Page 27 of We Can't Be Friends

“Cold.”

“Chicken, turkey, or ham?”

“Any combination. I’m not a picky eater.”

“Noted.” She flicks her brows. “Wet or dry?”

“The wetter the better.”

Holding my stare, her eyes burn into mine. “Would you look at that, we agree on something. Good.”

“Quite.”

Chloehums, scanning the menu. “I’d either get the Avenger BLT and add the grilled turkey or the Justice Club.” I locate each option she names and read them. “Or the Elastigirl Grilled Cheese. It’s hot, but they use salted tomatoes, and it’s to die for. That’s what I’m going to get.”

Chloe approaches the counter under the hanging ‘ORDER HERE’ sign. Turning back to me, she asks, “Do you know what you want?”

“Surprise me.”

“You sure about that?”

“I trust you.”

“You probably shouldn’t, but alright.” She turns back to the counter. “I’ll have the Elastigirl Grilled Cheese, and he’ll have the Avenger BLT, add grilled turkey.”

The employee repeats back our order and Chloe confirms it’s correct.

I step forward, resting my hands on her shoulders. “Gluten-free bread. For both, please.”

Her head tilts up, forehead brushing my chin.

“You can’t have gluten. You forgot to mention that.”

“I’m a regular, he knows.”

“Sometimes people forget.”

“You didn’t.”

“I’m not people, Henry.”

They hand us a ticket with our order number on it, and before she can take it I snatch it out of her reach.

She huffs. “I asked you to lunch. I’m going to pay.”

“Grab a bag of crisps and a drink. I’ll meet you at the checkout counter.”

“This is America. We call them chips.”

“You still knew what I meant.” She rolls her eyes at me and it makes me smile.

It makes me do a lot more than smile.

Chloe grabs a can of Diet Coke. “Can you grab me a water?”

“You have two hands; get it yourself.” I watch as she moves over a cooler and plucks a giant bottle of water for me. “Here.” Chloe sets both drinks and a bag of crisps on the counter.

After I pay for lunch, we go back outside to the table she was sitting at.

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