Faust
You naughty boy!
Hank
Ew, I don’t think I like that phrase from you.
Bert
Don’t make it weird.
Hank
Tell Faust. He’s the one who called me naughty.
Faust
I wouldn’t have to if you weren’t.
Bert
Faust, love, get to the point.
Faust
So I was talking to a friend.
Hank
A friend named Deanna?
Deanna, Earl’s wife, was in the garden club with Faust, and they worked on the Christmas parade committee together. They spent every fall going on winery tours while Earl and Bert stayed home and watched football.
Faust
That’s not important right now.
Interesting that you stayed the night at Sissy’s place.
Hank
Is it though?
Bert
Faust and Deanna think so.
“Y’all need a new hobby,” I said it louder than necessary, but I wanted it to carry across the diner. My phone vibrated again.
Faust
Be nice.
Bring Jasper to dinner at the barbecue next weekend.
Selena glanced up from wiping down the counter when the door chime gave notice of a new customer. She gave me a face-splitting grin before she pushed herself off the counter. I heard her direct someone to a booth near the back. Their murmured response was too faint for me to eavesdrop. The part I could hear was about where to sit. I must’ve been here longer than I thought because I hadn’t realized the restaurant wasn’t “seat yourself” anymore.
After helping the new customer, Selena returned to me at the counter. “Hey, Hank, I’m sorry I have to do this to you, but Sammy’s fixin’ to do some work under the counter, so I’ll have to move you.”
