Page 11 of Pallas & Kawehi

Her husband.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuckin’ hell.

“I’m sorry about that, Kawehi. I-”

“How about we don’t talk about him or it at all.” She gestured at his bowl. “If you don’t eat that soon, you won’t really get to enjoy it. And I don’t want you to think I wasn’t telling you the truth.”

He shook his head. “I’m not worried about that from you. I know it couldn’t be easy to tell me that, but you did. And I am sorry that he did that. We’d like to think that everyone in the military are the good guys, but they’re not. Some marines are absolute assholes. Just like in regular life.”

She smiled then, a real ear to ear smile. “Like those jerks that we kicked out of here?”

“Just like them.”

He had more than a little satisfaction when he heard her say ‘we.’

He took a moment to finally put a bite of food in his mouth and he was surprised. He chewed it like it was heaven because it was.

“I’m glad you like it.”

He looked up at her and smiled as he continued to chew. He nodded his head.

“It’s not pretty to look at, but it is a big bowl of warmth. I like it when I’m working here because the whole place gets a little cold at the end of the night, and this warms me back up.”

They continued to eat for a few minutes and Pallas was trying not to shovel the food in his mouth. He hadn’t really had lunch earlier after making his rounds on base, looking for his team, so once he started eating, his stomach let him know how empty it was.

He looked up when she put another glass of water down at his side.

He swallowed and looked at her. “Thanks.”

“It’s good to see how much you like it.”

He paused. “I know I’m stuffing my face.”

“It’s good. I’m not judging. I like seeing people enjoy themselves. It’s part of the reason I love working here. The people that come in from all over the world.”

“Tourists.”

She almost laughed, barely holding it back. “You say it like it’s a bad thing.”

“Isn’t it?” He gestured at the door. “Those three?”

She nodded, acknowledging his words. “Again, the exception that proves the rule as far as I’m concerned. Most of the tourists that come in here are really nice. They’re looking for a way to spend the time. We’re the busiest when it’s raining.”

“And it rains quite a bit around here.”

“Yes, it does.”

“So, it’s good business.”

She nodded. “Nights around here are a little slow. There are quite a few bars in the area who don’t mother their customers.”

He nodded. “Like with Mister Compos?”

Kawehi smiled. “He’s a sweetheart. I wouldn’t want anyone to get hurt on their way home or hurt someone else. So I do have a professional grade breathalyzer behind the bar.”

“That sounds like a great idea. I think that would be helpful to your customers.”

“You’d be surprised how many people feel like that’s an invasion of privacy.”

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