With a heart, myself answers back.
Great.
Now I’m arguing with myself in rhyme.
Should’ve stayed home, except I get to show off how I can be places it’s not as easy for her security guy to get into by being here.
A server drops by and takes orders from the three of us who’ve basically just arrived, then disappears to get our drinks and appetizers.
“Did you come straight from work?” Margie asks Lucky once we’re alone again.
“Yeah.”
“He usually does,” Jack says. “Dude’s a workaholic.”
“Like you can talk,” Decker says.
“Hi, kettle,” Jack replies.
Margie—sure, she’s stillMargietonight—smiles more while scratching Bandit’s head, and I wonder if she’s feigning that hunger in her eyes.
Not ruthless hunger.
I want to belong hunger.
Could that honestly be most of what she wants? To have more family? Because hers is shitty but she still believes in the power of genetics making family?
“So all three of you love your jobs and work hard,” she says. “Got it.”
“How’s your job going?” Lucky asks her. “Everyone being cool?”
“Yes. It’s good. Nicer than my last job. Thank you.”
I stifle a snort.
She doesn’t look in my direction, but her shoulders seem to tighten beneath her flannel.
Decker glances at me, then at her. “Heard you ran into a movie star.”
She tucks a strand of dark, curly hair behind her ear, then adjusts her glasses. “That was very unexpected.”
“He’s one of the owners,” Jack tells her, which I’m certain she already knew.
“I didn’t run into the owners much in any of my previous jobs. Nor were they ever famous.”
I don’t react to that lie either.
Mostly.
And even if I did, she’s charging ahead. “So, again…unexpected. Jack, I didn’t realize when you mentioned it the other day that explosives engineering is a real thing and not a joke? That sounds dangerous and fascinating. I have this friend back home who’d basically kill me if I didn’t demand to know how often you touch TNT.”
Lucky winces. “Here we go…”
“Dammit,” Decker adds.
Jack, though, has straightened and is grinning. “I blow shit upall the time.”
Bandit makes another soft woof in agreement.
