Page 37 of I Am Salvation

“For you?” she asks me. “Maybe another margarita?”

“No, I’m going to switch to water, but thank you.”

“Not a problem. I’ll bring that right back for you.” She whisks away.

I grab my napkin and place it in my lap, take my fork, and slice off a piece of the enchilada. I’m about to open my mouth when Dragon clears his throat.

“It was more to me too,” he says.

My fork stops midair.

“I see that surprises you.”

“Maybe a little.” I put my fork down. “You want to elaborate?”

“No.” He looks down at his plate and starts to scoop food onto his own fork. “I don’t want to elaborate.”

Shocking. Dragon doesn’t want to talk. I keep myself from audibly sighing.

But hey, he feels something. Better than the opposite. Right?

I pick my fork back up and bring the bite of enchilada the rest of the way to my mouth, chew, and swallow. It’s delicious. And maybe even a little bit more delicious now that I know Dragon is feeling something.

What does he feel specifically? I don’t know, but he wouldn’t have bothered saying anything at all unless he meant it.

After I take another few bites of enchilada, I put my fork down. “You want to tell me anything more about your parents? About why you’ve been looking for them?”

He swallows his mouthful of food. “I’d like to, Diana, but I don’t know that I’m ready to yet.”

“It’s a start,” I say.

We don’t talk for the rest of dinner.

“Dessert?” Chanel asks when she comes to take away our empty dinner plates.

“Not for me,” I say.

“I’ll have the fried ice cream,” Dragon says.

I’m instantly envious. I love ice cream, but I have to be careful.

“Can I have a bite of that when you get it?” I ask.

“Sure. We can share it if you’d like.”

I crack a small smile. “I would love that, but you know, the lactose.”

He strokes his chin. His eyes are almost…playful?

“So what happens if you eat too much?”

“My stomach gets all growly, and…I go to the bathroom. A lot.” My cheeks warm.

“Ah. I see.” He chuckles. “You fart and poop.”

I can’t help a giggle. “God, Dragon.”

“Hey, we all do it, Diana. Did you really think that I thought you didn’t have any bodily functions? That Diana Steel would never do anything like that?”

---