Chapter 3

“I’m Amos.” I hold out my hand for him to shake. “How may I help you?”

His big hand envelops mine. “I doappreciate your time; I want you to know that. I’m Lo, and this loud lady is my cousin Nina.”

We shake; her grip is stronger than Lo’s. “Cousin. Best friend. Protector. Take your pick.”

“Pain in the butt—” Lo adds.

“Your butt needs a bit of pain to move most of the time.”

His cheeks redden, but he keeps going. “…with a Jesus complex—”

“Yourpersonal savior!”

“…who doesn’t know when to shut up—”

“Women have been told to shut upfor thousands of years. I’m overthat shit!”

“…andknow-it-all extraordinaire.”

“…who knows what’s bestfor you. Now sit.”

Their banter is hilarious—their body language and tone are relaxed and teasing, underscoring that this exchange is all in good fun—and I chuckle and shake my head. I also notice that it’s helped drain the rigidity Lo’s carried in his shoulders since he entered the shop. It looks like she knows what she’s doing.