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gloves. He held a dirty sock up high with his thumb and forefinger. "How am I supposed to know if something is yours or his?"

"It's all his if it's in sight," Alec said, barefoot, in a t-shirt and jeans. "And even if it isn't, I want it gone. All of it."

"Are you going to just put it all out on the curb?"

"Just the trash. The rest goes to Goodwill."

"What about his laptop?"

"The same."

"Someone could steal his identity."

Alec just stared at Demarco. He was not in the mood.

"OK. OK… I get it." He tossed the laptop into the Goodwill pile. "Maybe we can wipe it to factory settings before it goes."

"You do whatever you want, Miss Reed. I don't care."

"I may look like Donna, but I feel like Hazel in this place." He made his way into the bedroom.

"Oh, GIRL!"

"I know. Just throw it all in bags. We'll worry about the stuff we can't pick up after. I want all evidence of drugs out of here first and foremost. The last thing I need is to be seen inThe Postas a contributor arrested for God only knows what."

Alec was in the kitchen now, tossing empty liquor bottles into a large trash bag, the bottles

clinking as he moved along.

Demarco cleared his throat in the hallway. Alec looked to find him twirling handcuffs on both

forefingers, eyebrows raised.

"No."

"Just asking. Thought maybe that was why you stayed with him so long."

Alec, beyond disgusted, used his arm to make a clean sweep across the counter, pushing

everything into the overstuffed bag with a loud crash. "I want this shit GONE. All of it!"

"Relax, lover-boy. I'm the help, remember? Don't make me get all Octavia Spencer on you."

This, of all Demarco's attempts, made Alec smile for the first time that morning. Relieved to see

it, he pressed: "So how's Ennis?"

"Tyler."

"Oh, yes. Tyler, I mean."

Alec's frown returned, his expression shifting. His face went slack and tears welled. He tried to

speak, but what he voiced was inaudible.

"Oh, no, no. Oh, baby. Come here," Demarco said, leading him to the couch. "What's wrong?"

They sat down and Alec collapsed into Demarco's embrace.