Page 88 of Starry with a Chance of Nightshade

Dave huffed. “What? I’m allowed to be protective of you. And trust me when I say, he’d rather deal with me than the other guy.”

“Other guy?” I asked.

“Your father,” he said.

I tensed. “M-my father?”

He nodded and then smiled at me. “Are you back for good?”

I wanted to ask Dave more about his statement concerning my father since I’d never talked about Henry with him before. I didn’t even use the Frankenstein name. There shouldn’t have been any way that he’d know my father at all. Plus, Henry was the threat to me. Not Stratton. “I’m back for a bit. I’m not sure how long exactly.”

“You be sure you stop by and see me again,” he said. “Don’t be a stranger and don’t up and vanish again.”

“Yes, sir,” I said, hugging him again.

He walked off but not before glaring at Stratton again.

I spun, my gaze going to Stratton. “I am so very sorry. He was never like that before. Okay, I guess he did kind of treat my friend from school a little odd. Dave kept telling him to keep his hands to himself around me.”

“This was a guy friend then?” asked Stratton, jealousy tinging his voice.

I nodded.

“Then I’m glad Dave was around,” he said, motioning to our table. “Hungry?”

I groaned. “More like mortified. This night has been just, wow.”

He laughed. “Wow as in I’ll get a second date?”

“I’d say the odds are in your favor,” I replied, even though I knew getting attached to anyone was a bad idea. My lifestyle didn’t allow for it, and I’d only be putting him at risk. Still, I wanted to see him again.

Stratton glanced at the parking lot for the business next door.

I looked at the same time and noticed a lone skateboard, minus a rider, rolling out from the back of the darkened area. The board wasn’t going super-fast, but it was moving all the same, as if it had been pushed.

No one came after it.

The table with the remaining teens didn’t seem to notice or care. They were engrossed in conversation.

Stratton took a keen interest in what was or wasn’t happening in the other lot.

“Is everything okay?” I asked, just as Dave reappeared.

“Stratton,” he said, his gaze also going to the lot next door.

Jim came over as well. He too seemed to be overly interested in the skateboard that was missing its rider.

Stratton touched my elbow. “Astria, do me a favor and stay here, okay? I’m going to go make sure everything is all right and that no one is hurt.”

I nodded even though I got the sense he was lying to me. I just wasn’t sure why. “Okay.”

Dave pulled his devil hat off and shimmied out of the suit quickly, leaving him standing in a pair of long cargo shorts and a Hawaiian shirt that was yellow with red pitchforks all over it. The slip-on boat shoes really completed the beach bum look he had going for him. He thrust the suit at me. “I’ll lend Stratton a hand.”

Jim nodded to me. “Why don’t you keep Faye company while I help out too?”

“Uh, okay,” I said as the men all headed for the lot next door.

“There you are,” said Faye. I spun to find she was standing right behind me. “Sorry. Did I startle you?”

---