Toying With Playboy (completed)

EE

pte

to be working th

in for her. I knew it was serious before she e

tches. On my chin, Gwen. Jes

rprising she hadn't gotten hurt before this-roller derby wasn't ex

ed heavier over the phone. Or maybe it was the pain pills they'

d still catch the first half before I had to leave. It was our sisterly bonding ritual as she ended her day and I began mine. Lately, TV night with her had been less t

atch the rest in the morn

chance to call Matt, but I'm sure he's cool. I'll pick up

thing exciting to do with the time off, and not that I really even needed the break. I'd work every shift if the law allowed. But I was the only manage

this godforsaken life of mine th

aholic, and although she tried to put it away on our nights together, it wasn't unusual when she simply couldn't. I didn't resent her for it

he shared with me. It paid for my brother and his life on the other side of the

manager, Matt, then decided against it. He was on vacation for the week and didn't need to be bothered with our minor changes.

ging in midair before her. "Uh, I'm not sure Thursday will work for me. I have...something

another one of those fancy events she was always going to. Even my older sis of five years had

elf that I could get out too if I wanted. I just hadn't ever decided that was what I wanted.

*

on weeknights as we were on the weekends. Tonight was especially hopping because of the nearness to the holidays. Colleges were out, people were visiting friends, it was too cold for outdoor activities-though you wouldn't have known that from the outfits most of the gi

ght of dancing at this age? Norma had never been a partier, so I couldn't compare myself to her. Our little brother, Benjamin, ha

y like clubbing just fine if I had someone to go

ng gave me the opportunity to be no-nonsense and hars

line at the door by eleven. The bars were all staffed well. The cash drawers all had sufficient

ort of predictable. It was more important

uld have prepa

hich wasn't unusual. I was their boss, not their friend. Normally, I'd ignore that kind of buzz amongst the staff. Most of their gossip

words that piqued me-