Page 16 of Fanatic

“Shut up, asshole,” Willow snapped, but there was no heat in her words.

“Come on, let’s grab a milkshake. You got the address for home?”

“Yes. And I’ve programmed it into the sat nav!”

I laughed at Willow’s exasperation and herded her into the diner. This far out, there wouldn’t be anyone we recognised. I ordered milkshakes and onion rings, nachos, burger and fries. I ensured the waitress knew to make it well done because of my liver. Willow shook her head as I grinned.

“Hungry?” she teased.

“Get off your high horse, lady. You know you’ll eat it with me. Why do you think I asked for two plates. And it’s time, little dude here, tried a fry.”

“You’re going to give Danny a French fry?” Willow said, trying to sound outraged.

Danny blinked.

“Better than the mushed-up crap Mummy feeds you, isn’t it?”

Danny stared and then babbled in agreement.

“You need to get a woman, Fanatic. You’d be a great Dad,” Willow announced, surprising me.

“Nah. Told ya, babe, I’m not leaving a woman and kids hanging because my sorry ass died of liver complications.”

“And you might be one of those to make it to old age, Micah.” Willow dropped my road name and held out her hand.

I grasped it. Calling me Micah showed me she was serious about what she said, but it didn’t hold water. Not anymore. My fate had been determined the moment a wall fell on me and wrecked my liver.

I’d accepted my life span would be shorter than most of those around me. Bitterness had been a constant companion for a long damn time. Even up to the war, I resented my fuckin’ situation. Then we lost the Unwanted Bastards, Hawthorne’s men, Calamity nearly died again—and we lost Grey and so many others. That had shocked me out of my self-pity, and now I was grateful every day I woke up.

Lives had been changed. Families had lost loved ones, parents had lost children, siblings had died, and so had Mums and Dads. Yeah, I was fuckin’ overjoyed to be alive because I could have ended up in the ground.

Abruptly, I was startled from my thoughts by the waitress who brought our plates over.

She smiled at me, and I nodded a thanks as I grabbed a knife and cut the burger. I checked it had been thoroughly cooked andput half on a plate and pushed it over to Willow. The huge ass basket of fries was placed in front of both of us, and I did the same with the nachos and onion rings.

Willow loved both dishes, so I wasn’t surprised when she tucked in. Meanwhile, I grabbed a fry and blew on it before handing to Danny. Amused, I watched as Danny shoved it straight in his mouth.

Willow glanced at him as his eyes widened. Danny removed the fry and looked at it before shoving it back in. Willow began to laugh as he sucked it to death.

“Guess Danny likes fries,” I said as the waitress placed our shakes in front of us.

“You didn’t answer me.”

“Huh?”

“Micah. You’re gonna be the guy who beats the odds and makes it to old age.”

“Sorry, babe, I didn’t realise you wanted a reply to that. The odds are against me. Yeah, I’m fit for my age and keep myself in shape. But a couple of bad chest infections, and I could keel over.”

“You won’t.”

“Why not?”

“Because, asshole, you’re my best friend, and I need you,” Willow said honestly.

“Good, because I’d shoot anyone who tried to steal that role from me.”

“Fanatic! You can’t say that to a federal agent.” Willow began laughing hard.

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