Chapter Sixty-Five
Jamie and Salzy each had a cold beer, while Joesph had a martini as they sat outside, behind the diner. “I’m beat,” Salzy said, draining most of the cold beer. “I’m glad you got the AC in the diner fixed.”
“They’ll be back to do your apartment on Friday,” Joesph said, sighing. “I only wish they could do Jamie’s, too.”
“Yeah. All in good time,” Jamie said, wiping his head with a kitchen towel. “I want to let the dust settle around here a bit, and we’ll need to get yours done first. In the meantime, I’ll get us some window units for the summer.”
“Terry gave me the name of a local architect and builder. I have a meeting with them on Friday morning.” Joesph plucked an olive from his martini glass and popped it into his mouth.
“I can’t wait for the guys to see this place when they get back. It is going to blow their minds,” Salzy said, smiling, showing off his white teeth.
“Sooo...” Joesph drew out the word. “Now would be a good time for you to tell us about your date last night.”
Jamie glared at his friend. “Why do you even want to know?”
“Because, my love, I want you to be happy. To have your forever love.” Joesph smiled. “It’s because I love you and you’re my bestest friend in the whole wide world.”
“Okay, I’ll give you some details, but... you’ll have to settle for that. I don’t go around telling you or anyone else about my sex life.” Jamie took a deep breath. “Yes, we had sex.” He paused, then went on to say, “We had a lot of sex. I had more sex last night than I’ve had in over a year.”
“Dayum,” Salzy gushed. “Wait, how much sex did you have in over a year?”
Jamie blushed. “Five times last night.”
“I knew it!” Joesph slapped the top of the table, causing their drinks to bounce. “It had to be good or else you’d have stopped at just one time.” Joesph looked up at the sky. “Hallelujah!”
“Okay, you’ve had more sex than I’ve had in ages,” Salzy said, shaking his head.
“Did you bottom?” Joesph asked, leaning forward, hanging for Jamie to answer.
“I’m not telling you that!”
“Yeah, and by not telling, that means you did bottom!” Joesph grinned.
“We went back and forth if you have to know.” Jamie scowled at Joesph. “Happy now?”
Joesph sat back, a smug look on his face. “See, I did get it out of you. Now was that so hard?”
Jamie groaned. “Very.”
They all turned as Mike’s truck came around the corner of the diner. Jamie turned on Joesph. “You don’t say a single word, you hear me?”
“Yes, I hear you,” Joesph answered, with that smug look back on his face. “I get to design the wedding, though.”
“Wedding?” Salzy asked, snorting. “I’m your best man then.”
“I beg your pardon,” Joesph snapped. “I’m his best friend, that is my job!”
“Okay, then I’ll be a groomsman.” Salzy grinned like a wild man. “I can live with that.” Then he belched loudly.
Joesph glared at him. “I am going to have to teach you some manners first.”
“Hello, everyone,” Mike said as he approached the three. He held up a large box. “I brought dinner.”
Jamie couldn’t help but stare at the handsome man, still in his uniform. “Hey. Thanks for that. I think we’re all a bit drained. Between busting our butts off and this heat, we’re just done.”
Mike set the box on the table, then leaned over to kiss Jamie. “Hello, good-looking.”
Jamie could feel his stomach knot and a fullness in his groin that hadn’t been there a second ago. “Uh, hello.”
“What’s in the box. It smells like fish,” Salzy asked, pulling away the brown paper wrapping.
“It’s a seafood, fish, and chips combo. I got it at that fishmonger’s place over in the industrial park.” Mike leaned in and kissed Jamie again, this time just a quick peck on the lips. “I hope that’s okay?”
“Then you probably met Jeff,” Jamie said. “I didn’t know they did cooked meals.”
“They only do dinner, and you have to call ahead to order,” Mike informed them. “Is it okay if I go up and get a glass of ice water?”
“Of course,” Jamie answered. “Help yourself. There is beer if you want.”
“No, I’ll just stick to water. It’s been so hot all day.” Mike unbuttoned his uniform shirt and took it off, laying it on the other table. “Be right back.”
Joesph watched Jamie the whole time. When Mike was at the top of the stairs and out of earshot, he said, “Oh man, you got it bad. Which is a very good thing.”
“Maybe I should get you a drool cup,” Salzy snarked.
“Would the two of you just shut the hell up.”
Salzy giggled. “You should just say yes and marry the guy. It’s obvious that you like him and... he’s pretty hot. He could be like one of those calendar models or something.”
“Yeah, or something,” Joesph agreed, standing up. “I need another drink.”
“Could you bring me down a beer, please?” Salzy asked.
Joesph slowly lowered his gaze to Salzy, his eye half shut. “When did I become the drinks server? Huh?”
“Pretty please, with sugar on top?”
“Oh hell,” Joesph said as he rolled his eyes.
“Thank you.” Salzy beamed as he handed Joesph his empty beer bottle.
“What about you?” Joesph asked Jamie.
“Naw, I’ve got iced tea in the walk-in. I’ll get it.”
Mike came down the steps with one of the disposable cups and a stack of paper plates and napkins. “We should eat before it gets cold.” Mike sat down close to Jamie. “How was your day?”
“Busy.” Jamie blew out his breath. “And it will be all-hands-on-deck tomorrow, too.”
“Wish I could be here,” Mike said as he nudged Jamie’s shoulder.
“Salzy, go in and get us some ketchup,” Joesph called down as he descended the stairs. “I must have ketchup with French fries.”
“Do you know why they’re called French fries?” Jamie asked.
“Uh, no. Why?” Salzy stood up to go into the diner for the ketchup.
“Because Americans wouldn’t understand the term julienne, the cut the French use. The French would simply say friets, or pommes frites.”
“Okay, that’s interesting,” Mike said. “You know so much about food.”
“Weird,” Salzy said, turning to go into the diner.
“Hey, as soon as we’re done with dinner, we need to turn on the signs and have a look,” Joesph said as he sat down.
“I’m curious about dinner,” Jamie said as he loaded up his plate with fried shrimp, fried oysters, fried catfish, onion rings, and French fries. “Jeff said he did all the cooking at home.”
“His wife doesn’t cook?” Salzy asked before munching down on a French fry.
“No,” Jamie laughed. “Sarah can’t cook a thing. Even Mamaw tried to teach her and gave up.”
“These oysters are delicious,” Joesph commented.
Jamie put a French fry in his mouth, chewed, and paused. “Okay, I know that look. What’s wrong with the fries?” Mike asked, studying Jamie.
“Undercooked, lack of seasoning,” he answered. “Needed a full two more minutes in the fryer. I’d say the oil temperature dropped before they were put in.”
“That’s amazing that you can tell that from just one bite,” Salzy said, munching down on an onion ring. “These are good.”
After they polished off dinner, sat for a few minutes, enjoying the breeze that came with twilight, they decided it was time to check out the new signs for the diner. Salzy was given the task to flip the breaker for the new signs while the others waited outside.
When the signs were lit, Jamie’s jaw dropped. “Well?” Joesph asked.
Jamie turned his head towards Joesph. “You’ve outdone yourself. Again.”
“They look so good,” Mike commented, then draped his arm across Jamie’s shoulders.
“Oh, wow,” Salzy said when he came outside. “Those are fantastic!”
A horn blew behind them, and a man leaned out of the car window. “Is the diner open?” He asked.
Jamie turned. “Oh, hi, Mr. Westler. No, just looking at the new signs. We’ll be open on Saturday for lunch, then back to the regular schedule.”
“Howdy, Jamie. Good to know. I’ll spread the word. Looking forward to having some biscuits and gravy. The signs look really good. Your grandparents would be proud.”
“Thanks, Mr. Westler. That means a lot to me. Hope to see you Saturday.”
“You can plan on it. Have a good night.” He waved and drove away.
“You know, you’re going to have a house full when you open up, don’t you?” Mike said, smiling. “I need to make a reservation, if I can?”
“You don’t need a reservation,” Jamie said, chuckling.
“I do if I’m bringing my crew.”
“What? How many are in your crew?”
“We’re small. One of the smallest specialized groups. Not big enough to call a platoon or squadron. We do specialty work, so there are only ten of us,” Mike answered proudly. “I’ve got some of the best-skilled guys there are.”
“Yeah, that Hasha guy is very talented. I wish he had his own shop. I’d use him a lot,” Joesph said. He looked over at Mike. “You can tell him that, too. And he’s quite handsome.”
Jamie scratched his head. “Wow, ten. What time?”
“How ’bout around six thirty? That okay?” Mike asked.
“Yeah. Remind me so I can write it down somewhere.” Jamie looked back towards the diner. “It all looks so good.”