Chapter 4

Luca handed the last package to Chris. She took it, a little embarrassed. She liked to make gift but was always worried when she had to accept one. She looked at the package. It was square and well-wrapped. It even had a knot on it.

"Hurry up, Chris, we want to know what's inside." Victor teased her. She looked the faces of each of her colleagues to know who was waiting for the big reveal. Poker face. She couldn't decipher their expressions. She took her time to open the package. Under the wrap, the gift was inside a box. She opened it. Slowly. Meticulously. As she opened the little box, she let out a yell.

"Oh!"

All her friends looked at her, puzzled. "What's inside, girl?" Hondo asked her, trying to see over her shoulder. She remained silent for a few seconds. She was moved, really moved. She couldn't find the words. This gift was special… And she knew he alwayd listened to her, despite the arguments, despite the jackass she had been. She raised her head, her eyes were wet but she tried to hide from the others. She took a deep breath.

"It's a CD player, guys."

"CD player? But who uses this anymore when we have MP3 and Spotify… Except maybe Deac."

"Ah ah ah, very funny, Luca. Thanks for reminding me I'm the oldest in this team."

Chris was silent. She let people talk instead. She wanted to enjoy this moment. It had been a while since she had received a gift that was so intimate, so special. She looked at Jim and smiled. Jim smiled back shyly at Chris. He knew she was moved by his gift and he was glad she was. He knew she was moved. He knew he won't get more words from her because it was not her style. But he could say by the tears in her eyes, he had found the perfect gift.

Deac later left. Annie was alone with the kids and he wanted to enjoy time with them. Hondo followed. He had to pick Darryl by Leroy's where he spent the evening. He was not reassured. He told them earlier he had a bad feeling coming from his old friend. He was sure he wanted to bring Darryl to the streets when he was studying hard to enter college for more than two years.

"Courage, Boss. And if you need anything, we can talk to Darryl…"

"Thanks Chris. That means a lot."

He nodded to say goodbye and flew to his car, preoccupied by what he was gonna find when he picked Darryl. Victor, Luca, Chris and Jim stayed later. They talked, played cards and videogames, ate the rest of pizza and drank some beers.

"Time to leave, guys or Bonnie is gonna kill me."

It was already 2AM. "I shouldn't hang out too much either. I promise my uncle and aunt to help them tomorrow to make the new slab in their garden."

"I guess, it's time to leave too for me. Nothing planned in particular tomorrow, but I do need to sleep."

"Come on guys, It's only 2 in the morning."

They laughed, Luca was always there to party. "Another time, Luca. It was fun tonight but Bonnie needs me tomorrow to check on her little niece."

Chris and Jim followed Tan and each separated before reaching their own car. Tan left in a hurry. Chris and Jim remained alone in the street. Embarrassed, shy, speechless.

"I wanted to thank you for…" She stumbled on words. "For this gift… Really thank you… It's been a while since I haven't been touched so much by a gift."

She looked at him, smiling, her lips pinched. He let out a little laugh. "I'm glad I hit the nail on the head… When I saw it in the shop, I know I had to offer it to you… You know... Because of your mom… During the riots… I promise I didn't steal it."

She laughed. He remembered what she had told him last spring. He really could read her and it scared her because no one was able to do this before. "Tan spoiled you with this videogame too."

He nodded. "Yeah… Used to play to this game with Nate…"

She saw he was sad talking about his late foster brother. "Oh… At least, you have good memories with him. It counts."

"Yeah, it does. He was a good guy… He just chose the wrong path."

"Like many others…" She couldn't prevent her from thinking about her mom at this precise moment. "I'm sorry he's gone, Street…"

"Thanks. He was the closest thing I have to a family…"

"I know… I'm here if you need… Kind of know what it is having family issues…"She gave him a faint smile. He let out a laugh.

"I'm not in the move for going home tonight. Would you be Ok if we go for a walk?"