"Have you sliced jalapeño?Everyone likes a good Spicy Margarita."
Franklin stared at him.Spicy Margarita?He didn't think they served Spicy Margarita.
"What did you say?"
Franklin startled at Elvin's voice.He'd forgotten he was there.
"Eh..."Axar looked uncertain, then focused on the empty air next to him, only to give the air a small smile.Franklin chanced a glance at Elvin.Their eyes met for a brief moment, and Elvin mirrored Franklin's concern.
"Tequila, jalapeño, cucumber, lemon, and Cointreau.You need to steep the jalapeño and cucumber in tequila for eight to twelve hours."He looked at the empty air again and frowned."Then strain it."
"What do you know about tequila and Cointreau?"Elvin studied him with suspicion.
Axar widened his eyes."Nothing.I...eh...I've never had tequila."
"And yet you know how to make a tequila and jalapeño infusion?"
"I don't know how to, but--" He gestured at the air next to him, and Franklin took a deep breath.
"You want to introduce us?"Was it wrong to acknowledge imaginary friends?
Axar didn't reply for a long time, then he lowered his voice into a whisper."Can you see her?"
Shit.Franklin glanced at Elvin, who made an exaggerated wince.
"No, sorry."
Disappointment overtook Axar's face, then he shrugged."She's the one who wants to come here all the time, but it's hard to get answers."
Right."Hard how?"He looked at Elvin again.
"Ghosts don't act like normal people.They talk when they want to and ignore you when they feel like it."
Ghosts.Was it different to believe you were talking to ghosts than to believe you had an invisible friend?Shit, he didn't know how to handle this.
"Did you sneak away from your mom?"Better to try to get some clarity about the dynamic of their relationship than dive deeper into the ghost thing.
"Neoma nagged me until I gave in.She kept a lookout and told me when to move and when not to."He shrugged."She'll notice soon."
"And come here?"
Axar drank some more water, avoiding Franklin's gaze.Then he groaned loudly."They're here."
"Who?"
"My family.They've parked outside."
How did they know to come here?
Axar's shoulders slumped, then he glared at the air next to him."I'm sorry I can't run faster.I'm doing the best I can."
"What do you mean you can't run--" His words cut off when the same three people walked in with determined steps.The woman's eyes were blazing with fury.
"Stop this nonsense."She glared at Axar and waved at the man next to her to grab him.He did, and exactly like last time, Axar went where he was guided without any signs of struggle.
"Mother, I'm an adult.I get to--"
"Shut up."
