Page 110 of Introvert
"Please call me Tony," he said, sending me a smile. "The whole Mr. Cordova thing makes me feel old."
"That's because you are," Felix said.
Ignoring him again, the man shrugged his broad shoulders that were so like his sons'.
"I don't know about anyone else, but I need a refill," he said, gesturing our waitress over. "Can I get another beer, sugar?"
"Of course," she said. "I'll be right backwith that, sir."
"No rush."
As the young woman walked away, his eyes stayed firmly on her backside.
"So, Tony," Hayden said. "What brings you here?"
"Heard my boys were in town. Everyone's talking about the tour."
"Glad to know our PR team's doing their job."
"They sure are."
Tony aka Mr. Cordova looked back at him.
"I hear the show's sold out," he said.
"It's our hometown," Hayden replied. "People like to come out and support. You know how it is."
"I do. That's why I'm here."
Ryker sat back in his chair. "You're coming to the show?"
"Of course."Tony nodded as the waitress delivered his beer and our food. "Thanks, sugar."
She set our order down on the table, checked to make sure no one else needed anything then left to serve her other customers. Tony immediately started digging in while everyone else seemed to be going through the motions. Even Santino, who usually ate with gusto, was reserved.
"Been a while since I've hadPresley's Pancakes," Elliot said.
"Yeah, the place has gone downhill in the last few years," Mr. Cordova said.
"They taste good to me."
He hummed then pointed a fork at his sons."I remember when me and your mom used to bring you two here when you were young.Ryker used to get the grilled cheese, and Felix, the only thing you'd eat were those breakfast potatoescovered in ketchup. Flat-out refused to try anything else."
"I was eight," Felix mumbled.
"Yeah well, you were both always picky."
"And you could never decide, had to sample everything on the menu."
Tony missed any deeper meaning behind the words because he was too focused on his food.He kept reminiscing about old times while the rest of the tablestayed mostly silent. By the end, his plate was totally clean.We had to get take-home boxes.
When the waitress came over with the check, Tony patted his pockets then looked up with the perfect mix of surprise and embarrassment.
"Oh shoot," he said. "I'm sorry, sugar. Imust've left my wallet at home."
Felix shook his head while Ryker sighed.
"Can somebody else get this one?"
