Joanie hung up the phone and nodded her head at the other two women looking at her, "Ok, now to get that letter in the mail. Where's Marjorie? We'll need Sal's help on this one."

June and Norma exchanged glances with each other smiling mischievously. 

"What?" asked Joanie looking confused.

"It's just before this week we'd never heard of Sal and now you call him for everything." Smiled Norma as she replied.

"What's that supposed to mean?" asked Joanie

Replying in a joking tone June said, "Well it seems that someone has a crush."

June and Norma nudged each other as they smirked at Joanie. 

Joanie's face grew warm as she thought of a reply. "Just because I ask him for help doesn't mean I have a crush."

Trying to hide her amusement Norma asked, "Oh, so you don't like him?"

With a look of mischief, June smiled at Norma who was giving her a concerned look. June shrugged as she said, "I mean if you don't like him I might ask him out. He is handsome and a hoot." 

Joanie was growing hot and bluntly replied "Fine. I don't care what you do."

Ridiculous. This is absurd. Who cares. Stupid.  

"Ok, I'll get his info from Marj." Replied June sarcastically pulling out her cell phone.

Over my dead body. Shut up. Stupid. Whatever. 

Walking out of the room Joanie's left eye twitched with her face still warm with a mixture of embarrassment and anger. 

She shook her head replied, "Whatever."

The two women giggled like school girls after Joanie left.

"You're not really going to ask him out are you June?" asked Norma sounding concerned. Her eyes scanned June trying to decide if she was serious.

Scoffing June replied, "And why wouldn't I?"

Giving June a reprimanding look, Norma responded. "Because you know it'd upset Joanie." 

June rolled her eyes, "I know that. I'm not an idiot. I just like to have a bit of fun."

"Ok. Well don't poke the bear unless you're ready to be mauled," Norma warned. 

Joanie shook her head as she walked down the hallway. Stupid. Sal would never go for June. I mean she's nice and all but not his type. Who cares. Waste of time. I've got to find Marj anyways. Marjorie was walking towards Joanie, but Joanie was too lost in her own world to notice Marjorie. Practically running Marjorie over Joanie lifted her head up and noticed Marjorie standing in front of her.

"Oh hey, Marj. I was looking for you." Joanie said quietly.

Sarcastically Marjorie replied, "Obviously not too hard seeing as you almost ran me over."

Apologizing Joanie shook her head and responded, "Sorry Marj. My head was in a different world."

"I can see that Joanie. What did you need?" 

Joanie replied "Well, I need Sal's help on delivering your device. I thought he might be able to do a mail run for me."

"Why don't you ask him yourself?" replied Marjorie looking at Joanie with her soft brown eyes. 

She had a calming essence causing Joanie to raise her eyebrows as she replied, "You know why Marj. I don't want him getting the wrong idea."

Sighing Marjorie shook her head and replied sarcastically, "Oh it would be such a crime if you missed him. Admit it, Joanie. We all know it."

"What's everybody's deal today? You all have this idea that I'm in love with the man." Joanie answered throwing her hands up in the air.

More like. This is stupid why am I even rationalizing this?

"Maybe because you are Jo." Replied Marjorie looking into her friend's eyes with a look like Joanie was a child continuing to pester her.

I. Nope. Nope. I can't deal with this. 

Flustered Joanie put her hands down in front of her shaking them in frustration as she replied, "Fine. I'll ask him myself."

Great and now I've got to deal with - Whatever  - I don't care. Love. Ha. Really funny. 

Joanie walked off towards her room stepping into the room only to find Sal sitting on her bed looking through the photo album she had left out. Sal quickly closed the book and stood up holding the album. 

There was a hitch in Joanie's breath as she thought. Sal. 

Running his hand through his grayish blonde locks Sal looked down as he quietly said, "Sorry Jo I was ju—"

Interrupting Sal, she waved her hand from him to relax as she replied "It's fine. I was actually going to call you."

Interesting.

Raising his eyebrows in interest Sal said: "Oh, really."

And that's exactly what I'd hoped to avoid. Getting his hope up. I haven't changed. 

"Oh, don't get your hopes up. It's just for a favor Sal." Joanie said as she walked towards the table.

Come on. Jo, why do you fight this?

"If you keeping asking me favors I might have to call in a favor from you." Replied Sal sarcastically with a smirk.

Rolling her eyes Joanie moved to sit down at the table. "Come on sit down. Stop standing over there like a weirdo."

Curtsying Sal replied jokingly as he took a seat "Yes your highness."

What a goof. He's cute when he. Stop. Focus. 

Laughing at Sal's ridiculous curtsy Joanie reached out for the photo album. "Here let me see it. I was looking through it earlier remembering how simple life used to be."

Reaching out to touch Joanie's hand Sal squeezed her hand and with a look of sadness, he sincerely replied: "I know. Life seemed to get more complicated as time went on."

Flipping to a page Joanie pointed at a picture of a young Julian standing on top of a table with his arms at his side in a super hero pose. "That's how he got that hook shaped scar. The idiot jumped off the table and somehow managed to nick his forehead."

Laughing Sal replied, "Sounds like being accident prone runs in your family."

Slapping Sal on the arm Joanie replied: "Hey, at least I'm not a huge klutz."

"I take offense to that. I'm only a klutz around beautiful women." Replied Sal smiling as he looked into Joanie's eyes. There was a twinkle in his eyes when their eyes met.

Come on. I know you're in there. Jo.

I hate when he looks at me like that. Dang, it. Stupid.

Joanie smiled shaking her head as she responded, "There you go again. Charming as ever Sal."

The two of them flipped through the pages until they reached a page with photos from Vegas. Joanie stopped and stared at the photo of her, Julian, Marjorie and Sal standing in front of the casino. She ran her hand over the photo and turned away from the book. 

Sal reached for her hand and said: "Jo, I know it's hard but you can't blame yourself."

Joanie turned back to face Sal. There was a pain in her eyes that cut Sal to his core as Joanie replied quietly "But how can I not? He was only twenty-five. He was so young and I was supposed to protect him."

"Jo, he was a grown up. He understood the risks," reassured Sal as he thought of the day the photo was taken.

The group headed out of the hotel room to have some fun on the casino floor. Marjorie and Joanie decided to play the slots while Julian and Sal headed to the bar.

Julian and Sal walked up to the bar and Julian nudged Sal in the side as he asked, "So, you and JoJo? How's that going?"

Laughing Sal responded, "Well about that. I was wondering if I could talk to you about it?"

"Yeah sure go ahead just no mushy stuff she is my sister." Replied Julian shrugging.

Fidgeting Sal said "I know your parents are gone now and I thought with you being her brother it was only polite to ask you. What you thought of me asking Joanie to marry me?"

Patting Sal on the back Julian replied "Sal, Joanie is a grown woman. I can't speak for her, but you seem to make her happy and I like you, Sal. Just remember these words." Pausing Julian looked dead into Sal's eyes and continued, "I don't have a problem going back to prison."

Laughing Julian continued "I'm only joking Sal. Of course, I don't mind."

Sal let out the breath he had been holding in anticipation before responding "Ha, Thank you, Julian. Now I've got to figure out how to ask her." Rubbing his forehead Sal thought of how he should ask Joanie.

Julian spoke up "Hey, why don't we just ask for advice from women and see their ideas. Help get the ball rolling. Plus maybe I'll meet someone." Julian smiled as he nudged Sal.

"Sure what the heck, it couldn't hurt," Sal responded nodding as he looked up at Julian.

Pointing to a beautiful woman across the bar Julian stood up enthusiastically and said "Look over there let's ask that woman over there. She looks nice enough."

"Ok Julian, but let me do the talking I don't need you flirting and ruining the entire plan." Responded Sal as he gestured his hand for Julian to calm down.

Sounding a bit defeated Julian slouched his shoulders and responded "Ok, Ok."

The sound of coins hitting metal filled the room as Joanie and Marjorie sat next to each other at a pair of slot machines. Joanie won a few coins here and there, but Marjorie was having no luck.

"Hey Jo, I'm kind of thirsty want to go to the bar and check on the guys?" asked Marjorie sounding bored.

Laughing Joanie responded "What? You're not having fun?"

Sarcastically Marjorie replied, "Yeah, Jo I'm having loads of fun losing and all."

"Ok, Ok. I could use a little something to drink, but I think I'll stick to soda tonight we need to be sharp in the morning." Replied Joanie as she stood up from her seat in front of the slot machine.

As they were leaving a woman plopped down in front of the machine Marjorie had just left. They heard a squeal of delight as they were walking away they turned around to see that the woman had hit the jackpot. She was jumping up and down in front of the machine as it spit out coins.

Laughing Joanie bent over hitting her knees and said: "Marj, look at that!" Joanie pointed to the woman who was now dancing with joy.

Rolling her eyes Marjorie responded "Seriously? I can't believe it." 

She shook her head and started to continue walking as Joanie tried to compose herself. Still laughing Joanie and Marjorie came around a corner and saw the guys at the bar. Sal was leaning on his hand that was propped up on the bar talking quietly to a woman at the bar. He was laughing at whatever she had said when Joanie noticed the. The woman had long beautiful red curls that cascaded over her bare shoulders contrasting her sleek black dress. Frozen Joanie stood staring at the pair. Her brow furrowed in confusion as she blinked back tears. Stopping Marjorie stopped to see what was taking Joanie so long. Glancing back at Jo she noticed the tears and then followed her eyes to see the woman sitting with Sal. Marjorie could see the look on Joanie's face shift from confusion to pain. Then Joanie's face went red hot with anger. 

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