Page 19 (1/2)

It’s a strange answer, but not accepting it would be like the pot calling the kettle black "Okay, I can wait, I guess"

Letting go of ha shock of pleasure through hty

"Thank you for trusting ers slide from my hair to my cheekbone

We leave the sunnier part of town behind and enter the rougher side, leaving the old-fashioned shops and restaurants in exchange for old and dilapidated houses and warehouses Rusted cars clutter yards and bars and s how much this side of town feels like home

My concentration centers on Asher "So where’s thisme?"

He returns his hand to mine and then downshifts "That’s kind of a surprise, but I thought we could get so to eat first I mean, if that’s okay with you?"

I crack theand let in a cool breeze "Yeah, that’s fine withyou?" he asks "You seeusts throughin the cool air "I’m fine I promise" I eraseup a sry"

"Good" He grins and turns the car into the crowded parking lot of Phil’s Shenanigans and Fun "Hn "I wonder what kind of fun it’s referring to"

"No, you don’t," I say It’s the bar where o on inside

"You’ve been here?" Asher shuts off the engine and takes out the keys

"Once or twice" I omit some of the truth "And I think they card here"

"I heard they don’t" He points a finger at the front door where a young couple are walking inside with their aro to school with theh heavily "I think they do let in ht , while he drank hi about his philosophical ideas on life and death until he’d piss off so at him Then, Phil, the owner--as like a second father to me--would load us up in his Chevy and drive us hoood here?" Asher opens the car door and steps out

"Yeah, the food, the service--it’s all great" Except for the memories

Before I can climb out of the car, Asher hurries and opens the door froentleuess he came from an earlier era He holdsatin the world There’s a row ofThe s of the bar are shielded with flashing neon signs and flyers

At the entrance, Asher releases my hand, but only to open the door I fan the ss closed and then Asher returns his hand to mine The bar is packed, the music’s loud, and there are no barstools available Paper- and each table has a miniature pumpkin

"Hi, y’all My nairl in her early twenties appears in front of us Her black skirt barely covers her legs and her white shirt is tight enough that it shows she’s not wearing a bra "We only got booths tonight Is that okay?"

"What do you think?" Asher asks, looking at ood?"

"A booth’s better," I answer

"Okay" The waitress leads us through the smoke and people with a cheery skip in her walk We settle in the corner booth, sitting across from each other, and she hands us our ht He’s a largehis arht and his goatee touches the bottom of his neck He has a T-shirt on with the sleeves torn off, jeans, and biker boot and he’s pouring a shot as the waitress says so to hi thefor cover

"Please, don’t come over here Please, don’t couides the menu away from my face "Okay, what’s up?"

I pretend to be very interested in the list of appetizers "Nothing I’ the menu"

He eyesnext to our table

"Holy biscuits and gravy, it is you"

I take a deep breath "Hey, Phil" I plaster a fake srins and opens his aret to ars and booze, both of which will be the cause of his death, so I’ve known for years

I pull away and drop back down in the booth "I thought you were going to quit s"

He tensely rubs his neck "I did for a while, but old habits die hard But look at you All grown up I haven’t seen you since the night your…" he trails off "Well, anyway How are you doing? And how’s your ood" I pick at the peanut shells wedged in the cracks of the tabletop

"Is she still working down at the diner?" he asks "Or did she finally get away fro the waitress thing," I say and his eyes drift to Asher "Oh, this is Asher Asher, this is Phil"

They nod and say their "how do you do’s"

I grow fidgety and fiddle with the pus back the hts at the bar with my dad When Phil would drive et better--that eventually ether It’s not Phil’s fault it never happened, but it reh to believe it would