Gazelle by Gloria Bello Read Free Book Online Page B

upper left cheek and over the bridge of his crooked nose.  There is a tenderness in his regard for her, but nothing else about Rolando denotes kindness.  His eyes flash over Julian, his eyebrows dip for a second.  The men at his side swell and lean in towards the couple as he relaxes and returns to his game.  He smiles lazily at her, two gold caps on his incisors, before leaning down for the shot and knocking two solids into parallel pockets.
    “ Ay, chingado ! ” his friends exclaim, slapping money down on the table in defeat.
                  He spreads his long arms and embraces Alice, holding her long before pulling away and scrutinizing Julian.  “ New boyfriend?  Guerro, huh?  Yo u’ re breaking my heart, girl ! ”
    “ This is my friend, Lincoln. H e’ s not my boyfriend , ” Alice says.
    “ Wha t’ s with the disguise ? ”
“ H e’ s shy . ”
“ Yeah?  Somehow I doubt that.  Rolando , ” Rolando says, taking Julia n’ s outstretched hand in a crushing grip as Julian pulls off his sunglasses.  His tiny black eyes lock on Julian, who remembers Alic e’ s words and quickly looks away.  “ Yankees, huh?  Tha t’ s pretty ballsy in this town.  You from New York ? ”
    “ Yeah . ”
    “ Tha t’ s good, then.  Gottarepresent no matter what, stay true to your hometown.  How do you know Alice ? ”
“ We met at work , ” Alice says, quickly.
    “ You work at Healthy Grocery, too?  I do n’ t remember seeing you there . ”
“ No, he works outside the store.  He spins signs.  H e’ s a sign spinner . ”
                  Rolando looks at her in disbelief and then back at Julian before laughing.  “ Get the fuck out!  That ai n’ t no sign spinner!  No fucki n ’ spinner has teeth that white . ”
    “ I swear!  He spins all over the place.  Really good.Tosses it up and catches it and everything . ”
“ Really.  Show me , ” Rolando says, tossing the pool stick to Julian who catches it.
                  Julian stares at him and then Alice, who smiles wickedly.  Julian smirks and begins spinning the stick hand over hand slowly, picking up speed before he spins it up over his head and catches it without breaking stride.  They all laugh as he tosses the stick back to Rolando.
    “ I never knew a spinner who dressed so sharp!  They must be paying well these days. I’ m in the wrong business, I think.  Speaking of which, you have something for me, young lady ? ”
“ Here you go , ” Alice says triumphantly as she hands him the wad.
                  He counts it swiftly and hands it back to one of the men beside him.  “ Yo u’ re late again.  Wher e’ s the late charge ? ”
“I’ ll get it to you tomorrow, I promise.  I have to get my car fixed . ”
              He shakes his head and chalks his cue.  “ Yo u’ re pushing it.  This is the third time in a row . ”
“ I know.  What can I say ? ”
“ You can say ,‘ i t’ s the third and last time . ’   But we both know tha t’ d be a lie, right ? ”
    “ Rolando - ”
    “ You know how I feel about being late, lady.  I t’ s the principle. I t’ s your home, but i t’ s my property, and I take care of wha t’ s mine.  My money, tomorrow.  No more excuses.  And bring me a box of those fucki n ’ Lace y’ s.  I ca n’ t get enough of them . ”
              She steps to him and gives him a quick hug and kiss on the cheek.  “ You got it, boss.  See you guys later . ”
    “ Le t’ s go , ” she whispers hurriedly to Julian.
    “ Ey, amigo ! ”
                    Julian turns to back to him, studying the way he stands, confident and dangerous, casually aggressive.  He imprints the image of the man, his tiny eyes, his scar and gold smile, leaning his great, long frame on a thin, weathered pool stick, surrounded by real men, the character forever locking into a place Julian can access.