—”

Crash fumbled to grab her wrist and nearly fell off his stool in the process.

“Don’t be shy, sweetie.” Roxie lowered her voice to a loud stage whisper. “It’s okay if you’re still a virgin.”

He let out a nervous laugh of disbelief.

“I amnot—”

“He might eat like a horse, sweetheart,” Big G said. “But I’d wager he won’t last more than fifteen seconds. Thirty, if you’re lucky.”

Crash’s face went red as a tomato.

“That’snottrue.”

Big G arched an eyebrow.

“Are you saying you come in your pants, instead?”

Baby Doll snickered. I shook my head, smothering a smile in my coffee.

Disappointment shadowed Roxie’s features. She pulled back.