Paternus: Rise of Gods (The Paternus Trilogy Book 1) by Dyrk Ashton

Author:Dyrk Ashton [Ashton, Dyrk]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Publisher: Paternus Books Media
Published: 2016-04-30T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

Flowers & Figs 10

Fi and Zeke have barely touched their burgers and fries. They’re seated at a table in a downtown establishment that calls itself an Irish pub and boasts the “best burgers in town.” Peter obviously thinks they’re good enough. He’s devouring the second of two giant jalapeno cheeseburgers. Three empty beer mugs sit in front of him and the fourth is nearly gone. Zeke hunches in his chair, the bank manager’s cashmere overcoat wrapped tightly around him, sucking soda through a straw. He isn’t as chilled as he was, but his color hasn’t fully returned.

They haven’t spoken a word since they ordered, Peter having spent the intervening time between then and the arrival of the food chatting up a couple of attractive and well attired businesswomen at the bar. Since then he’s been busy eating but incredibly alert, scanning TV screens above the bar and the crowded tables, studying everyone and everything. Every once in awhile he’d close his eyes as if listening.

He’s watching people texting on their smart phones at the next table when Fi leans forward and speaks quietly, “Peter, you shouldn’t...” He looks at her inquisitively. “It’s rude.”

“Just catching up on the latest patois,” he responds, unabashed. ““Lol, lfmao, rotfl, those I know, or can figure out. But, YOLO!” he shouts. Nearby patrons look at him. “I’m assuming it means ‘you only live once,’ correct?”

Fi answers, embarrassed, “Yes, it does.”

“Not entirely true, but...” He waggles his head, thinking about it, then stuffs his face with the remainder of his chili fries.

Fi takes a sip of her water. She loves a good burger, but she isn’t hungry. Just exhausted and overwhelmed. She’d like nothing more than to wake up from this bizarre nightmare in her comfy bed, wrapped in her favorite quilt, and start the whole day over again. Without realizing, she lets out a dramatic sigh.

Peter pops the last bit of burger in his mouth and washes it down with the rest of his beer, some of which dribbles into his beard. He clunks the mug down and lets out a loud wet belch of satisfaction. “Pardon me,” he says with a grin.

“Oh, I don’t think so,” Fi retorts. “That was disgusting.”

He watches her languidly stirring ketchup with half a fry. “Fiona?”

She drops her fry onto the plate and gives him a squint-eyed, dirty look. Only her Uncle Edgar and Mrs. Mirskaya call her Fiona, and she likes it that way. “Finished?” she asks briskly.

“You’re not tired, are you?” Peter asks, ignoring her question.

She sits back, wiping her hands on the napkin in her lap. “Well, yeah. I am.”

Peter gives her the same scrutinizing look he gave Zeke earlier. “Hmm...”

“Hmm yourself!” she snaps, tossing the napkin on her plate.

Peter grins wide, greatly amused for some reason. He wipes his mouth on his sleeve then notices the two women he was talking to earlier shooting furtive glances his way. “If you’ll excuse me, and stay put, I need to use the little boys’ room.”

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