On the Hunt by Layla Nash

Author:Layla Nash [Nash, Layla]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Layla Nash

Chapter 31

Jinx

He followed directions well, which was something. I probably shouldn’t have proposed Julio’s since it was the kind of dive an accountant wouldn’t eat at without putting a handkerchief down on his seat first. It was a test. Everything was a test, after those weird “what if I wanted to stay” feelings earlier. Ridiculous. I was losing my mind.

Being surrounded by all those happy couples was playing tricks with my head. It wasn’t for me. They could have wedded bliss and pregnancies and people relying on them. I didn’t need it.

Todd parked the car at the edge of the optimistically named ‘parking lot’ outside the dive. I waited for him to suggest going somewhere else, like a nice chain Americana restaurant with burgers and weak beer and servers who sang “happy birthday” in some weird mangled version. Instead, he made a thoughtful noise and got out. “Looks great.”

Hmm. Was he trying to impress me by going with the flow, or did he really not care? I hated not being able to get a read on the guy, even when I studied his aura. I typically tried not to do that often, since it was cheating by giving me more insight into a person than they necessarily wanted me to have, but I couldn’t resist a little peek. He was thoughtful and distracted by something, but no fear or anger showed through. Some residual worry, a few personal connections reaching out into the darkness.

I led the way to the front door, not cruel enough to make him walk in first, and waved to the bartender as I made my way through the scattering of small tables and rickety chairs. There was usually at least one fight a week that smashed the furniture, so sitting down was a serious commitment and act of faith. I’d ended up on my ass more than I cared to admit, and that was even before I’d had more than one drink.

Todd studied the chair before he sat, and I held my breath waiting for him to wipe the seat. He held the plastic-coated menu by the very edges. “So what’s good here?”

“Everything.” I waved for the waitress to head over. “Trust me. I’ll order.”

“Maybe you don’t know what I like.”

I laughed. “Ten bucks says you love what I get you.”

“Done.”

Joke was on him, since ten bucks would just about cover the meal. I smiled at the waitress, who knew me well enough; she said “what d’ya want, hon” instead of just “what d’ya want” like most of the other patrons. “Bucket of beer, the Ricky Tick, and the Y’ain’t.”

His eyebrows rose as the waitress grunted her acknowledgement and left without a word, snatching up the menus before Todd could get a good look at what I’d ordered. He leaned back. “Well. I look forward to getting ten dollars from you. Might buy myself dessert with it.”

“They don’t serve dessert, and you’ll get booed out if you ask.” I tried not to laugh at his expression. “And don’t embarrass me or I won’t be able to come back.

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