Page 8 of The Crimson Wolf
It is a small town. Maybe they fucked. I, for one, do not want to dig up those details. An awkward silence passes between us.
“Drinks?” She pulls out her notepad without looking up at us.
“Yes. I’ll have a Coke and Red over here, will have a strawberry milkshake.”
“Wait, no.” I give him a confused look. “I’ll just have a water.”
Jack looks at me as if I just told him I hate puppies and sunshine.
Carmen rolls her eyes and wanders off without another word.
“But you always got the strawberry milkshake. I thought you would want one for old time’s sake.” Confusion and hurt flood his eyes.
I pull the menu to my line of vision and pretend to examine my options. “Well, I told you, a lot about me has changed.” I don’t want to mention that I’ve written off milkshakes ever since I moved away from here and vowed to shed my unwanted weight. It’s too depressing to mention.
An uncomfortable silence rolls between us, but thankfully, it doesn’t take long for Carmen to come back over with our drinks. She pulls out her notepad again. “What can I get ya?”
I speak up first this time. “I’ll have the chef’s salad.” I slide my menu to her. “Thank you.” I smile, hoping she doesn’t hate me for associating with Jack.
Jack shakes his head without looking up from his menu. “I’ll have the bacon burger with fries.”
“Just give me a few minutes, and I’ll be right out with that.” She smiles and winks at me, then disappears, leaving us with nothing to distract ourselves with.
“The chef’s salad, really?” He shakes his head at me. “No one gets the chef’s salad.”
I’m about to snap. Sure, he would think getting the chef’s salad is ridiculous. He doesn’t have an ounce of fat on him, and he never has. I, on the other hand, seem to gain weight just thinking about food. It hasn’t been a concern since moving to New York and walking everywhere, but I’m not in New York right now. I’m in the middle of nowhere, completely surrounded by fast-food restaurants. I breathe out, deciding to ignore his idiotic comment and focus on the matter at hand.
I fold my hands in front of me. “So, Jack. What can you tell me about what you saw at the scene of the attacks?”
He takes a long sip of his drink but still gazes at me. “You know, you’re really beautiful.”
My heart stops. “What?”
“I just realized I haven’t told you that in a while. You’ve always been beautiful, and it’s just so good to see you again.”
I can’t help how my body melts into my seat, and I’m finding breathing impossible. This isn’t the first time he’s told me something like this, but as always, it’s at the worst possible time. The tingly feeling in my limbs is quickly replaced by rage. He’s trying to distract me. He’s always known the effect he has on me.
I shake my head. “Jack, let’s not do this.”
“Do what?”
Before I can say more, Carmen comes back over with our food. Damn, the food comes out fast here. This diner has never been known for its fine dining. They probably just zap it in the microwave.
“Enjoy,” she says after plopping down our entrees and sauntering away.
I look at my wilted salad and see why people rarely order salads here. I try to find the words to respond to Jack. “Jack, I’m here for work. I need to learn more about these attacks, and I know you know more than you’re letting on. I’m really not in the mood to flirt or entertain the past. It’s too painful and in the way of what I’m trying to accomplish.”
He sighs and gives a wounded nod before biting his burger. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe you have changed.” He says once he’s finished chewing.
I nod and pick at my salad, waiting for him to say more. When he doesn’t, I speak up again. “Well?”
“I don’t know what you want me to say. I can’t…” He stops himself, looking like he’s trying to find the right words.
“Jack, you told me if I came here with you, you’d tell me more. Don’t tell me that you were just fucking with my head.”
“Red, I missed you. I wanted a chance to talk more—to go over everything that happened before you left. I think about it all the time.”
I bolt up from my seat. “No. I’m not doing this. I’m here for work. If you won’t help me get more answers about this story, I’ll do it myself.” I turn to walk away.
