Page 19 of Finding Our Reality

“A protein bar? You need something more than that.”

She stares at me. Hard. “I know what I need.”

“It’s food, Lulu. We’ve made it all day without breaking into a fist fight. I think we can survive a thirty-minute lunch.”

She’s about to say no. I know she is. But her stomach picks that precise moment to growl. Loudly. Her cheeks pink in embarrassment, but she pretends it doesn’t faze her. “Fine. Whatever.”

I hide my smile. No need to gloat over this small victory. I quickly lock the conference room door and we head out. It takes all of my effort not to guide her down the hall by placing my hand on the small of her back.

But I like my hand. And based on the way she stares at Tara when we walk through the reception area, Lulu would probably bite my fingers off one by one if I dared to touch her right now.

Fortunately, she lets me choose the restaurant. There are several downtown, around the station. That’s the problem, though. In the past, a late night of work meant a quick bite to eat at someplace close, which may or may not have resulted in a quickie hook-up a time or two. I diplomatically choose a restaurant where I haven’t banged any of the waitresses. Well, at least that I know of. I also diplomatically choose a restaurant that has Philly cheesesteaks on the menu. They’re really good ones too. Greasy. Just the way she likes them.

Since we missed the lunch crowd, we don’t have to wait for a table. Lulu takes a few minutes to study the menu before the waiter comes to the table, setting glasses of ice water in front us.

“Can I get either of you something else to drink?”

We both shake our heads. “No, water’s fine,” I answer.

The kid grabs a pen and notepad from his apron. “Will this be on one ticket or two?”

Lulu and I speak at the exact same time with me saying ‘one’ and her saying ‘two’. The waiter darts his eyes between the two of us, waiting for confirmation on how to proceed.

Her chin juts in the air and she leans forward, getting the server’s attention. “This is a business meal. Two tickets. No further discussion.” Taking the lead from her tone, he nods, and quickly asks what she’d like to order. She flicks her head in my direction. “You go first.”

“I’ll have the Philly cheesesteak. Add cheese to my fries.” I’ll be working my ass off later tonight in the gym, but it’s worth it just to see the look on her face.

“And you, ma’am?”

She holds the menu out in her hand. “I’ll have the grilled chicken Caesar salad.”

That little minx. I know she wants a cheesesteak. I know her like I know the back of my own hand.

Well, I used to know her.

This Lulu cusses and has one-night stands.

As soon as the waiter leaves, an uncomfortable silence engulfs us, swallowing us whole like Jonah inside of the whale. I unfold my napkin, laying it across my knee. “I haven’t given you my condolences yet, about your parents. I hate that you are going through that.”

She reads me, narrowing her eyes. “Were you at the funeral?”

I scrub my hand across my face. “I was there. Yes.”

“But you kept your distance?”

“I didn’t think you’d wanna see me.”

“How perceptive of you.”

I ignore that comment, even though it stings like hell. “What happened? Was something wrong with the plane?”

She takes a sip of water. “Dad only had his pilot’s license for about two years. The plane was part of a rental pool between him and some other guys. It was meticulously inspected on a regular basis. Nothing was wrong with it. It’s simple, he hit bad weather, should have turned around and modified his flight plan, but didn’t. Pilot error. He wasn’t equipped to handle something of that magnitude.”

“They were flying to Chicago for vacation? On New Year’s?” I ask.

She smirks in angered disbelief. “From what I gather, Mom caught him with a new mistress, and flying her to Chicago for a shopping trip was penance.”

“Lulu, that’s terrible.” I reach across the table, wanting to wrap my fingers around hers, but she quickly draws her hands onto her lap. Once again, it stings like hell. “I know you had a shitty childhood with them, but I still wouldn’t wish that on anyone. I was really hoping that you’d grow closer to them over the years, as you got older. Did you?”

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