Page 93 of Fight

Callahan

I’ll pick you up in 5.

Smiling, I type out a response.

It’s only a couple blocks away.

Callahan

If your knees feel anything like mine, we’ve done enough walking for today. I’ll pick you upin 5.

I laugh because I don’t have any tears left to cry.

I’ll wait for you outside. I’ll be the one limping.

The breath in my lungs finally releases when I see her standing outside her building. That woman is a gorgeous sight with her glossy ginger-blonde hair, face fresh, and all those freckles I love on display. She’s wearing a sweater and jeans, like it’s any other night, which is a bit dreamlike.Was it really just this morning we got off the mountain?Time is bizarre.

I exit the truck to open her door, rounding the front, and help her up into the passenger seat. After closing the door, I can’t help but let my eyes stray to the faulty structure she lives in. If the outside is dilapidated, what the hell does the inside look like?

We pull away from the curb in silence. Thankfully, the burger joint isn’t too busy on a Tuesday night, and we get a perfect parking spot right in front. She groans, taking my hand as she climbs out of the cab.

Inside, the diner is mostly empty, and we find an open booth, both of us moving slower than usual. As soon as we sit, the server is handing us a couple of menus.

“The soup today is chicken and rice,” the server announces with a soft expression.

Scottie and I stare at each other.

After a beat, I gape at her in mock surprise. “Did you hear that, honey?Soup.Chicken and rice, yourfavorite.”

“Would you like me to put an order?—”

“No thank you!” She practically shouts, then bites into her bottom lip to keep from laughing.

The server glances between us suspiciously. “I’ll… give you a minute to look over the menu.”

“Thank you,” Scottie replies with a smile, then aims a glare in my direction.

Opening the menu, I mutter, “Well, I know what I’mnotgetting.”

“I want a cheeseburger with extra pickles.”

Atta girl.

“And a garden salad…”

I smirk at her over the top of my menu.

“And a cookies n’ cream milkshake.”

“That’s what I’m talking about.” I fold up my menu and set it on the table. “I’ll get the same.”

She places her menu on top of mine and folds her hands in her lap.

“So…”

“So…” she echoes. The smile slips from her face. “Jonathan and I spoke this afternoon...”

My breath stalls while I wait for her to continue.

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