“It’s not like any of them have cell phones, and our parents screen every incoming call so I’d have to deal with one of them before I’d be allowed to talk to any of my sisters.”
A cool, calculated moment passed before he spoke.
“It’s hard to believe you grew up that way, off the grid. You’re incredibly well-adjusted.”
“As well-adjusted as someone who had to run away to attend college can be, I guess.”
His lips parted as if to reply but he was cut off by a man in baggy jeans and a black hooded sweatshirt. “Dayton Merino’s still in the Emerald City. Well, I’ll be damned.”
An older woman setting up trays and utensils at the end of the service line shot him a look of disbelief.
“Sorry, Ms. Patterson.”
“It isn’t me you owe an apology, boy.”
He signed the cross while rolling his eyes and Kenna silently took offense to the stranger’s overt juvenility.
“Just visiting.” Dayton made no move to ask him how he was doing and he didn’t bother introducing her—though she believed the lack of introduction was a small kindness.
“You play in college? Guess not after your accident. We had a killer season the year after you quit. Good to know you’re still around. Some of us thought you’d …” He made a crackling sound and swiped at his neck. “Heart’s still beating. That’s something to be thankful for today, eh?”
“Truly a blessing,” Dayton deadpanned.
Under normal circumstances, Kenna would’ve laughed at his seldom seen brand of humor but she was lost in the terrifying implication behind what his friend had said.
His thumb brushed his scraggly, blonde facial hair. “And hey, it’s alright about Nicole. We both know she was a slut anyway.”
“Son, your profanity isn’t welcome here.” Ms. Patterson narrowed her eyes; whether it was out of annoyance or a byproduct of poor vision was unclear.
“Nice seeing you.”
“Yeah, you too.” Dayton waited until he was out of earshot before speaking again. “That was Zach. We played lacrosse together.”
“I gathered that much.”
“Go on.”
Tilting her head to one side, she frowned.
“Aren’t you going to ask about Nicole? In keeping with your adorable mission to uncover every sin I’ve committed.”
“Actually, no.” Kenna had no interest in whoever this Nicole person was. Zach’s comment about his health, however, was eating her alive.
People started trickling through the service line. She offered a portion of mashed potatoes and a polite smile between whispered comments to Dayton.
“What was he talking about? You told me your condition wasn’t serious, that you weren’tdying.”
He stared straight ahead into the bustling refectory, rather than at her, when he replied, “We’re all living on borrowed time, kid.”
It took all she had to bite back a laugh.
“I let your sister get away with calling me that but that doesn’t mean you get a free pass. And I thought we were long past evading each other’s questions.”
The service line grew busier and cut their conversation short. Her heartbeat echoed in her ears as she carried out the repetitive process. Scoop and smile. Finally, they were granted a brief reprieve as the tables filled up and fewer people came through the doors.
Flecks of pain lurked in Dayton’s eyes.
“I’m not evading your question. I answered with a fact. We’re all dying. Every one of us, minute by minute. Some of us just carry a greater risk of having our lives cut short.”