““Joe and Casey locked eyes one more time, and Joe was half-defiant—You wanted this!—and half-pleading—Save me! Casey’s beseeching look back told Joe all he needed to know. “Why sure, Mrs. Cahill. Whatever I can do to, uhm, deepen my commitment, right?” He turned and smiled at her, knowing that he had a nice one, with well-cared-for teeth and generous lips under his mustache and soul patch. She was so close he could smell her cosmetics. “For one thing, you could call me Sandy.” Joe licked his lips. “Well, Sandy,how ’bout we go into the other room and talk while Casey goes and does his homework.” He looked up at Casey and rolled his eyes, while Casey mouthed “Thank you!” with almost desperate gratitude. Sure, the little bastard would thank him now! Where was he going to be when Joe had to ’fess up to Sharon, whom he had almost convinced to stay the night? But it didn’t matter. He had a condom in his pocket, and Mrs. “Call me Sandy!” the social worker was rubbing his thighs, and he had a job to do. Joe had to go take one for the team.””
