I lean in and kiss her, and it feels as though my entire world has come together.
Now there’s only one thing left to do to make things right.
9
Colt
“Just a coffee,”I tell the waitress. “Black, please.”
“Nothing else?” she asks. “Our burger will make ya run home and smack yo momma!”
“Oh, I wouldn’t wanna do that to my momma,” I chuckle. “No, just the coffee, thank you.”
The waitress shrugs. “Your loss, darlin’. Comin’ right up.”
I’m sitting and waiting at the diner for Damien, and although I’ve only been here for about four minutes, it feels more like a half-hour. The waitress returns with my coffee, asking me one last time if I’d like to try that great burger of theirs, but after I tell her no one more time, I finally see Damien’s car pulling up in the parking lot.
He looks slightly more relaxed today and is wearing a bright orange Polo shirt as he makes his way up the steps. I signal to him once he’s inside, and he comes over to the booth.
“What the hell are we doing meeting here, man?” he asks, rubbing his palms together like a man who’s struck gold. “We should be at the club. I’ve got to show you these new girls.”
I’ve known Damien for years now, and never have I felt a distance between us. But now, for the first time, I feel a tension that that is so raw it’s like I could cut it with a knife. By the look on his face, Damien doesn’t notice it, but I sure do. I don’t know what to do about it either other than continue with what I have to say.
“Damien, listen. I’ve got something I’ve got to run by you.” Damien knows me well enough to read the tone in my voice and instantly perks up.
“Sure, boss. What is it?”
Just then, at the most inopportune time, the waitress arrives.
“Get you something, hun?”
“Huh? Oh, I’ll just take a coffee. Black.”
“You sure you don’t want a burger? We’ve got this burger—”
“Just the coffee, please,” I interrupt, trying not to be rude. She gets the message.
“All right, all right,” she mutters, heading back to the kitchen.
“Listen, Damien,” I say, starting again with a deep breath. “How would you feel…if I sold my shares of the club to you?”
Damien’s face twists in confusion. I can see for a minute his eyes focused on me as he tries to figure out if I’m just screwing around with him, and then a flash of something like anger. He and I have been partners in this for so long that maybe he thinks I’m upset with him or something.
The waitress returns with his coffee, sets it down in front of him, and vanishes again.
“Ha ha,” Damien replies, forcing a laugh. “Very funny, boss. Now come on. What did you really bring me here for?”
“That’s it, buddy,” I reply. “I’m not one hundred percent on it yet, but I’m pretty close. I’m thinking of selling my shares in the club to you and moving on to something else. I want to know if you will be interested in buying them from me.”
Damien’s face drops.
“I mean…yeah, boss. Sure. But why? Is it me? Did I do something?”
“No, no of course not!” I reply quickly. “It’s Tilly, Damien. She…she’s changed my outlook on everything, and I just can’t run the club and be with her. You understand?”
Damien looks at me and frowns. He takes a sip of his coffee and leans back.
“Are you…are you saying you’rein lovewith this chick, boss?”