Page 29 of Viking

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Viking

By the time we reachthe Marina, my stomach is growling, and I know hers must be too. I shut off the engine and tie down the boat, and then I glance at Arie. “You hungry?”

She nods, but quickly bows her fucking head again, as if asking for food is something to be ashamed of and not a goddamn necessity.

“Come on, I know a place.”

It’s a short walk up the dock to the best diner in town, but by the time I push through the glass doors, the icy wind is howling so hard that Arie’s whole body is trembling.

I sit in my usual booth overlooking the water, and I jut my chin toward the opposite seat, indicating Arie should follow suit. The aquamarine vinyl squeaks as she slides across it and she gives me a confused half smile. Then she sits in place, rocking her butt back and forth on the squeaky seat as she chuckles. This bitch fucking kills me with how goddamn sweet she is. First it was freeing hundreds of dollars’ worth of crabs into the ocean, and now she’s getting her giggles on over farting vinyl.

“You got ants in your pants, darlin’? That why you can’t fuckin’ sit still?”

I must be one funny fuck, because she laughs at that like it’s the most hilarious thing she’s ever heard. The sound of her breathy chuckle makes me smile too, and then it’s cut short by our server approaching.

Maddy is a cute blonde, mid-thirties with tits like hot-air balloons stapled to her petite frame. We’ve fooled around a time or two, but neither of us were looking for more than someone to scratch an itch. Arie’s gaze narrows on the woman as she sashays over and places laminated menus in front of us.

“Well, look what the cat dragged in.” Maddy pops her gum between her teeth enthusiastically and smiles at us. “How you been, Vike?”

Before I can answer, Maddy’s eyes dart to Arie and her overly painted brows shoot skyward. “I was goin’ to ask if you’re keeping out of trouble, but I think I already have my answer.”

I chuckle. “This is Arie, she’s ... the kid of one of our Cali brothers.”

Maddy gives me a smile that says, “do you think I was born yesterday?”. I just shake my head and pick up a menu.

“Nice to meet you, Arie.” Maddy fishes her pen and pad from the pocket of her apron and turns her attention back to me. “So, does the kid of your Cali brother know what she wants, or should I tell you the dinner specials?”

I glance at Arie, who’s staring down at the menu as if it’s written in ancient Sumerian bullshit.

Fuck. She can’t read, you idiot.

“What do you like, darlin’?” I ask, like a fucking dumb shit. She doesn’t know what she likes. She’s never even sat in a goddamn diner before.

Arie glances nervously up from her menu, her big green eyes wide and brimming with tears. She shakes her head.

“Let’s find out then.” I say, taking the menu from her and handing them both to Maddy. “Bring us one of everything, sugar.”

Maddy glances up from the order pad and blinks at me. “What’s that now?”

“You heard me.”

“Are you expecting the rest of the club to come rolling in anytime soon? ’Cause we might need a bigger table.”

“No, it’s just us. Tell Al he can stagger the food.”

“Well, alright then, but you better have brought your tipping money, honey. This is gonna take all damn night.”

I smile and watch her walk that fine ass back to the kitchen. She slides the docket through the window with a brazen grin. A beat later, Al is yelling profanities and slamming pots and pans, which draws a full-blown chuckle from me. When I glance back At Arie, she’s glaring at me.

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