“Is today too soon?” I ask carefully.
“Not as long as we can do a dinner-snack milkshake.”
“I have no plans today. Just tell me what time.”
“Uh, let’s see…” He pauses for a moment, then says, “Four?”
“Four is good. Dee’s?”
“They have the best.”
“I’ll see you there,” I say with a smile. “Bye.”
I stare at the phone after the call ends.
Okay, Miles, you didn’t ask him what’s going on… but maybe you can do that tonight.
“Good idea,” I say to myself. “Face-to-face is so much better.”
… and scarier.
Chapter 15
Miles
We take a booth just inside the door, by the windows that overlook the outside seating area and small parking lot. It’s Sunday evening, but the diner isn’t very busy. They have more of a breakfast and lunch rush versus dinner, and they close soon anyway.
“Do you come here often?” I ask.
“Often enough,” he says. “They have good food, and they aren’t far from the station. We eat from just about everywhere when we don’t feel like cooking. Or when we’re hungry outside of meal times.”
“You have scheduled meal times?” I ask.
“Keeps things organized and helps to make sure we’re fed. We have a schedule with who cooks and when.”
“That’s nice. Very…”
“Domestic?” He huffs a laugh. “Yeah, that’s the point. We’re a family. Get along like one, too. Not only well, but fighting sometimes—well, more arguing, I guess. Not fistfights.”
“Good to know we don’t have city firefighters knocking each other out on shift.”
He laughs again, and I can’t help but smile. It’s a deep, rough laugh that has my chest warming. I’ve never heard anyone laugh like that before, and I really do love the sound of it.
“Evening, gentlemen,” the young waitress greets, as she reaches our table. “My name is Cherish. Can I start you off with something to drink?”
“Water and a strawberry milkshake with whipped cream and chocolate drizzle,” I say.
JJ narrows his eyes at me, then flicks his gaze to Cherish. “Same for me.”
What the…
“Are you getting any food tonight?” She smiles kindly, looking between us.
“Just the milkshakes,” JJ says.
“Great. That’ll be out in just a few moments.”
She walks off, and I watch JJ carefully. “So… strawberry milkshake with chocolate drizzle, huh?”