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Even if I did lie to her.
But in my defense, and after that weird ass call, I think she’s needing a place to lay low. So basically, I’m a hero. Kind of.
Sidney leans forward as I drop into the seat opposite. “This is . . . something.”
“Too much for you?”
She shakes her head. “A new experience. I like it.”
“Like Disneyland?”
“I know you’re trying to disparage me,” she says, straightening and picking up the old, laminated menu. “But you’re going to have to try harder. On a scale of one to ten, you’re about a two.”
Interesting. I catch the eye of the waitress who comes over. She pops gum and winks. “A Burns,” she says. “How are you, Mack? I’m guessin’ it’s Mack on account that ain’t Dakota with you.”
I laugh. “Got me. Mack it is.” I mean, we’re identical twins, we look alike in a lot of ways, but it’s easy enough to tell us apart. Lawson has that sheriff vibe going on and always has his badge with him, where I have stained hands and grease on my shirts. But I know June’s teasing. “And this is the princess.”
“Sidney,” she says, correcting me. “I’m not sure what I want.”
“The JD Special,” June suggests, looking her up and down. “Medium rare. With cheese.”
“Make it two.” I ease the menu from Sidney and hand it over.
When June sashays off, I grin at the suspicion on Sidney’s face.
“You better not have ordered me something weird.”
“Hey, you probably dine on shaved bottarga every night.”
She narrows her eyes. “Do you even know what bottarga is?”
“Well,” I think about it, “no, but they mentioned it in some food program Mom had on once.”
“It’s dried fish roe.” Then she wrinkles her nose. “I haven’t had it, so sorry to disappoint.”
“We ordered their Jack sour, which is as close to a fancy cocktail as this place does, and their burgers and fries with whiskey sauce for dipping.” I pick up her hand because I can. She’s soft, sweet, warm, and touching her shifts things inside me.
“I trust you,” she says, clearly meaning the opposite. But there’s a longing there, and it touches me too.
“It’s simple, but some of the best food. And knowing June, she’ll throw in a smashed cucumber salad with their house vinaigrette.”
“Whiskey based?”
“No. But it’s good. And if she doesn’t, I’ll buy you that too.” I release her hand and lean back. “Yeah, this fuckin’ place has some of the best food and dancing around. They’ll put on some slower tunes and . . . magic, baby. Pure magic.”
Her smile blooms. “What happened to your virtue?”
“I create magic everywhere. It’s a fact, not anything to do with my virtue.”
The salad and drinks appear, and June winks at me, all exaggerated. Then, as if I didn’t get it, she tilts her head toward Sidney.
Somehow, I resist an eye roll.
Sidney’s eyeing the salad, and June puts down two forks. “Enjoy.”
“Thank you.” Her gaze drops to the nametag on the older woman’s very generous chest. “June.”
“Pleasure. This Burns gives you any trouble, you let me know.”
