Chapter 21 Crap Burgers
CRAP BURGERS
“This place is kind of dead, Randy,” I told him, while trying to figure out how best to get the enormous burger in my hand into my mouth.
“Sure is. I mean, what were they thinking?”
I raised an eyebrow, unsure exactly what he was making a point about.
“A burger joint, in this area? Rich people don’t eat in burger joints.”
“I’m pretty sure rich people eat burgers,” I told him.
“Not the ones around here, not old money. Not in public anyway, especially with these garish green neon lights. It’s like a rave version of Burger King. The burgers aren’t even that good. The Fat Relish? The Cheese Beefstar? Give me a break.”
I frowned at him, wondering what this was all about.
“I’m sensing bad vibes here, Randy. Why the heck did you bring us here if you hate it so much?”
“You remember when I told you about Harry’s?”
“Yeah, your uncle’s restaurant, where you learned how to cook?”
Randall nodded, then his eyes took in the room, and he sighed.
“Well. This is it.”
“This is the place?”
“Was the place.”
His expression simmered with contempt for a moment before he relaxed again.
“I guess it’s changed a bit since then?”
“It’s like a nightmare,” He scowled back.
“What would you call your restaurant anyway?”
“You know, that’s one thing I can’t figure out.”
“Why not Randy’s? Oh, the slogan could be Do I make you Randy, baby?”
He looked at me like I was insane.
“What in the fuck was that accent?”
“Austin Powers!”
“The wrestler?”
“We really need to get you a movie channel subscription, Randall,” I sighed.
He looked up from glugging down his ‘Quake Shake’ with whipped cream nestled on his nose, and I laughed at him. When he realized what was so amusing, Randy crossed his eyes to look at his nose and laughed back.
“You want to get that for me?” He teased.
I leaned over the table and, with one long lick, playfully took the cream off his nose, giggling. I meant to sit back down, but something stopped me and held me there in front of his face. A sweet, rushing moment where only our eyes were talking to each other.
I heard a cough to my side, and we both looked over to see a purse-lipped waitress standing beside us.
“Can I get you anything else?”
“Maybe some more cream,” Randy said, hopefully.
“To go,” I added.
As we burst out in laughter, the waitress rolled her eyes and retreated.
Turning back to Randy, I saw that a beautifully sinful look had descended on his face.
“You wanna get out of here?”
I blushed back at him. “Do you ever stop?”
“I can’t help myself around you. I feel like I have to have you or I might die or something.”
“Great! Let’s test that out, because I’ve got to go.”
“Wait. Will you do it?”
“The date?”
“The date.”
“And your family will be there?” I sighed.
“That’s right.”
“When?”
“Thursday.”
I rolled my eyes, already regretting my decision, then I took a pen out of my purse, pausing as I noticed the little milagro I’d been given by Leon next to it. I scrawled down my address on a paper Galaxy Burger placemat and passed it to Randy.
“Pick me up?”
“I’ll be there at six, okay?” He nodded back.
“Okay, Randy. But you’re going to owe me a lot more than cheap burgers. And I’m still mad as hell with you.”
I saw that wicked glow flicker in his smile again.
“I’m sure I can think of something.”