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“Absolutely.” He turns to grab a plate. “So, who’s it this time, Leah?”
She sighs and wraps her arm around my waist as if she’s helping me stand, but I think I might be helping her. “My son.” She takes a breath. “He got shot earlier, but thank God he’s fine.” She puts her hand on my arm.
“José, please no pizza for Eve.” She waves her hand dramatically. “Make her plate like mine, thank you.” She smiles at him and looks ten years younger. I almost say something, but I want her to like me so I stop myself. Also, José is doing her bidding. I guess it doesn’t matter what I want.
“I’m going to be frank, and I hope you don’t mind.” She moves us toward a cooler full of beverages. I nod and swallow as I reach for a can of Coke. She doesn’t even stop but casually takes the can out of my hand as though I’m three and replaces it with a bottle of water. I bite my lip, because come on, this is almost comical. If Jason wasn’t in a hospital bed recovering from being shot, it would be hilarious.
José places our trays in front of us and I look down at boneless chicken and I think spinach? Not positive but it’s dark green with chunks of garlic so I’m betting on that.
“Thank you, José.” She smiles again and I follow with my tray like a lost puppy.
“I’ll grab us a salad and—”
“Bread,” I interrupt before she pays. “Please, I need bread.” Her green eyes twinkle looking way too much like Jason’s.
She sighs. “Fine. Grab some rolls and butter.” I quickly grab a plate and load it with four rolls and butter before she changes her mind.
“Okay, I’m ready.” I sigh as if I just scored. Again, absurd considering I met this woman an hour ago.
She pays and we slide into a hard plastic booth. She places her napkin on her lap and I mimic her. She looks up and her eyes seem tired and sad.
“So, Eve… tell me, how old are you?”
I reach for my cold bottle of water and twist the top open. “Nineteen.” I take a sip, the coolness making my hot mouth and tongue almost yearn for me to guzzle it. I should feel bad about lying, but I’m almost nineteen and the way she’s looking at me makes me think lying is best.
“Hmm.” She picks up her knife and fork and starts cutting her chicken. “I was even younger when I met Jason’s father. He was the most beautiful man I have ever seen.” She grins. “Well, besides my son. The thing is… I thought I was in love. But I wasn’t.” She takes a bite and I take a breath. How do I answer any of this? Sorry?
“Anyway…” She waves her fork in the air. “He was the president. It became obvious that the club came first, his bike second, the kids third, and then maybe one of his whores or me.”
I almost choke on my swig of water. “That’s awful,” I wheeze out.
“Yes, it was. This life they live is like their own world and he was king.” She looks down at her lap. “He killed Chuckie.”
“What? He killed his own son?” I’m completely shocked. You’d think someone would have mentioned that.
“It was his lab. He made Chuckie go with him that night. I hated him before, but after the accident…” She looks up at me, her green eyes swimming with tears. “After Chuckie and David’s girlfriend and baby died in that explosion, well, it was good he got blown up too because I would have murdered him.” She sets down her fork and reaches for her water, letting her words circle around us.
“I had no idea.” Well, I had a little idea, but it seems right to let her talk. “Jason doesn’t talk about his past.” I almost reach across the table for her hand, but I don’t.
“They we’re close, Jason and Chuckie, but Jason was away in the Navy. He was never supposed to be the president. Never,” she hisses as tears run down her face. This time I do reach for her hand as tears start to cascade down my cheeks too.
“I’m sorry.” She pulls her hand away. Sitting up straighter, she reaches into her purse and puts on her dark sunglasses then starts to cut her food again. I look down at my food and slowly start eating.
“I gave up everything for that man and all it did was give me heartache. Are you sure that’s what you want?”
I drop my fork with a loud clatter and look her in the eyes. “I love Jason, and yes, he is exactly what I want.”
She stares at me so long I start to squirm in the hard plastic booth. I’m about to say something, but she beats me to it.
