The sky was turning dark by the time they arrived home from the supermarket. Jolly, Leroy, and Victor were already inside the house, playing poker in the living room out of sheer boredom.
When they saw Justin, Jolly waved at him and greeted, “Leroy and I skipped his movie’s appreciation dinner and rushed over when we heard that you’ll be cooking tonight. Are we your friends, or are we your friends, eh?”
Ever since Justin saved Leroy, Jolly’s impression of the man had changed entirely, becoming all chummy with him as though wishing they could have met sooner.
Meanwhile, Justin was carrying all their shopping in his hands. “If you’re a friend, you’d come and help me with the groceries.”
“I’m a girl, though. Girls are all weak and frail. I won’t be able to carry them.” Having said that, Jolly still went over and helped him out while taking a look at the things they got, mumbling, “Let me see what we’re having tonight. Turbot? Not bad, I like it! Huh?” After moving the groceries in the entryway to the kitchen, Jolly looked up to find Rachel entering empty- handed, leading her to stand with her arms akimbo. “Do you have to be so discriminatory, Justin? How dare you twist me around your little finger?”
“Twist whose finger?” Rachel was at a complete loss, for she hadn’t a clue what happened when she just arrived after parking her car.
“Nothing, Justin answered plainly. “Miss Carter voluntarily brought the groceries into the kitchen and even offered to help wash the vegetables, am I right?”
Jolly rolled her eyes at Justin after being screwed big time. “Pfft, I didn’t promise anything. I’m already pooped from a full day’s work, so I’m not going to do anything but eat. Whoever wants to help out in the kitchen, feel free to be my guest.”
With that, she dashed to the couch, looking as though she feared she’d be dragged into the kitchen. “Come on, guys. Where were we? F*ck, which one of you stole my cards? Where’s my King?”
“What King?” Victor rolled his eyes at her. “Don’t go around slandering people. All of them are with me.” Jolly shrugged at that. “Alright, my mistake.. Well, where were we?”
Beside them, Leroy couldn’t stop chuckling to himself. Victor was an idiot. With just a couple of words, he already revealed what he had. Needless to say, they didn’t need to waste much brain juice. playing poker with him.
Meanwhile, Rachel helped to prepare the ingredients in the kitchen. On the other hand, Samuel grabbed onto the edge of the kitchen island and popped half of his head out while looking at Justin.
In response, Justin looked behind his shoulder at Rachel, pulled out the Optimus Prime action. figure when she wasn’t watching, and hurriedly handed it to the boy.
“What’s your plan with these tomatoes?” Rachel suddenly turned around with a tomato in her hand. ‘Soup? Roasted?”
Samuel reacted super quickly, squatting down behind the island as soon as Rachel turned around. He thanked his kid-sized body, or Rachel would’ve likely caught him.
The things I have to do to get an Optimus Prime action figure. Justin, on the other hand, was unfazed. “Make borscht with it. It’ll help to cleanse the palate.” “Okay, I’ll prepare some carrots and celery then.”
It wasn’t until Rachel turned back around that Justin tapped on the island top. Samuel understood instantly and crawled out of the kitchen, pressing his body against the island ast he made his way into his room.
In actuality, the only blindspot was inside the kitchen. Anybody in the living room would’ve seen everything.
“Hey, check out the sneaky little thief.” Jolly gave Leroy a nudge with her elbow. Leroy looked over reflexively and found Samuel crawling into his room with his beloved Optimus Prime in his arms, looking like a thief.
Unbeknownst to Leroy, while his eyes were focused on the boy, Jolly blatantly took one of the cards they had thrown out onto the coffee table and shoved it into her deck. Victor was rendered gobsmacked. What the heck?!
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