Chapter 14
Kayla
I don’t turn back. “Yeah, we don’t ever bring that conversation up again.” Ransom laughs again. A waitress comes over to us, and I watch the moment her eyes land on Jackson and Ransom.
Her smile brightens. “Hi, welcome to Luizzo’s. Four of you?”
I glance at Jackson, but he’s scanning the restaurant. And Ransom’s looking at something on his phone, so it falls to me to answer. “Yes, thanks.”
“All right. Follow me.”
I take the lead with Noah beside me, and Jackson and Ransom follow. We pass the buffet as we walk to the table, and my stomach growls loudly. “You shouldn’t have given me your food this morning,” Jackson says, suddenly closer to me.
I roll my eyes and stop at the table the waitress stops at.
“Here we go.” I stand outside the booth for a moment, unsure where everyone wants to sit.
Jackson steps closer and nods towards the booth, so I slide in.
Noah slides in the booth across from me, and Ransom slides in after him.
I am wholly unprepared for sitting next to Jackson.
He’s such a big guy that we’re almost thigh to thigh.
“What can I get everybody to drink?” our waitress asks.
“I’ll take a Coke,” Ransom says.
“Water,” Jackson says.
“I’ll take a water as well,” I tell her when she looks at me. Noah looks across the table at me, a question in his eyes. Water, I mouth to him; and he nods.
Jackson turns to me. “He can get a drink if he wants.” His voice is low, so only I can hear him.
I look up at the waitress. “He’ll take a Sprite please.”
The waitress closes her book. “I’ll grab those and be back. Everybody doing the buffet?” We all nod. “All right. Go ahead; plates are up at the buffet. Enjoy.” She leaves us, and I wait for it to get awkward.
“You ready to get some pizza, Noah?” Jackson asks, and Noah nods.
“Let’s go then.” He slides out and then turns to me, putting his hand out.
I really don’t need his hand to get out, but I take it anyway.
He pulls me to my feet, and I make the mistake of looking up at him.
But his eyes aren’t as intense as they usually are.
“You like pizza?” he asks casually, turning towards the buffet.
“Pretty sure everybody in the world likes pizza,” I say in return.
“What if I don’t like pizza?”
I stop and stare at him. “You don’t like pizza?”
He shrugs. “It’s not my favorite.”
“How is that even possible? That’s just...un-American.”
“What is?” Ransom asks, joining us with a plate stacked high with pizza.
“He doesn’t like pizza,” I say in exasperation.
“Oh. That’s because Jackson’s like a ninety-five-year-old man stuck in a twenty-five year old’s body.”
“I am not,” Jackson says, elbowing him. He turns to Noah, who I didn’t even realize was still waiting on us.
“Come on, Noah. Let’s do this.” I watch as Jackson and Noah walk towards the buffet, but I don’t move.
I don’t know what to make of it; Noah doesn’t even look back at me.
They walk through the line looking at the different pizzas. I finally walk towards the two of them.
“What looks good?” I ask when I get close.
“All of it,” Noah says, and I can’t help but agree. I take in all the pizza, plus the breadsticks, salad, and more. “This is amazing,” I breathe.
Jackson stops next to me. “Fill up a plate.”
I grab a plate and put some salad on it, a breadstick, a piece of cheese pizza, a piece of pepperoni pizza, and some extra marinara on the side before heading back to the table.
Jackson sees me coming and slides out, so I can scoot in.
Once I’m in, he slides in next to me. This time, there is no space between us.
I'm not sure if he did that on purpose or if it just happened. I should feel penned in and claustrophobic that I can’t easily get out, and yet, I don’t.
I’m too hungry to care. I pick up the pepperoni pizza first and eye Noah.
“Ready?” I ask him. His lips tug up, and he lifts a piece as well.
“Go.” We both take a bite at the same time.
I can’t remember the last time I had good pizza, and this is good pizza.
“Mmmm, that is so good.” Noah nods and takes another huge bite.
My first piece disappears in seconds, and I notice Noah’s does as well.
We’re both well into our second piece when I notice Ransom and Jackson aren’t eating.
Jackson’s body is stiff, and I stop eating and put my piece down.
My eyes bounce between the two of them. I swallow.
“Is everything okay?” Jackson turns his head towards mine, and I suck in a breath at his eyes.
“Your eyes,” I breathe. Without a word to any of us, he shoves himself out of the booth and strides towards the front door.
I watch him go, unsure what just happened.
I look across the table at Ransom, but he takes a bite of pizza.
Noah meets my eyes, and I see the uncertainty...
the fear. Without another thought, I slide from the booth. “I’ll be right back.”
I stride towards the front of the restaurant where Jackson disappeared.
I open the door and scan the parking lot.
A hand grabs my elbow, and I panic. I jerk my arm free, but Jackson is suddenly in front of me.
“Sorry, it’s just me.” He lifts both hands, and when I think about it, his hand was gentle on my elbow.
I just couldn’t help my reaction. He palms the back of his neck, and I stare at him.
“Are you okay?” I ask softly.
“Am I okay?” he asks, harshly. “I just scared you.”
I wave him off. “I spook easily; it’s okay.” I cross my arms over my chest, feeling vulnerable suddenly.
“I hate that.”
I look up at him. “What?” He closes his eyes again. Uncertainty flows through me. “Jackson, what’s going on?”
He opens his eyes. “Are you and Noah going hungry?”
Shock flows through me. “What?”
“You and Noah...do you have enough food?”
I take a step back. “We’re fine.”
He studies my face, and then he throws me another curveball. “How old are you?”
I narrow my eyes. “Why does it matter?”
He palms the back of his neck again. “How old are you, Kayla?” His voice is soft, gentle almost; it’s so at odds with his entire demeanor right now.
I lift my chin. “I turned nineteen recently.”
His eyes sharpen. “When?”
I shrug. “Recently.”
“I’m gonna find out, you know.”
I feign indifference. “Are you good now? Past...whatever that was?”
His eyes search mine. “Can you just tell me? Do you and Noah have enough food to eat?”
I laugh, but it sounds hollow even to my own ears. “We’re fine, Jackson.” I take a step backwards; I need to get back in there. “I’m heading back in.” He doesn’t seem surprised by my words, and I pause uncertainly, “Are you coming back in?”
“Yeah, I will in a minute.”
“You’d better hurry before we eat all your pizza,” I warn, but he doesn’t crack a smile.
“Go for it,” he says in response.
I watch him a moment longer and then head inside.
I don’t really know what to make of it all.
He’s definitely making a big deal of nothing.
Noah and I may not have an abundance, but we’re making it.
When I get back to the table, Noah’s anxious eyes meet mine.
I smile and slide into the booth. “You’d better not have eaten all my pizza. ”
“If we did, we’ll never confess,” Ransom says, taking a big bite of pizza. “Will we, Noah?”
I continue with my second piece of pizza; it’s just as delicious as the first piece.
I finish it and start on the breadstick and then finish with the salad.
I push my plate forward and meet Noah’s eyes.
“Ready for round two?” He nods. “Let’s go.
” Ransom slides out, so Noah can get out.
“You want us to grab anything for you, Ransom?”
“No, you two go on ahead. I’ll be going back up in just a minute.”
Noah and I head up to the buffet. “Which kind is your favorite so far?” I ask Noah.
“The sausage and pepperoni.”
“Of course.” He’s a meats kid. He grabs another piece of sausage and pepperoni, and I grab a piece of chicken, bacon, and ranch pizza that looks amazing.
I grab another breadstick and sauce. Then, for good measure, I grab a piece of the taco pizza they just put out.
Noah’s eyes widen at my loaded plate, causing me to smile.
“What? I’m hungry.” We walk back to our table, and I look up to see Jackson headed our way.
I slide into the booth, and Jackson slides in next to me.
“How’s the pizza?” he asks, acting as if nothing is wrong, as if he didn’t just leave us at the table for a few minutes.
“It’s really good,” I tell him.
“Great,” Noah says.
Jackson nods. “Good.”
I take a bite of the taco pizza. “Oh, good grief.” I close my eyes and savor what has to be the best pizza I’ve ever tasted. When I open my eyes, I take in the three sets of eyes focused on me. “What? It’s really good. Did you guys try the taco pizza? It’s amazing.”
“Taco pizza?” Jackson asks, making a face. “I didn’t even know that was a thing.”
“Right? It’s seriously amazing. Don’t knock it till you try it.”
He makes another face. “I’m good. I think I’ll stick to normal kinds of pizzas.”
“What? Like supreme?” I push.
He frowns, and Ransom lets out a small laugh. I look over at him. “Jackson wouldn’t touch a supreme pizza with a ten-foot pole.”
“Why?” I ask, curious.
“Yeah, Jackson. Why?” Ransom asks with a wry grin.
I don’t miss the scowl Jackson sends him. “I don’t like vegetables,” he finally admits.
“You mean you don’t like vegetables on your pizza?” I ask.
“No. I don’t like vegetables. Period.”
I stare at him. “None?”
He turns to me. “None.”
“Not even carrots? Corn on the cob? Red peppers? Onions?”
He gives me an unimpressed look. “None.”
“Well, that’s just not possible,” I argue.
“I assure you it is,” he says in response.
“You obviously haven’t tried the right veggies yet,” I tell him.
“Don’t waste energy on it,” Ransom throws in from his side of the table. “It’s a lost cause.”
“What about broccoli and cheese casserole?” I ask.
Jackson frowns. “I don’t know what that is, but no.”
“What about honey carrots? Or cucumber salad?”
“Still all vegetables,” he counters.
I cross my arms over my chest and sit back against the booth. “I’m going to make you love vegetables.”
He turns, so his eyes meet mine. “Is that so?”
“It is.”
“It’s not going to work, Kayla,” Ransom adds.
“I’m going to try. Butch has taught me a thing or two over the past two months.”
Jackson appears to think about it. “Okay. Hit me with your worst.”
“My best,” I argue.
We make chitchat while we finish eating, but it’s nothing serious. Jackson picks up the bill, even though I try to argue with him about it. “I can’t breathe,” I complain. “I ate way too much.”
“Yeah. I think you ate more than Jackson,” Ransom says.
“And that’s no easy feat. Well, that was fun.
I'll see you two around.” Ransom climbs into his car, and Jackson opens my door for me.
Noah climbs into the backseat, while I pull myself into the large truck.
“Anywhere else you need to go before I take you home?” Jackson asks once he’s in the driver’s seat.
“I think we’re good; thank you. And thank you for the meal; that was so good.”
“Yeah,” Noah pipes up from the backseat. “Thank you.”