Not long after we’ve sat down and scoured the menu, the waitress comes over to take our order. I go for a turkey club sandwich and Amy opts for a spicy chicken wrap. It’s with us in record speed, and we make small talk while we eat.
“Tell me more about your dad.” I catch her by surprise but she smiles softly.
“My dad joined the force when he was nineteen, it was the only thing he ever wanted to do. He loved his job. He enjoyed helping people, not just in the job, but in life as well. If someone was struggling, he’d be the first one there. He was always making me laugh, I miss it. I’d give anything to speak to him again, even to just say goodbye.” Her eyes begin to well with tears as she speaks.
“I didn’t get the chance to say goodbye to my dad either.”
“What happened? You’ve never mentioned him.”
“He died. I was only fourteen. You know my sister died of brain cancer?” She nods. “Well, it runs in the family. I was tested for it a while back, and so far, I’m fine, but if I were to ever have kids… there’s a risk it could be passed down.”
“Is it a risk you’d take? You know… if you wanted children someday?”
“Isn’t having kids always a risk? There’s always something that could go wrong, something that could happen, genetic disorder or not.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
“But, yeah. If I ever were to settle down, I’d take that risk, because there’s always a chance that they’ll be alright.”
She smiles softly. “What about your mom? Are the two of you close?”
“My mom was always closer to my sister, but after she died we got closer. She’s gone travelling in Europe with her new boyfriend Larry, he’s a Lawyer.”
“Do you like him?” she asks.
“Yeah, he’s a good guy. He’s the first serious boyfriend since my dad died, the others were all dicks who could never stand in my dad’s place.”
“I’m sorry about your dad, and your sister, I couldn’t imagine losing my brother or my mom on top of my dad.” She reaches across the table and places her hand over mine, and my heart lightens a fraction.
Once we’ve eaten, I pay the bill and we leave the restaurant, heading out towards my truck.
“Have you ever been in love?” Her question catches me off guard, and I straighten my spine, swallowing hard.
“Yeah, once,” I answer, not wanting to go back there.
“I’m guessing it’s not something you like to talk about?”
“No,” I say.
“Is that why you sleep around a lot?”
“Yeah. Sex is easy. There’s no strings, no attachments, no risk of getting hurt.”
She lowers her eyes as if she’s disappointed. “Would you ever want it? Love I mean?”
“Not sure what I have to offer a girl.”
She peers up at me, her eyes soft and warm. “Are you kidding? You’re the best guy I know, Logan, and any girl would be lucky to call a guy like you her own.” Honesty drips from her voice, and all I wanna do is haul her against my truck and kiss those soft, plump lips until they’re swollen and bruised from mine.
“I could say the same about you. A girl like you deserves everything that’s good in the world, and the guy that finally steals your heart will be the luckiest son of a bitch alive.”
I just wish that guy was me.
Chapter 14
Amy
Ikeep playing the conversation between Logan and I over and over in my head as we make our way back to the city. The guy he was talking about, the one who steals my heart and being the luckiest guy in the world…
