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sticking out of the top of white and blue fleece.
    " Hey there, little dude." He murmured, coming in to tuck the blanket a little closer. "Didn't know he was gonna be here tonight."
    " Wasn't suppose to be, I don't think." Liam shrugged. "His mom had an interview."
    " Yeah, right." Goose pulled a face. "She's always looking for a reason to drop him here, and Ace loves the kid too much to say no. Joy had him when she was like eighteen, and I don't think she ever grew up much past that. Never has any money 'cause it goes up her nose. Don't tell him I said that. Probably kill me for talking shit about her. She loves Cole, though. Tries her best when she remembers. Her best just sort of... sucks."
    " Good thing he has Ace then."
    " You got no idea."
    " No. I guess I don't," Liam lied.
    Liam passed the time drawing a spaceship. He made it fat and thick , like a Looney Toons rocket, and added some bulbous stars with a winking moon in the background. He'd never really gone through a space phase as a kid, but he'd always liked Marvin the Martian's overwrought plans and centurion helmet.
    " He do okay?" Ace strode in around midnight, a small Spiderman backpack thrown over one shoulder. "Didn't get upset or anything?"
    " He was fine. We drew a little, talked about literature, and drank the fruit of the vine." Liam smiled. "Most cultured and mature night I've had since I started working here."
    " Hilarious." Ace didn't rise to the banter. "Thanks. For looking after him."
    " It's cool. He's a good kid."
    " Yeah." Ace slid his hands under Cole and picked him up.
    " M'tired." Waking a little, Cole rubbed his face over Ace's t-shirt.
    " Yeah, I know buddy. We're going home now." In a practiced move, Ace had blanket, backpack, and kid well in hand.
    Something about the way Ace ran a soothing hand over Cole 's back pulled at Liam and left him aching. He suddenly wanted to be anywhere else but in the little shop with its paper-thin walls. He said a hurried goodnight to Deb and walked out into the steaming night air. Without much choice of destination, he wound up back at the house, pacing the floorboards until he was tired enough to pass out on the couch.
     
    ***
     
    "I guess it just struck a chord with me," he confessed to Gene the next morning over oatmeal. "Remember when you'd pick me up on those weird late nights? I'd stand on the sidewalk with my blanket."
    " And your stuffed moose. You'd never let me carry you though, even when you were asleep on your feet. Always too independent for your own good." Gene thumped Liam's knuckles with a spoon. "You know, I'm beginning to like the sound of this boss of yours."
    " Yeah, he's a decent guy."
    " How decent?" Two salt and pepper eyebrows waggled at Liam.
    " What?" The penny dropped. "Gene!"
    " I'm not allowed to ask?"
    " No! No, you can't just..." Liam buried his face in his hands. "It's weird!"
    " Why? If you were interested in a woman, I'd be allowed to ask."
    " No. No, you wouldn't. And I'm not interested."
    " Could've fooled me." Gene dipped his spoon into the oatmeal. "Sounds like your type."
    " I don't have at type, and if I did--"
    " I did see that one boy, I remember." The oatmeal was unsweetened, judging by the wrinkle in Gene's nose. "What was his name? Benny?"
    " Ace isn't anything like him," Liam said fiercely. "Nothing."
    " Okay, okay." Gene laughed. "Ease up. Sorry I said anything."
    Liam pressed his hand to his stomach and changed the subject. It was a good day. Gene was awake for most of it and happy to watch the episodes of Jeopardy Liam had been carefully hoarding. They kept score, Gene beating Liam roundly at nearly every turn. By four though, it was clear he was wiped and accepted Liam's goodnight without the slightest sign of regret.
    For the first time , when Liam got to the shop, Deb wasn't already at her desk. Someone had been in, leaving the front door unlocked, but there wasn't any sign of them. On impulse, Liam went into the only door in the hallway that didn't lead