Chapter Seven #2
Before losing my courage, I jump out of the truck and stand in front, placing my hands on my hips. Lucas sits stock still, looking up at the building through the windshield. I see him slouch his shoulders and drop his chin to his chest before getting out of the truck.
“If we end up on one of those cold case shows you watch, I’m going to be so mad at you,” he says grumpily.
“If we end up on a cold case show, I don’t think you’d have the ability to be mad at me,” I say a little too smugly.
“I’ll find a way.”
The moment we step inside, I immediately regret my decision.
The bell over the door doesn’t bring a warm welcome.
Not that I expected a Cheers-like greeting with everyone shouting my name, although there is a Norm-looking person and a grumpier, motorcycle-club-looking Cliff who’s scowling at us over his coffee mug.
Maybe I shouldn’t have trusted Larry.
An older woman in a faded yellow blouse and matching skirt walks up to us, narrowing her eyes. “Can I help you? I think you might be lost.”
“I…uh…” With all the eyes of the customers on us, I’ve lost my nerve. I use every ounce of my willpower not to turn around and run.
“Well?” she demands.
“Sasquatch,” Lucas says confidently.
I look over at him, finding his shoulders squared, chin raised.
The woman, who I now notice is wearing a name tag reading Eleanor, narrows her eyes even more. “Who told you that?”
So this is the bouncer. She’s a little scary.
“Doesn’t matter,” Lucas says simply, not offering any more information.
She looks us up and down for another moment before giving a very audible huff, grabbing two menus from the host stand behind her, and turning away from us. “This way.”
Okay, she’s very scary. I can see why they’ve made her the bouncer.
She doesn’t wait a moment before leading us to a booth in the back of the diner, making sure to parade us through all the tables of locals, who gawk at us as we pass.
“Drinks?” Eleanor says, nearly throwing the menus in front of us as we slide into our seats.
“Two sodas, please?” I don’t mean for it to come out as a question, but at least I said something.
She huffs again, giving us another lingering side eye before walking away.
Lucas glances up from his menu, surveying the room. “I sure hope you know what you’re doing.”
“Not even a little.” I can’t focus as I look down at my menu with how hard my heart is pounding in my chest. I do manage to notice something that’s a little off-putting.
Leaning forward, I lower my voice to a whisper, trying to make it look like I’m reading what’s in front of me.
“The name of the restaurant isn’t even on the menu. ”
“Nope,” Lucas says.
“What am I supposed to order? Under burgers, it says, ‘Don’t bother, we know your usual.’”
“Mmhmm,” he replies, and I know he’s thrilled at being here, and it’s all because of me.
Eleanor returns, sliding two glasses in front of us with dark liquid that I’m praying is Coke. “Burger, salad, or soup?” she asks.
I feel like this is a test, and one I’m about to flunk.
“Burger?” I respond, wishing I could sound confident in anything I say in this town.
“Hmph,” she huffs, giving me another once over before turning to Lucas. “You?”
“Burger, please.” He places his menu on mine before handing them both to her. “We’ll both have beef, with cheese, extra pickles, and fries on the side.” He holds her gaze, and I see the side of his jaw tick.
What. Is. Happening?
Lucas is in some weird staring contest with the bouncer of an unnamed diner, and I’m noticing the way his jaw ticks?
“Good.” She gives him a nod before sparing me a parting glance and walking toward the kitchen.
“What just happened?” I whisper, picking up my drink and giving it a sniff—relieved it is Coke—before taking a sip.
“Not sure.” He doesn’t take a sniff of his drink before taking a big gulp, eyeing up the remaining customers who send questioning looks our way.
“Thank you,” I say quietly, looking down at the glass in my hands.
“For what?” From the corner of my eye, I see that he isn’t looking at me. He’s currently in a staring contest with a man wearing a red bandana and a single gold hoop earring.
Interesting.
“For freezing up back there. Well, and for putting us in this situation to begin with. It sounded like fun at the time…”
“You don’t need to apologize for that. We’re here now. I handled it.”
“You shouldn’t have to handle anything,” I mutter.
With a raise of his eyebrow, the staring competition seemed to end in Lucas’s silent victory before he brings his attention back to me. “It’s nothing, Lia. I think I can handle… whatever this town is.”
My face breaks out in a smile. Not just because of his childhood nickname for me that he’s used all our lives. It’s just because of who he is. “You’re like a jack-of-all trades, aren’t you? Math teacher, questionably safe pickup driver, conqueror of small towns…”
“I don’t know about that, exactly. If anything, I’m a jack-of-all-trades, master of none.” He smirks.
I’m about to retort that he’s not giving himself enough credit, and truly mean it.
I’ve known Lucas my whole life, but in these last two days, I feel like I’m seeing a whole new side of him.
He’s always been the strong, silent type, but now, sitting across from him in this booth, I can fully see the man he’s become.
Even if it’s all because of this wacky town.
“Food’s up,” Eleanor grumbles, dropping our plates in front of us a little harder than necessary.
She sends a glare my way. I don’t miss how it softens slightly for Lucas, and I can’t tell if that’s because she’s warming to him or if there’s something we need to worry about.
If I’m not mistaken, she may have a slight smile, which is a little more concerning.
“Thank you,” I say, praying nothing was done to our food, although with Lucas possibly being the favourite, it might just need to be my food I have to worry about.
“Thanks, Eleanor.” Lucas takes the burger in both hands and takes a bite, all while Elanor and the regulars watch.
She waits until he takes another bite before she gives him a nod and leaves us, the rest of the room returning to their conversations.
“What was that about?” I whisper, leaning across the table.
“It was a test.” He grabs his drink, taking a sip. “Hot peppers in the burger.”
“What?” I move to take the top bun off my burger, but Lucas stops me. “Don’t.”
“You know I can’t do spicy food,” I gasp.
“Do you want to be able to leave here relatively unscathed, or see what the residents of Flat Rock Falls do to those crashing their lion’s den?” Sweat breaks out over his forehead, and if that’s happening, it’s even spicier than I thought. Lucas puts hot sauce on everything.
“How am I going to do this?” I ask. “I can’t even eat a jalapeno!”
“Just do what you can.” He takes a deep breath before raising the burger to his mouth. “Eat fast. Drink as little as you can. We’ll guzzle drinks in the truck and stop for ice cream at the next town over.”
Sucking in a breath, I muster any courage I have left and pick up my burger. I can feel the weight of some gazes on me, but I try to push them out of my mind. Bracing myself for my tongue to likely catch fire, I take a bite, immediately closing my eyes and fighting off a coughing fit.
“Hot pepper?” Lucas asks through another bite.
“Black pepper. Lots of it.” My eyes water as I fight off the urge to both sneeze and cough at the same time.
“Thanks, Larry,” Lucas mutters, shoving the last of his burger in his mouth.
While I can’t say that I thank him for eating this pepper-filled burger, I do have to thank him for giving me this time with Lucas, because sitting here in this run-down, mysterious diner, with his backwards cap and fire-red cheeks, I don’t think I’d prefer to be anywhere else.