“I’m serious,”she said, gasping for air. “I’m literally gonna pee my pants.”
“Oh, wee wee!” Isaid, and with that, Melody bolted for the restroom.
* * *
Melody
I was stilllaughing while I was sitting on the toilet. More than anything, I was caughtoff guard by how quickly Train snapped into character and how willing he was toplay along with me. Most guys were way too cool to cut lose and be silly,especially in front of a woman, but Train was clearly secure with who he was.
I finished doingmy thing and cleaned up before joining Train back at our booth. The coffee hadarrived and smelled heavenly.
“You okay? I’msorry, I didn’t mean to make you…”
“I made it justin the nick of time,” I said. “Good humor and my bladder are not always thebest of friends. Just ask my sisters.”
“Oh, I’ll betthey’ve got stories galore about you,” he said.
“What aboutyou?” I asked.
“Well, I dunno.I’d highly doubt your sisters would have any childhood stories about me.”
“No.” I laughed.“I meant do you have any brothers or sisters?”
Train shook hishead. “Only child.”
“I can’t imaginelife without my sisters. I probably never would have started singing if itweren’t for my family dragging me onto the stage.”
“That’s funny,”Train chuckled. “I may not have ever started playing guitar if I had siblingsto play with. Music is what kept me company.”
“What aboutfriends?”
“There were guysI hung out with a little at school, but that was about it.”
“I’m surprised,”I murmured.
“Why?”
“You’re such anoutgoing guy. I would have guessed you made friends easily.”
“Honestly,social situations can be difficult for me sometimes,” Train said.
“Really? Youseem so confident.”
He raised aneyebrow. “Is that a polite way of saying cocky?”
“No, not at all.You just seem comfortable in your own skin.” I shrugged. “That’s all.”
“Then I’ll takethat as a compliment,” Train said with a smile.
I’d beensecretly naming and cataloging Train’s arsenal of smiles for some time now.This particular smile, I called the ‘Gentleman Strangler,’ because every timehe flashed it, I got a lump in my throat and felt short of breath.
June returned,ready to take our orders. “What can I get for you two?”
Not wanting tobreak character, I simply pointed at the chop salad and smiled.
“A slice ofapple pie with a slice of cheddar cheese melted on top, please,” Train said.
“Coming rightup,” June said, and headed back to the kitchen.
