Page 53 of It Hurts Me
“Can’t she just cook for you at home?”
He chuckled. “With two demons running around? I wish.”
“Is Dante watching them tonight?”
“Yep. Good ol’ Grandpa.”
“He doesn’t seem like the babysitting type.”
“Well, he knows he’s our full-time babysitter for all the shit he pulled.” He looked at the menu again. “I might get one of those smoked old fashioneds. You know, where they take off the glass, and then all the smoke comes out…pretty cool.”
“I’ll get one too.”
The waitress returned, and we ordered our drinks.
“What are the specials?” Axel asked.
The waitress listed the three, one with fish, a short rib ravioli, and then a vegetarian couscous dish.
“Hmm.” Axel looked at the menu. “Fuck, what am I gonna do?”
“It’s a big decision,” I said sarcastically. “Take your time.”
“What are you getting, asshole?”
“Probably the chicken. I like the sauce she makes.”
Axel continued to look at the menu. “This is hard.”
The waitress returned with our drinks, and when she removed the glass covering, the smoke rose.
“That’s sick.” Axel brought the glass to his lips and took a drink.
Ever since Axel had settled down and left the game, he’d become more childlike, caring about things that he would have found insignificant beforehand. We had less in common now, but our bond was still tight like a taut rubber band.
“How are your parents?” I asked.
He shrugged. “Things are good, but it’ll always be a little…strained. You know? They feel guilty, but there are times when I get pissed off about the whole thing. And then I need space. I don’t think it’ll ever be what it used to be. It’s been too long, and too much shit has happened. But I’m happy that we’ve buried the hatchet, so I don’t have to feel guilty when they’re gone.”
“Yeah.”
“I’m not the type to hold a grudge, but this one is hard to let go.”
“That’s fair.”
He looked at the menu again. “Fuck, I gotta figure this out.”
“Why don’t you take something to go?”
He looked up at me and gave me a slow nod. “You’re a smart man, Theo. Very smart.”
“I know.”
He chuckled slightly and looked at the menu again.
“Why is she working tonight anyway? She’s the owner. Shouldn’t someone else be slaving away back there?”
“She likes to come down a couple nights a month. It’s the best way to see how the restaurant’s doing. She likes cooking and being a part of the team. And I think the biggest reason is she gets tired of being a full-time mom. I think she likes to have some space and do her own thing.”