"He's strong. That's the reason I stopped because he was squeezing me so hard against him, but I didn't half mind. He was clean-
shaven with dark blonde hair and the prettiest green eyes I have ever seen. Like jade." Her look went far away again. "He smelled
like...expensive cologne and cigarettes."
"So he smokes?"
"That would be the reason why I smelled it, but he tasted like a man. A real man. Not some sweaty nasty bad breathed ass."
"I thought you said all men would taste like that," Cleo teased.
"I know I did and before I kissed him, they all did. I don't think it had anything to do with his color, either. I think he was naturally
like that."
"I think you lost your mind."
Cleo closed the bag and stapled the order ticket on it.
Someone knocked on the window for change, but when the twenty came through the slot, Cleo smiled knowingly and took the bill.
"I'll be out in a minute, sugar lips," she promised the old man in the long trench coat.
"I'll finish this up," Nicole said giggling as Cleo freshened up quickly.
"Thanks darling. I'll be back in a moment."
Nicole finished up the work and then sat back by the window to try to finish up her lesson. She was two months ahead of the
workload, but that didn't matter to her, the sooner she finished the faster she could get out that house and when Nanna passed away, she
wouldn't just be put out, but have a nice job waiting for her although she enjoyed the Laundromat business.
If she ran the joint though there wouldn't be any hanky panky like Cleo was doing, but she didn't run the joint and Marvin didn't mind
the cashiers making some extra dough on the side just as long as he got a cut of it. They'd slip him the money by making their drawers
come up over an extra forty bucks.
Nicole had told Nanna about the dirty dealings and Nanna was upset, but she assured Nicole she had taken care of things and
soon no one would worry about the business, but Nicole. She had no idea what her grandmother meant by that, but Nanna was still strong
mentally although her body was giving up physically.
She prayed for Nanna's good health everyday, but she and Nanna knew their time together was coming to the end.
A ten came through the money slot and without looking at the face, she picked up the bill, made sure it was real then put five ones
and a five dollar bill in the slot. When the stranger continued to stand there, she mumbled, "Can I help you?"
"If you don't mind," he said.
His voice instantly caught her ears and she looked up into the sea of green she had just been telling Cleo all about. "What are you
doing here?" she asked clearly upset.
"I'm washing my clothes, or do you do other things in this Laundromat."
She looked towards the bathroom. "Nothing you'd want." She picked up her book to ignore him again, but he didn't move away
from the mirror. Did he naturally look cuter by the minute or was it just too late at night for her. "Can I help you?" she snipped not at all liking
the way her emotions were acting with him. It wasn't in her nature to be so perturbed all the time.
"I need your assistance. I've never worked these machines before and I can't turn it on. I think it's broke."
"Did you read the instructions?" she asked.
"Please, come help me?" he asked again.
"I need assistance," he snipped.
"What did you break?"