Before I can respond, Tucker finally speaks.
Calm.
Quiet.“Friend of yours, Lucy?”
Roger turns toward him immediately.
“Mind your business.”
Tucker glances up slowly.Their eyes meet.And suddenly Roger doesn’t look nearly as confident.“Seems like my business,” Tucker says evenly.
“How’s that?”
“You’re raising your voice at a woman who’s working.”
Roger scoffs.“This doesn’t concern you.”
Tucker shrugs slightly.“It concerns the entire diner at this point.”
Roger looks around.
Everyone is absolutely pretending not to listen.But they are.Of course they are.Small town shit and like every other time Roger creeps around me, they all pretend not to notice.
Roger straightens his shoulders.“You her boyfriend now?”
“No.”
The answer comes easily.Truthfully.But something about the word makes my chest feel weird.
Roger smirks.“Then shut up.”
For a moment nothing happens.Then Tucker stands.The movement is smooth.Unhurried.
But suddenly he seems twice as large.Roger steps back automatically.Just half a step But I see it.And so does Tucker.
“You’re causing a scene,” Tucker state calmly.
Roger glares.“This has nothing to do with you.”
“Maybe not.”Tucker’s voice stays steady.“But she asked you to stop.”
I hadn’t even realized I did.Roger laughs harshly.
“You think I’m scared of you?”
“No.”Tucker pauses.“But you should probably stop anyway.”The words aren’t threatening.Not exactly.But the message underneath them is crystal clear.
Roger looks from Tucker to me.Back to Tucker.And something in his posture changes.He’s calculating now.Not emotional.
“You gonna follow her around everywhere?”he asks.
“Not unless you give me a reason to.”
“This conversation ain’t over.”He points a finger at me.“We’re talking later.”
Then he turns and walks out of the diner.The bell jingles behind him.The entire room exhales.Tucker slowly sits back down.Like nothing happened.
I stare at him.“You didn’t have to do that.”
