She looks at me sideways, “What do you want?”

“What do youhave?”

“There’s fish-sticks in the freezer.”

“That’s not going to do it.”

“Egg salad sandwich?”

I shake my head.

She taps her chin, “Blue-cheese and bacon burgers with truffle fries?”

“Now we’re talking.”

“Fine,” she stands ups. “Give me twenty-five minutes then meet me there.”

As she sets off, I remember something, “Hey!”

“Yeah,” she turns.

“I got you an air-fryer. It’s in the spare room on the bed. Still in the box.”

She gives me a big smile, then turns and goes on her way.

I laugh and turn back to Stacey, “So, how’s things going with you?”

“I wish someone would buymean air-fryer!”

“Who says I bought it?” We jacked a truck, took some and then sent the rest north.

“Oh.”

“Give me another would you?”

“Sure.”

I sip on my beer and kill some time watching sports. When it’s time to leave, I wave goodbye to Stacey as well as a few of the other patrons, then walk over to the clubhouse.

I get to the kitchen where Lara is putting the final touches on our meal. There’s a small, round table with four chairs around it. “You can leave out the grass.”

She frowns at me, “It’s parsley.”

“So?”

“Garnish.”

“And?”

She rolls her eyes, “It makes it look nice, Dom.”

I laugh, “I’m just kidding. This looks great, thanks.” It really does. I haven’t seen a burger look this inviting since the last time I was up in Los Angeles.

I invite Lara to sit with me, put the top of my bun on, grab the bastard with two hands and take three bites at once.

“Good,” I say while I chew.

Lara doesn’t touch her food. She stares at me and waits for me to swallow, then says, “Start talking.”