Chapter 28
“Man – this is even better than I remember,” I moan as I shovel another forkful of poutine into my mouth.
Billy’s Burger is, was and shall always be the shit. It was one of our main hangouts in high school and I can’t believe it took me this long to swing by after getting back to Reyfield. When I walked through the front door, I didn’t even have to place my order. The owner, Billy Jenkins, just looked over at me and yelped over his shoulder for a large poutine with onion rings, secret-sauce burger and a Mountain Dew.
“I bet they don’t serve this shit in jail,” Daniel says with a laugh as he takes a swallow of his soda before picking up his burger.
I chuckle at his joke but the comment is a reminder of my past, which is the very last thing I want to think about right now. I decide to change the subject. “So, how’s family life, man? What’s going on at home?”
Daniel blows out a loaded breath and shoves his empty paper plate aside. “I love my wife but I swear to you, man, this marriage thing is hard.”
“So I’ve heard,” I say with a cocked eyebrow as I shove my last onion ring into my mouth.
“I work hard all day. I get home most nights and I’m too tired to even have dinner. I just wanna crash. That’s how tired I am. But she tries to bite my head off the minute I walk through the door. It’s exhausting.” Daniel looks ten years older as he speaks.
“It can’t be all bad,” I say sympathetically as I wipe my fingers on a napkin.
He shakes his head. “You see, that’s the thing. She drives me crazy, but I’m crazy about her. Watching her sitting in bed with her nerdy glasses on, cuddled up with her Kindle or watching her playing with our baby – that’s the woman I fell in love with. But the two-headed monster she turns into whenever she has to deal with me? I don’t know that person.”
I feel for him but what can I say? I’ve never been married. And looking at him right now, I can’t say I regret that. It’s a good thing that I found out that Rhys was a no-good, lying tramp before she strutted her deceitful ass down the aisle.
Just then, Billy shows up at our table with two enormous slices of dessert. “Chestnut wafer topped chocolate cake drizzled with salted caramel. On the house. To welcome Master Kee back to town.”
I offer him a lopsided smile. “Aww man. I appreciate that,” I say bumping knuckles with him.
“Think nothing of it. We’re just glad you’re back. Hopefully, to stay.”
Daniel frowns at him. “Hey Billy, how come you don’t hand out chocolate cake to celebrate me?” he says with mock offense. “I’m here all the time.”
“Maybe if you left town for a few years, we’d have something special for ya,” the man says teasingly before shoving Daniel jokingly in the shoulder.
“Whatever,” Daniel mutters as he sticks his fork into the cake and takes a bite. Billy quickly disappears back into the kitchen.
One taste is enough to convince me that this is the best damn dessert I’ve ever had. I gobble it up in just a few bites before calling the waitress over to order another hug slice to go.
Daniel looks at me incredulously. “You’re gonna eat all that?”
“Nah,” I say with a laugh. “This is for Sammie. I think she’d like it.”
I regret the words as soon as I see how Daniel’s eyes narrow in on my face. “For Sammie?”
I swallow. “Yeah,” I say with a casual shrug. “Gotta keep my employees happy.”
Daniel is silent, studying me as I pull a few bills from my wallet to cover the meal and a generous tip. “Hey man, you remember what I told you about my sister,” he growls, his face red now. “She’s off-limits.”
I wave him off in a casual motion. “Of course,” I say as calmly as I can muster. “You don’t have to remind me.” The guilt tastes acidic at the back of my throat.
“Good,” he says as he pushes his chair away from the table and stands. He glances at his watch. “Gotta be in court in an hour and a half. I’m gonna get going.”
“Yeah man,” I say. “It was good hanging out.”
He nods and gives me a stiff smile before he heads out the door.
This isn’t going to end well. I know that with every fiber of my being.