“What happened to JD? Saw his shiner at practice. Did you punch him again?”
I glower at him. “I did not.”
“So? What gives then?”
I will not gossip behind JD’s back, especially to Austin. “You’ll have to ask him. Did you want me to put in an order for you before we start?”
There are only a few customers even though it’s seven o’clock. We already had the after-work-hour rush crowd that happens like clockwork every day between four and six.
“Cola and an order of fries, please.”
“Got it. Be right back.” I tell Pete Austin’s order then check on the other patrons. Once drinks are refilled and I’m sure nothing else is needed of me, I return to Austin.
“JD coming to pick you up from work tonight?”
Sitting down beside him, I slide the geometry textbook over and find the chapter on triangular proofs.
“He has something he has to deal with at home and then he’s coming over later.”
What I don’t say is that JD is coming to stay with me. For a week, a month, longer. I told him for however long he needs. I cleared it with Trevor who will make sure Fallon is okay with it. I wasn’t comfortable blurting out JD’s secrets, like, “Hey, Trevor. JD is going to come stay with us for a while because his dad beats up on him.” So, I went with the excuse that JD and his dad weren’t getting along well, and JD needed some space. Kind of the truth but without the awful details.
Pete calls out that the food is up, and I slide out of the booth to go and get it, but Austin beats me to the counter and picks up the basket of fries and his drink.
“It’s my job to get that for you,” I tell him.
“You’re my tutor tonight, not my waitress,” he replies and holds a French fry out to me. I take it because no one can resist Pete’s hand-cut fries.
“Where are Larry, Mo, and Curly tonight?” I ask as I chew.
Austin puts the fries down on the table and we get settled back in. “Who?”
“Your three sidekicks. That’s what I call them.”
He starts to snicker while reaching for the ketchup. “I’ll have to use that one.”
“Don’t you dare! All I need is for Blaise to be all up in my face again.”
Austin sobers and leans an arm on the table. He’s a pretty big guy, but I guess you have to be if you’re on the football team. He’s not as big as JD though.
“What did Blaise say to you at the game the other week?”
I grab another fry. I had forgotten about that. Shows how much I don’t give a shit about Blaise, Will, or Luke.
“They’re your friends. You should know the typical shit that comes out of their mouths.”
“I’m sorry, Rory. I’ll talk to them and tell them to back off.”
Whoa! Where the hell is this coming from? I occupy myself with looking over Austin’s notes from class.
“Um, you don’t need to do that. I’m used to you guys being jerks.”
Yes, I group Austin in with that group, but maybe I need to reconsider my opinion. Austin has been really nice to me lately. His turnabout from egotistical jackass to maybe a friend has taken me for a loop. Perhaps Austin changed after his older brother, Marshall, died this year. Losing a sibling or someone you love can alter your perspective on life. I know it did for me when I lost Cam.
“Again, I’m sorry. I promise I’m not like them.”
The jury is still out on that because he has actedjustlike them in the past.
“Then why are you friends with them?”
