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“What are you talking about?” Carter teased. “Pineapple on pizza is delicious. The sweetness from the pineapple goes with the saltiness from the cheese. It’s perfect.”
“See?” I told Rex. I pointed at Carter. “He gets it.”
But Rex remained unconvinced.
“Sometimes weird food combinations go together,” Carter explained. “Stuff you never thought of. Like… have you ever tried peanut butter and mayonnaise on a burger.”
Rex physically lurched, disgusted by the idea. I had to admit that I wasn’t sold on that one either.
“I hear you. I didn’t think it would work either,” Carter continued. “But I was out at some bar and a peanut butter and mayo burger was on the menu. I asked if this was for real and the waitress told me it was amazing.”
I nodded. I tried not to picture some waitress in some bar flirting with Carter and helping him order. Bringing him a beer on the house. Giggling when he made a joke. Maybe he came back after her shift for last call. Maybe he took her home.
Maybe it was even that woman from Rook’s the other night.
I tried to tamp down my jealousy. I failed.
“Zoe?” Carter asked, raising an eyebrow. “Are you okay? You looked like you were zoning out there for a second.”
“All good. I just…”
“I mean I get it. Things I like aren’t for everyone.”
“Huh?”
“The burger thing,” he repeated. “Are you sure you’re okay? Your cheeks are a little red. Maybe—”
“Orange Sour Patch Kids and sharp cheddar cheese,” I blurted out.
“Huh?”
“Weird food combinations that shouldn’t work, but do,” I explained, hoping I didn’t sound completely bonkers. “Orange Sour Patch Kids with sharp cheddar cheese. The cherry ones are okay too, but not lemon or lime.”
Carter nodded, his eyes meeting mine.
“Interesting,” he said, slowly. “I’ll have to give that a try sometime.”
“Still sounds gross to me,” Rex finally added.
Carter, too, looked like he realized that there were other people around. “We’ll eat later, but first, we’ve got a score to settle,” Carter announced. He shot a look at Elias. “This loser’s going down.”
I looked at him confused.
“Pinball,” Elias explained. “I’ve got to defend my title as the reigning champion of Blue Creek. Or at least of the Kane brothers.”
“And I’m going to make him eat flippers,” Carter jabbed back.
“Have you ever played?” Elias asked Rex.
“No. My father says that arcade games are for lunkheads,” my son continued. “He says that all the high-pitched noises and blaring lights alter the brain chemistry and will take your I.Q. down twenty points.”
“I’ve had an I.Q. of 179 my entire life,” Elias said, crossing his arms, playfully challenging my son. “Despite the noise and the lights.”
“Really?” Rex asked. “Astounding.”
“Actually, I’d argue that pinball is pretty intellectually stimulating,” Elias argued. “It’s a game of speed, angles, strategy. I’d say that nailing the perfect shot is practically… physics.”
“I do enjoy physics,” Rex confirmed.
