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“Thanks for that, man.” Kevin patted Steve’s arm. “I love you too. You, uh, happen to recall anything about Al?”
“His eyes are like the sun.” Steve smiled. “Did you know he used to be a butler, man?”
Kevin cringed. “Eyes like the sun, huh?”
“Yeah. Pretty sure he has lasers. Don’t stare at them for too long.”
“Wow,” Percy said. “So very helpful.”
“Thanks, bud.”
“No problem, man.” Steve saluted. “Now I gotta get to work before I’m late.” He looked around. “Oh cool! I’m already here. Righteous.” He wandered toward the counter, waving at Julie, who was still on the phone.
Kevin lowered his voice, saying, “Okay, some of that seemed pretty legit, right?”
“Yes. You were glowing and Alfred the butler has laser eyes.” Percy snorted. “Maybe the little reefer ranger really was here when you first came stumbling into town.”
“How would I know? I don’t remember anything. Isn’t that weird? I guess this place is really the first thing I really remember. Al training me, teaching me how to make pizzas and run the ovens. That’s real. It’s gotta be.” He looked around the restaurant, trying to scratch and claw at any semblance of a deeper memory.
How did he get here?
If his parents weren’t real, who did he get the restaurant from?
“Could whoever has my wings have erased my brain or something?” Kevin asked. “Like what you were gonna do?”
“It’s possible,” Percy replied, “but it may not even be something as nefarious as that. You have to consider that your angelic self might havewantedto forget.”
Kevin frowned.
He hadn’t thought about that. It was easier to imagine that someone had done this to him as opposed to it being the result of his own actions. He couldn’t fathom why he’d want to forget, but he didn’t know why he had wanted to fall either. He really hoped his wings had the answers he so desperately wanted.
James set down a pizza box and smaller box on the counter, and he glared at Steve. He backed into the kitchen, never breaking eye contact until he turned the corner.
Steve just waved, and then he looked at the pizzas. “Is this a delivery?”
Julie hung up, writing out an order ticket as she replied, “Yup.” She nodded at Kevin. “You can deliver it right there.”
“Hey, buddy.” Kevin waved. “Don’t even have to drive.”
“Cool.” Steve handed over the food and then stood there expectantly.
“Oh, of course. Just a sec.” Kevin balanced the boxes with one hand and reached into his pocket to fish out a piece of gum. “Here ya’ go, pal. Plenty more where that came from.”
“Right on, man.” Steve popped the gum in his mouth. “Thanks!”
Percy feigned a smile. “Can we go now, peaches? Or is there anywhere else we need to visit for more excitingly colorful conversations?”
“Behave yourself.” Kevin chuckled. “And yes, we need to stop by the bar real fast. Still gonna want my job when I get back.”
“You own this restaurant. Why bother?”
“When people think your pizza place is a bakery, every little bit helps.”
“Fair.”
Kevin and Percy bid farewell to everyone and with the pizza box and Mentally Irregular Bread between them, they drove to Ripley’s. He knew Joe would be there prepping to open later this afternoon, and seeing his big van there wasn’t a surprise. The black Cadillac Escalade, however, was unexpected. He assumed it was one of the staff here giving Joe a hand, and he hurried inside so he could talk to Joe. He’d told Percy to wait in the truck, promising this wouldn’t take long.
Joe was at the bar rolling silverware, talking to a man with platinum blond hair and a long, black jacket. Kevin had never seen him before, but the guy looked like trouble.
