Gutter - Part 2: The Shine by Tiana Laveen

Author:Tiana Laveen [Laveen, Tiana]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction
Publisher: The Lions Den
Published: 2021-09-04T18:30:00+00:00

“Donuts? Yeah, I could go for those. I don’t like the ones with sprinkles though,” Jenny said.

“I got you. I know what you’d like. You have a lot of coconut cookies in a tin. Is that your thing? I bet it is.”

She smiled at him, her expression innocent.

Gutter opened the door of Doughnut Plant on 47th Avenue, in Queens, and let Jenny in ahead of him. Rubbing her gloved hands together, she sighed with pleasure when the heat inside the eatery swathed them like a warm blanket. Her red nose and cheeks slowly returned to their natural complexion.

“Hey, what’s up.” He approached the counter when it was his turn in the popular shop. “Let me get two of your blueberry lemonade sourdough joints, a coconut cream, and a vanilla bean. Two Americano coffees.”

“You got it. Wait a minute. Are you Gutter? If not, you look a hell of a lot like him,” the Indian man behind the counter stated with a half-smile.

“Yeah, that’s me.”

“Cool. This is a good morning. I met Gutter.”

Zake laughed at that, then grabbed a napkin from the stack on the counter. “Hey, what’s your name?”

“Ishaan.”

“Give me a pen and I’ll give you an autograph.”

“Seriously?! Hey! Jim! Gimme a pen!”

Seconds later, Zake was signing the napkin. “How do you spell your name?”

“I-S-H-A-A-N,” the guy shouted over the noise, grinning.

“Here ya go.”

“Thanks, man! Wow! All right, I’ll have your order up in a second.”

Gutter nodded, paid for the food, and stood with Jenny by the door, looking out of the window.

“I liked going to your house yesterday. You deserve that and so much more. It was beautiful… you’re beautiful.” She turned to him, looking happy as could be.

She looks good today. If it weren’t for her weight, she could fool people into thinking she was healthy.

“Good. Glad ya liked it.” He rocked back on his heels and watched the employees moving around frantically to fulfill orders. “You just don’t have good taste like your son apparently. Made fun of my rare and mint condition miniature AC DC doll collection, but that’s all right. I’m sure you feel just awful about not appreciating it now.”

They shared a laugh.

“I’m sure you’re really hurt by that,” she teased, rolling her eyes. He jumped when she wrapped her arms around his, rested her head against his body, and squeezed. He settled into the feeling, trying to memorize the moment for when he might need to remember later in life.

“Jenny…”

“Yeah?”

“I’m in love.”

She nodded, grinning wide now. “I know. See? I’m good for somethin’ after all. I got cancer just so you could meet the girl of your dreams. Win-win situation.”

“You have a morbid sense of humor.”

“Eh.” She shrugged. “It gets me through. Can’t be serious about everything all the time.”

He took into her eyes that were just like his own, then her nose and mouth. She seemed oblivious to his gaze.

“Dad said you look like Debbie Harry. That’s why he wanted you so bad. I have to agree with him. Ya do.”

She laughed lightly at that, keeping her gaze straight ahead as they waited.

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