Dime Read Online Free Page A

stop in the cold with no coat for hours is probably a pretty good tip-off something’s not right.
    I shrugged.
    â€œWhen I talk to you,” he said softly, “you got to answer me.”
    I stayed quiet. He slid his slippers off the table, leaned forward, and put his hands on my cheeks. Almost like he was going to kiss me. And also like he was a little bit angry. I was scared of him being angry, but at the same time his hands felt so good and his eyes felt so good, I didn’t want him to let me go.
    â€œYou understand?” he asked.
    I started to nod, but his hands got just a little bit firmer on my cheeks. They were so big. And warm. I wanted them to stay on my face forever. “Yes,” I said. “I understand.” I didn’t want to disappoint him. He was looking at me like he saw me. Like he really wanted to hear my voice. Like I mattered.
    â€œSoup.” L.A. brought it to the coffee table and set it down in front of me.
    He let go of my face. I wanted to ask him to put his hands back. But instead I picked up the spoon and ate. He watched. Only I didn’t feel watched: I felt seen.
    â€œShe going to be good,” he said to L.A. I didn’t know what he meant. “You did good.”
    L.A. beamed. She had nice teeth just like his. Big and white and straight. She looked like a little girl when she beamed like that. I only ever saw her light up with him.

Chapter Five
    THAT ONE DIDN’T know me yet, Sex would write about me in the note. What I mean is, she knew about me because she read books and watched HBO. And she heard people talk. But she hadn’t met me face-to-face. L.A., though. Well. Sex would pause his writing fingers for a second. L.A. knew me from a tiny little girl. Practically a baby. I was not happy to meet her that first time or all those times after. No sir. But her father and uncles and my nasty cousin in tight with them forced the issue. It bothers me to this day.
    L.A. didn’t share much with me after those first two cold afternoons pacing Chancellor, but it seemed like she had shared her whole life with Brandy. And Brandy could be loquacious.
    It made it easier for the one with the gold D on his tooth, though. He took one look at L.A. all those years ago, and he could tell she was going to be cake. “Hey, Beautiful,” he said to her. “What you crying for? What? You got to repeat the eighth grade again? Well, how many times you done the eighth grade? Twice? Twice already? Nah. You not stupid. They just ain’t teaching you right. Wipe those tears, Beautiful. Here. Use my scarf. That’s all right. We’ll wash it when we get home. Sure, baby. You come home with me. You can use my phone and call your mama to tell her you ain’t lost. You ain’t got a mama? All right then. You call your aunt then. Sure, baby. I don’t care if you don’t go to school. . . .” I didn’t understand it back when Brandy used to tell me. I don’t think Brandy understood it either. But I’ve grown up since. It’s not hard to sweet-talk a girl looking to feel special. Not hard at all.

Chapter Six
    HE SAID I should call Janelle. He tapped the speaker on his phone and handed it to me.
    â€œI’m staying with a friend,” I told her.
    â€œWhere at?” I could hear the gluey Booth’s in her voice.
    L.A. and her boyfriend both shook their heads.
    â€œOver by the McDonald’s on Clinton,” I lied. He smiled at me with all those straight teeth and the gold letter D glittering. He was the best-looking man I’d ever seen.
    â€œYou don’t got no clothes.”
    It was true. “L.A. is the same size as I am,” I lied again, glancing at him for the smile. L.A. was taller and more curvy. Janelle would never know.
    â€œHer mother going to get you to school?” The way she spoke, I could almost smell the alcohol.
    â€œYeah.” Even though I didn’t need anybody to get me