“Lord… You hate me that much, Axel?” The bastard had the nerve to sound wounded. His father’s eyes were sad now, drooping a bit. The spunk was out of him, all of that fire he’d been blasting fizzled out.
Axel shrugged.
He didn’t want to do this… couldn’t do this. He quickly finished his beer, crushed the can in his bare hands, and tossed it in a cardboard box on the porch before standing and walking towards his truck.
“Axel!” his father hollered out, getting to his feet.
Axel got in his truck, started the engine, and pulled away from the unpaved driveway, dirt and dust kicking up as his wheels peeled out. After a few minutes, he was on a main drag, his breathing even and his temper calmed. A song came on the radio as he reached a red light—one that had been playing at the bar the other night when he was speaking to English.
He smiled when he thought about her but had decided he wasn’t going to call her. He didn’t want to date anyone who might have expectations. So many things he had to do, and dealing with a woman like that was work, and emotionally exhausting. He hadn’t been in a serious relationship in a long while, strictly by choice. He figured one day he’d be ready to settle down again, but he worked a lot, too, and it would be difficult. English was no ordinary lady. He could tell after speaking to her that evening.
He kept driving, and that song kept playing, until he couldn’t take it anymore.
When he got on the highway, he grabbed his cellphone off the dash and called her, placing it back in the holder as it began to ring.
“Hello?”
“Hey, English. It’s me, Axel Hendrix. I met you at Cavaliers Inn the other night.”
“Ahhh, yes. Hi, how are you?”
“I’m doing good. Real good… Are you in the mood for some Chinese food? I know a spot. I’d love to see you tonight…”
Chapter Five
Double Dragon, from outward appearances, wasn’t much to brag about. It was a little spot in a desolate strip mall alongside several shut-down businesses and vacated storefronts, most of which had seen better days.
The typical red neon letters blinked and buzzed, spelling out the name of the place, and a sun-faded menu with washed-out pictures of the culinary fare was taped to a window, the glass foggy and dotted with children’s handprints. To add to the already questionable location, the staff in the restaurant seemed irritated as they spoke sharply in Chinese, shouting back and forth as people waited for meals, or to place a takeout order.
Nevertheless, English stood there with a stiff upper lip. The food smelled amazing, and she could see two cooks in the back, shiny faced Chinese men sweating from the heat of their fiery stoves, their expressions serious as they handled huge steel woks. It was almost artful the way they dumped seasonings into broth, and stirred in vibrant vegetables, or cracked multiple eggs in rice.
“Kuàidian!” the lady at the register yelled to the chefs, her lips twisted like grapevines. When she turned back to the crowd, she made quick work of re-organizing the large takeout bags with their logo on the front on the counter, each with receipts stapled to it like a badge of honor. A pencil rested along the back of her ear, and her straight black hair, streaked with a little gray in the front, was bobby-pinned on the sides in a makeshift fashion.
So, this is where he takes me… Okay.
English stood there trying to make heads or tails of the situation. She had no idea that when Axel called and they’d arranged a dinner date, he’d be taking her to a carryout spot, an Asian greasy spoon.
I took all of that time getting pretty just for this lady to yell and scream and give everyone in here the evil eye, as if our existence bothers her soul deeply… My word. I wish I knew Chinese so I could understand what she was saying. I learned Spanish, French, Italian, and Swahili while in high school and college, but decided to not take it when I had the chance. Regrets.
She glanced at the front door and noticed it was almost dark now. Shadowy, ashen clouds and shades of navy blue blended together, creating enchanting hues. The spellbinding moment of dusk was almost gone, and the night had spread her dark wings to clock in for the third shift. The door chimed when another person entered the place—an older guy wearing a beat-up ballcap, holding his cellphone to his ear. English felt like a fish out of water as they drew closer to the register to place their orders. Two people were waiting in front of them. It wouldn’t be long now.
Look at my clothes. Damn!