Page 25 of Whirlwind
God, I’m so bad at this human interaction thing.How embarrassing.
The first thing I grab is a damn bra. Then, a clean T-shirt. I leave the sweatpants, because I have no plans to leave the house today. After a quick brush of my teeth and hair, I go back out to find Tyson lounging on my couch, reading the installation manual.
“This looks really easy.”
“I thought so, too. It’s such a small house; it shouldn’t take long.”
“Nope. So maybe you’ll go get lunch with me when we’re done.”
“Do you require a chaperone?” I ask, filling the coffee pot with water.
“Sometimes, sure. I don’t like eating out by myself if I have another option.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t know,” he says, sitting up. “It’s always been a thing for me. Maybe because I’ve always had so many guys around from hockey. When I’m alone, it feels weird.”
“That makes sense, I guess. I can’t relate, but I understand,” I say.
“You can’t relate?”
“Nope, I’ve spent more time alone than not. For me, it’s stranger to be in a crowd.”
“Because you’re an only child?”
“That’s probably a big part of it. I did sort of raise myself,” I say, then quickly change the subject. “Where did you want to go for lunch?”
“I drove by a place called Grappa, last week. Thought I’d try them.”
“Sold,” I say. “They have a great lasagna, and I have no patience to make that shit myself.”
“That won’t ruin your appetite for your date?”
“My date?”What’s he talking about?
“Yeah, with Henry.” He’s looking at me strangely again.
“Oh! Henry of Skalitz, he’s the main character inKingdome Come.”
“The video game?”
“Yeah,” I say, watching the coffee drip into the pot. I wish it was quicker. I had one of those one cup machines, for a while. The speed was great, the coffee, not so much. Quality over quickness was what drew me back to a standard machine. I need it black as night and strong as fuck. Even though I only allow myself a cup a day. Otherwise, I get jittery.
Tyson laughs, shaking his head slightly, then goes back to reading.
“How do you drink your coffee?”
“What kind of creamer do you have?” he asks.
“None.”
“So black is my only choice?”
“Yes.”
“Then why’d you ask?”
“Curiosity,” I answer honestly.
