AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Thanks.”
Alexander grins. “Look at this! Progress!”
I roll my eyes and so does Emmett, which only further delights Alexander.
“Come on,” he tells me. “You’ll love this place. Best burger in the city.”
Emmett holds the door for me, and I make sure to thank him as I walk inside. Alexander wasn’t kidding about it being a “little” burger joint. It’s a real hole in the wall: torn red vinyl booths, bad lighting, wood-paneled walls covered in signed dollar bills, photographs, bottle caps.
We go join the line near the counter to order, and I’m reading over the faded chalkboard menu hanging on the wall above the cash register when Emmett leans over.
“Get the classic burger. It’s the best they have.”
“Right. Okay, thanks.”
It’s our turn to order, and the cashier asks if it’ll all be on one tab. I open my mouth to explain I’ll be paying separately, and both Alexander and Emmett eye me like I’ve gone insane.
“Oh-kay,” I tease, stowing my wallet back in my purse. “In that case, I’ll take a chocolate milkshake too.”
Alexander smiles. “Make it three.”
I’m given the privilege of picking the table. I find a booth in the corner that’s not yet been cleaned off from the previous diners, but the restaurant is so busy we don’t worry about alerting someone. Emmett grabs some napkins and we wipe it down ourselves before taking our seats: me and Alexander on one side, Emmett on the other.
“I’m surprised you picked this place,” I tell Alexander.
He nods toward his brother. “Emmett introduced me to it.”
My eyebrows have to be in my hair. Emmett shrugs as if it’s no big deal.
“I like a good burger.”
Sure, but I would have assumed he’d like a good burger made by a Michelin-starred chef deconstructed and topped with microgreens, and I’m not shy about telling him so.
He actuallyalmostsmiles.
“I’m not as snobbish as you’d think.”
Our milkshakes get delivered before our burgers, which no one complains about. I scoop up a bite of whipped cream as Alexander asks, “Where’d you go off to on Friday? I said hi to you when you first got to my place then I got distracted by someone, and when I went to go look for you again, you were gone.”
“Oh…I was pretty tired. I left early.”
“So did Jonathan,” Emmett adds, innocently dropping his maraschino cherry into his mouth. “I called him today and he didn’t answer. You haven’t seen him around, have you, Emelia?”
I think back on when he caught Professor Barclay and me in the compromising position in the hallway and try not to blush.
I focus intently on my milkshake. “I think he’s in Cincinnati for work.”
“Oh, you know what?” Alexander says, scooting out of the booth. “I need to go wash my hands really quick. I’ll be back.”
And there you have it, the most awkward moment ever recorded: Emmett and me alone in that booth, facing each other but not making eye contact.
I reach for my water and sip, sip, sip.
Emmett checks his phone.
I peer over at the busy kitchen, trying to see if they’re working on our burgers yet or if we’ll be sitting here in purgatory for a good long while.
“I suppose I should start with an apology.”
