“I was naive.”
“Or wise. Let’s talk about which one it was over a burger. What do you say?”
He sighs again. I swear he’s going to hyperventilate.
“Okay. Alright,” he says with obvious resignation.
“Yeah?” I smile widely at him. “Okay.”
Jace follows me out to my truck with as much enthusiasm as a child being dragged to the dentist.
We climb into my cab. It doesn’t smell like Carli anymore, and I’m mostly grateful for that.
We’re quiet on the drive. I let the scenery do its work. Jace’s shoulders relax just a touch. He gazes out the window like a tourist in his own hometown.
“I should’ve done this a while ago,” I tell him.
“Kidnapped me?”
“Yeah. Kidnapped you.”
We chuckle.
I pull into the parking lot. It’s nearly always full. The place is old and not that pretty, a hodgepodge of decorations and wobbly tables, but the food’s good and it’s a staple in our community.
“Jace Buckner,” the hostess says with a smile. “It’s been a coon’s age since we saw your face around here.”
“Been busy,” he says by way of explanation.
“Table or booth?” she asks him.
He just glances around, so I say, “Booth, please.”
“Sure thing, hun.” She grabs two menus and we follow her to the back of the restaurant. I slide into the booth opposite Jace. He pulls up a menu and starts reading.
I don’t have to look. I know what I’m having.
“Rule number one,” I say when he lays the menu down on the table edge. “No talking about the farm, pigs, your dad, or anything related to any of that.”
“It’s fixin’ to be a quiet meal, then,” he says.
“I bet we can think of a few other topics.”
He shrugs, taking a sip of his water.
The waitress comes. “Why, Jace Buckner. I’ll be. We haven’t seen you in here in ages.”
“Yeah. So Stacey said. I’ve been busy with farrowing.”
“Well, don’t be a stranger. What can I get you?”
Jace orders a burger and fries. I do the same. We both get a sweet tea and the waitress walks off with our menus, putting a little sway in her hips for Jace’s benefit.
“She’s interested,” I tell him.
“Is she?”
“So’s Stacey,” I tell him. “Are you blind?”
