Page 27 of Sing Your Heart Out

A quiet guy named Nate is our forth. Mellie looks at me, jerking her head to the pile of plastic-coated menus.

“Pass those around,” she says.

“Ma’am, yes ma’am,” I joke, passing them out.

“That’s enough sass from you, little miss,” she declares. She looks at the menu, flipping it over. “I need something that isn’t made of meat.”

Pursing my lips, I read the menu. “There is ice cream. And toppings…”

I flip the menu. “Oh! There is a whole section right here.”

“Hmm.” She looks skeptical.

I glance over my menu at Smith, who has already set his menu aside.

“What are you getting?”

He gives me that easy smile of his. “Patty melt. Side of fries. Double chocolate milkshake.”

He spreads his hands out over the table. “Easy like Sunday morning.”

I wrinkle my brow. “You decided that fast. I haven’t even decided between breakfast or lunch.”

His lips lift at the corners. “I just like to pick the first thing that sounds satisfying. I know for a fact that I will like a burger and a milkshake. So the question is, what kind? Bam, bam, bam.” He snaps his fingers to punctuate each syllable. “That’s how I make all my life decisions, big and small.”

Mellie huffs, putting her menu down. “You know, to some people, that would sound very impulsive.”

He just shrugs. “It’s worked for me so far. Why change what’s not broken, you know?”

“Why indeed?” Nate murmurs, still looking at the menu.

I wait until the waitress is taking our order to decide. I choose a mushroom omelet and a scoop of mint chocolate chip in a cone.

“So,” Mellie says, looking around the table. “Who do you think is going home tomorrow?”

Nate looks as though he wants to sink under the table. Smith looks thoughtful.

“I know it’s bad to wish this, but I really hope the Marco gets sent home,” I say quietly. “He came into my bedroom this morning without knocking and wouldn’t leave.” I pull a face.

“He what?” Smith thunders.

“What now?” Mellie asks at the same time.

“Oh, fuck no.” Smith turns, catching Dwayne’s attention.

I turn red as a beet. Dwayne comes over, in a pretty good mood.

“What’s up, y’all?” he asks.

“Marco has got to go. He busted into Sarah’s room, made advances, and would not leave. He’s clearly dangerous.”

“Kick that motherfucker to the curb,” Mellie says, dead serious.

“Oh dear.” Dwayne looks behind him, at Dee and Marco in the far back booth. “Sarah, hon. Would you be willing to go public?”

My eyes widen. “What does that mean?”

“You know, I mean… Marco and Dee will have to be told.” Dwayne bites his lip fretfully.

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