Suddenly, Phoebe’s eyes get huge.She takes a big swallow.Summer and I turn to see what she’s looking at.
Evander is on the sidewalk, turning into the diner.When he enters, Phoebe mumbles something to herself and turns away.Evander strolls in, looking laughably out of place in the diner.Everyone here is a laborer, and even though Evander technically labors, he looks like he’s about to open for Frank Sinatra in Vegas.
He stops at our booth.“Hey there, Phoebe,” he says.“Scoot over, Summer.I’m hungry.I need a steak before I swing by the courthouse.”
“Oh… hi…” Phoebe nearly chokes.
I want to hug her.I want to stuff her in Summer’s love truck and make her feel better.She’s obviously head over heels for Evander, but he’s oblivious.Summer doesn’t see it either, but I think she’s oblivious about a lot more than just Evander and Phoebe.
Still, it’s painfully clear that the beautiful nurse is madly in love with Evander.
“Would you like to join us?”I ask her.
“Uh… well… I…” is all she manages.
“Take a load off,” Evander tells her, pointing to the empty seat next to me.“Have you eaten?If I don’t get a steak in me, I’m going to get hangry, and…” He projects his voice so the waitress can hear him.“You don’t want to see me hangry!”The waitress shakes her head and closes her eyes.
Summer and I both order, and Phoebe just stands by our booth, seemingly forgetting about her double shift.
“You got a cramp?”Summer takes a bite of a sausage patty.“Thanks again for this.”
“Uh… bye!”Phoebe leaves.
“When are you going to start pounding the carbs, Evander?”Summer elbows him.“It won’t kill you, you know.”
“This suit does not pair well with carbohydrates.”
“One day, I’m going to hold you down and stuff a Fluffernutter and Wonder bread sandwich down your gullet.”Summer chews on another sausage patty.
“You and what army, Summer?You’d need a big one too, spec ops for sure, and maybe even the Green Berets if you can’t find any SEALs, but even then I’m not letting a punk-ass Fluffernutter sandwich pass through the security checkpoint of these perfect lips.”
Summer’s fork hangs in midair, and a bit of sausage falls off and lands on her plate.“You are the weirdest mofo I’ve ever known.”
Evander smiles, then looks over at me.He’s got a twinkle in his eye.
Uh-oh.
I think I’m the next hot topic.The carb conversation but without the carbs.
“So, Emma.”I think that must be his lawyer voice.“You and my big brother Finlay…”
It isn’t a question, but it’s not a statement either, so I don’t know what to say or even if I’m supposed to speak.But I see Summer glancing from me to Evander and realize this is some sort of test.
Fine.I can handle it.
I lean in on my elbows.“Lots of sex.”
I drop that nugget and nod slowly, hoping it will shock him enough to stop the interview.
I’m thrilled to be a Yosemite Ranch insider, but I’ve never enjoyed being teased.Unfortunately, Evander doesn’t seem fazed.He’s waiting for me to say more.
Oh, no.
“Finn is a real dynamo.”
“I’m starting to feel uncomfortable,” Evander says.
“Really?I want to hear more.”Summer winks at me.
