All I want is to make her happy.
“Okay,” I say. “Monster trucks, it is.”
I buy our tickets, and we hit the concession stand. Lexa seems hesitant to spend a lot of money, but with my encouragement, she orders popcorn, candy, soda, and ice cream. We practically waddle to our seats, our arms full of junk food.
I prepare myself for two hours of absolute hell, telling myself anything is worth it just to be with Lexa. To my surprise, I get into the movie, enjoying the tale of guys caught in a corrupt demolition derby and how they shoot their way out of it in the end with a big machine gun battle.
“You seemed to enjoy that,” Lexa laughs as the credits begin to roll.
“I did,” I answer. “It was really fun.”
“Good, I’m glad you liked it. Should we get some dinner now?”
“I’d love to! There’s a French restaurant not far from here.”
Lexa sighs. “Not what I had in mind, Kit.”
“Italian? Thai?”
Lexa sighs, her breath rattling from deep inside her chest, sounding a bit like a tired horse.
“Is there a food truck in town?”
“Food… truck?” I try not to gag on the words.
“Yeah. Something that sells burgers, fries, and corn dogs. That kind of thing.”
My stomach shrivels up, but I nod and try not to let my disgust show. “By the park. In… West End.”
“Oh, cool,” she says enthusiastically. “That’s Harry. I used to go there a lot. It’s so cool that he’s still operating.”
As we head out of the theatre, I wrestle with both my reluctance to eat any kind of food from a burger truck and sheer relief that Lexa did not react to my “West End” comment.
It’s where the poor live. It’s always spoken of in derogatory terms by the elders and first families. Grandfather would have burned it to the ground, but if he did, he’d have fewer people to rule.
I drive out to the park. When we arrive, Lexa bounces out of the car, hurrying over to the truck.
She’s definitely distracted, and that’s all that matters. I can cope with anything, so long as I can make her happy.
“Harry!” Lexa cries, jumping up at the middle-aged man in the truck window. “How have you been?”
“Lord, Lexa, is that you?” the man replies after a moment. “You’ve changed a bit, lil’ bub.”
Lexa laughs. “Not a bub anymore, old man.”
“You’ll always be a bub to me, lil’ girl. You want your usual?”
Lexa raises her eyebrows. “You still remember it, after all this time?”
“Of course I do! You’re a loyal customer. Hell, you’re practically family.”
“Cool, then make me the usual, and a beef special for my… date.”
Her hesitation over how to introduce me could have triggered me a little, if Harry wasn’t staring at me with massive, wide eyes and a slack jaw.
“Alpha!” he gasps. “It’s an honor to serve you.”
Please don’t fear me. I’m not my grandfather.
