Jamie could feel his stomach knot and a fullness in his groin that hadn’t been there a second ago.“Uh, hello.”
“What’s in the box.It smells like fish,” Salzy asked, pulling away the brown paper wrapping.
“It’s a seafood, fish, and chips combo.I got it at that fishmonger’s place over in the industrial park.”Mike leaned in and kissed Jamie again, this time just a quick peck on the lips.“I hope that’s okay?”
“Then you probably met Jeff,” Jamie said.“I didn’t know they did cooked meals.”
“They only do dinner, and you have to call ahead to order,” Mike informed them.“Is it okay if I go up and get a glass of ice water?”
“Of course,” Jamie answered.“Help yourself.There is beer if you want.”
“No, I’ll just stick to water.It’s been so hot all day.”Mike unbuttoned his uniform shirt and took it off, laying it on the other table.“Be right back.”
Joesph watched Jamie the whole time.When Mike was at the top of the stairs and out of earshot, he said, “Oh man, you got it bad.Which is averygood thing.”
“Maybe I should get you a drool cup,” Salzy snarked.
“Would the two of you just shut the hell up.”
Salzy giggled.“You should just say yes and marry the guy.It’s obvious that you like him and...he’s pretty hot.He could be like one of those calendar models or something.”
“Yeah, or something,” Joesph agreed, standing up.“I need another drink.”
“Could you bring me down a beer, please?”Salzy asked.
Joesph slowly lowered his gaze to Salzy, his eye half shut.“When did I become the drinks server?Huh?”
“Pretty please, with sugar on top?”
“Oh hell,” Joesph said as he rolled his eyes.
“Thank you.”Salzy beamed as he handed Joesph his empty beer bottle.
“What about you?”Joesph asked Jamie.
“Naw, I’ve got iced tea in the walk-in.I’ll get it.”
Mike came down the steps with one of the disposable cups and a stack of paper plates and napkins.“We should eat before it gets cold.”Mike sat down close to Jamie.“How was your day?”
“Busy.”Jamie blew out his breath.“And it will be all-hands-on-deck tomorrow, too.”
“Wish I could be here,” Mike said as he nudged Jamie’s shoulder.
“Salzy, go in and get us some ketchup,” Joesph called down as he descended the stairs.“Imusthave ketchup with French fries.”
“Do you know why they’re called French fries?”Jamie asked.
“Uh, no.Why?”Salzy stood up to go into the diner for the ketchup.
“Because Americans wouldn’t understand the term julienne, the cut the French use.The French would simply sayfriets, orpommes frites.”
“Okay, that’s interesting,” Mike said.“You know so much about food.”
“Weird,” Salzy said, turning to go into the diner.
“Hey, as soon as we’re done with dinner, we need to turn on the signs and have a look,” Joesph said as he sat down.
“I’m curious about dinner,” Jamie said as he loaded up his plate with fried shrimp, fried oysters, fried catfish, onion rings, and French fries.“Jeff said he did all the cooking at home.”
