Free Minders by Michele Jaffe Page B

Ad-Spaces that it took Sadie a moment to find the small rectangle showing Team Chocolate Chip going up against Team Snickerdoodle in the Cookie Wars Championship among the promos.
    Sadie was fascinated and had to suppress a momentary feeling of frustration when Cali pulled away from the kiss and Ford shifted his attention to her.
    Cali was blond and pretty, although Sadie thought she would have been prettier with less makeup, less TanTerrific, and less of the unnatural glossiness that straightening tubes imparted to hair. Especially since studies suggested they caused cancer. She wore a white button-down shirt that strained over a white lace-edged bra.
    Ford’s eyes focused on the bra as he curled a strand of the carefully straightened hair around his finger and said, “I’m sorry I kept you waiting.” That, at least, seemed true, because his vision didn’t get hazier. Sadie noticed there were cuts on his hand that hadn’t been there before. What had happened after she passed out?
    Cali reached up and took his hand, moving it from her hair. “That’s okay. It gave me a chance to keep Lulu company.”
    “Thanks, babe.” His hips rested between her legs, and his nose touched hers.
    Cali started talking about plans for the rest of the week, and Ford’s mind filled with dots. They arranged themselves into a flurry of images—leaving the poker table, walking out of the Castle, staring at a bank machine screen that read INSUFFICIENT CREDIT. Bashing his hand against the wall next to it. Explains the new cuts , Sadie thought.
    The dots got smaller as the memories went on, giving them a tense, brittle kind of clarity: him opening his wallet and painstakingly counting out bills—ones mostly, a few fives and tens, presumably his poker winnings—ending with only two singles left over. Dropping the wad of bills into a mailbox with a notice next to it that read, ALL RENT MUST BE PAID IN FULL BY 8 A.M. EVERY MONDAY OR TENANT WILL FACE IMMEDIATE EVICTION, with DON’T EVEN THINK OF ASKING FOR AN EXTENSION—THE LANDLORD, written in black pen along the bottom.
    “So you’re good with that?” Cali asked.
    Sadie had been listening while she watched Ford’s memories, but based on the way all the dots suddenly vanished and the sounds combined into a low hum, she realized he hadn’t heard anything Cali was saying.
    He nodded anyway. “Totally. Whatever works for you, works for me.”
    Why not just ask what she’s talking about? Sadie wondered. It would be so simple.
    “You’re the best,” Cali said, bringing her lips to his.
    He’s not , Sadie wanted to tell her. Ask him what he just said yes to.
    “No, you’re the best,” he told Cali.
    She rubbed his nose with hers. “No, you are.”
    Sadie groaned in frustration.
    From the couch behind them a high-pitched voice said, “Agree to disagree. I’m the best. And now that we have that settled, can you please stop? I’m only eleven and whatever you’re doing is far above my pay grade.”
    A golden Lab’s head came over the top of the couch to nuzzle Ford’s leg, and Sadie had the impossible thought that the dog had spoken. Then Cali shifted and Sadie saw that a little girl had come in and curled herself into the far corner of the sofa.
    She was as blond as Ford was dark, but had the same firm chin, the same stubborn mouth. The same very blue, very serious eyes.
    Ford laughed. “Sorry to disturb you, Princess Lulu.” He glanced at his Mickey Mouse watch. “Weren’t you supposed to be in bed half an hour ago?”
    Lulu pulled herself up to her whole four-foot height and said, “I don’t think I’m the one who needs to get a room.”
    “Is that really how you want to talk to your older brother?” Ford asked, a threat rumbling in his tone.
    Lulu put her hands on her hips. “Yes.”
    “Your strong, ferocious older brother?” he went on, narrowing his eyes.
    Lulu snorted. “Oh, right.”
    Sadie didn’t detect the kind of anger she’d felt at the Castle, but