Page 59 of Hit the Ground
“Chatty isn’t a word I’d use to describe her,” I grunted and picked up my napkin, twisting it with my fingers. “No one would describe me that way either, I suspect.”
“Truer words, buddy.” He tipped forward. “You didn’t answer my question, though.”
I cocked my head. “Does she have a lot to say?”
Remi nodded, and I considered my reply. “Alice is…interesting. I think what I know of her barely scratches the surface.”
“Hmmm.” He scratched at the scruff on his chin. “Well, if your mom has her way, Alice’ll be over weekly for dinner. Maybe you’ll get a chance to dive beyond the surface.”
“Maybe.” If she let me. The way things had gone this past week, I wasn’t sure.
Alice came back with our drinks a few minutes later, setting them down with her usual careful efficiency. “You guys know what you want for dinner?”
Remi didn’t even open the menu. “I sure do. A cheeseburger with fries and extra pickles.”
“Never too many pickles, right?” she teased.
He shot her a grin. “You’ve got that right.”
Alice turned to me. “How about you, Caleb? What would you like?”
“How about the steak sandwich?”
Her pen was poised above her notepad. “Are you asking my opinion?”
I lowered my chin, my brow crinkled. “If you’re inclined to give it.”
She brought her pen to her mouth, nibbling on the end. “If you get onion rings to go with it, I think you’ll be very pleased.”
I took my time answering as I tried to figure out what was going on in her head. All she was giving me was her polite little smile.
“I trust you, Allie. You know what I like.”
“Got it,” she said quickly, jotting it down before heading off again. No lingering, no teasing, no asking about my week like she used to. Just…gone.
Remi gave me a long, pointed stare. “What was that?”
I paused, my beer halfway to my mouth. “What?”
His eyes narrowed. “I could be wrong, but it looked a hell of a lot like you were trying to flirt with Alice.” He blew out a puff of air. “I can’t say I’ve ever seen you flirt with a woman, but I’m pretty sure that’s what that was.”
My chuckle sounded closer to choking than laughter. “I was being friendly.”
There was no mistaking his laugh for anything else. “Since when are you friendly?”
“I’m capable of it.” I sat back in my chair and crossed my arms. “I’ll remember not to do it again in your presence. Wouldn’t want Hannah to get jealous if she thinks I’m flirting withyou.”
He rolled his eyes and grinned. “I know deflecting when I hear it.” Then he sobered slightly, resting his elbows on the table. “I’ll lay off, man. Just saying, if you want to share, I’m all ears, and I promise not to give you a hard time.”
He wouldn’t, and I knew it. Trouble was, I didn’t know whattoshare. I had a lot on my mind, but none of it was clear enough to try to get out.
“I’m good,” I stated, and it was mostly true. “Thanks for the offer.”
Alice kept up the same routine all night. She flitted back and forth to our table to drop food, refill our drinks, and clear plates, each time staying long enough to do her job before disappearing. The rest of the time, I caught glimpses of her smiling at other tables, leaning in to hear a joke, laughing with people I’d never seen her speak to before.
I picked at my sandwich, more interested in tracking her than eating, which was a first for me. Not much got in the way of my appetite, especially when it came to Joy’s cooking. But every time she laughed with someone else, I felt it, that new, unfamiliar restlessness in my gut. There was no room for anything else. I didn’t understand it, just that it’d been happening more and more often when she was around.
She’d just taken our orders for another beer when it happened.
