Free Last Heartbreak by H.M. Ward Page A

finished making Central Park a safer place. She puts her hands on her knees and tries to speak while panting. "Hey, Cracker, can I ride the carousel? I could use my Tooth Fairy money. Please? And I want Kia to ride with me. Please, please, please, please, pretty please?"
    Graham looks questioningly at me, turns back to Lori. "You'll have to ask Kia."
    Lori's expectant blue eyes plead with me, her gloved hands folded together in prayer as her lips silently mouth, "please, please, please!" Seriously, I have never seen a kid this cute before.
    "Of course, I'll ride the carousel with you," I say, delighted.
    "Swicked! I'll introduce you to Comet. She's a superhero horse, and only I get to ride her. Hey! I have an idea! I can be a galactic princess, and you can be my android maidservant. Come on!" Lori pulls my hand and starts to run. I follow along, running next to her, reveling in the feel of her tiny hand in mine.
    The entire carousel ride, we play space princess and robot maidservant. I cater to her every whim, obediently bowing when she points her finger at me and gives me orders. Graham sits on a bench nearby and watches us. Whenever we pass by him, Lori and I both wave, and he returns the greeting. Giggling, we plot silly expressions and, when we face Graham, he bursts out laughing at our antics. Before I know it, the ride is over, and we're dragging our feet out of the park. Graham and I walk side by side.
    "You and Lori seem to be getting along nicely." Graham says, looking straight ahead, hands in his pockets.
    "She's an adorable little girl, thanks for introducing us. I feel ashamed I went psycho on you earlier. I feel like I keep having to apologize to you all the time."
    "Nah. Forget about it."
    I'm expecting him to tease me more, but Graham peeks at his watch and puts his hands to his mouth like a megaphone. "Pick up your things, Crabby Pants. We have to go home, get your homework done, eat supper, take baths and get to bed by eight."
    "What's for supper?"
    "Leftovers."
    Lori places both hands on her throat and gags. It looks like she's choking. She turns once and falls flat on the lawn, convulsing as she pretends to die. Wow, this one knows how to crank up the drama factor.
    I love her already.
    I turn toward him, wanting to say something, but all thoughts flee my mind as he takes both my hands in his and looks into my eyes from behind his glasses. He leans down slowly. Thoughts of our earlier almost kiss float back into my mind, and I wonder if he's thinking about it too. Would he cradle my face gently in his hands and hold me like a precious jewel or would his hands be all over me, touching me passionately?
    We don't get to find out.
    "Ugh! Yuck! Gross! Blech! No kissing, puh-leeeeeease!" Lori squeezes between the two of us, demolishing my daydream. She pushes against Graham, prying us apart. My face flames a mortified red, but Graham just laughs it off.
    "Chill, Lori. I wasn't going to kiss her. Kia's not the kissing kind of friend."
    His words are reassuring, but disappointing at the same time. He picks Lori up and swings her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. She squeals and makes a feeble attempt at fighting him off, kicking him with her pink Chucks. It's just for show. I can tell she wants him to hold her, and I don't blame her. I want him to hold me, too.
    "See you tomorrow, Kia. I've got to take this kid home." He winks at me then swats Lori's behind lightly. She lets out a yelp, and he puts her down. Holding hands, they make their way out of the park, heading toward the nearest subway station, and I watch them walking away. Lori looks up at Graham, and he looks down at her. They seem to be in the middle of a funny conversation. She bounces up and down when she talks, and he throws his head back in laughter.

CHAPTER 16
    " O h , baby. Ugh! Oh, yeah. Damn! You're so wet." Slap!
    "Oh, yes! YES!" Slap!
    I open my desk drawer and stuff my head in it, but can't drown out the noise. Even with my ear buds