Page 21 of Restart & New Revenge
In response,Axelasked a lot of questions, some of which she was able to answer.
“Where inSwedendoes she come from?”Axelinquired.
“Umm…I’venever asked.Sorry,”Acereplied.
“You have a favorite thing from her bakery?Whatis the thing?”Axelasked again.
“She makes a really good cinnamon roll type of pastry,”Aceanswered, grinning.
“Ah, the kanelbulle,”Axelsaid, smiling hugely at this announcement. “Shealso makes the traditional kladdkaka, yes?”
“Umm…Idon’t know,”Acereplied. “Stellahas theSwedishnames next to her baked goods, but she also has theEnglishversion, soIusually just order with theEnglishname.”
Axel hummed in response, butIcould see the wheels turning that he was likely already planning a trip there.
“As a curling champion, it is my duty to tell you that you should definitely try that bakery,”Taliachimed in. “Annahas brought us some of their specialties, and they are incredible.”
Dan andAcegroaned atTalia’smention of her “curling champion” title, whileAxelandIjust smiled.
“She’s never going to let us live this down,”Dansaid toAce, and they both smiled.
The easy banter continued among the five of us as we ate appetizers, untilIcaughtAcelooking at a man across the room.He, too, had been staring at her, andIwondered if they knew each other.
“You good?”Iasked her, bringing her thoughts and line of sight back to our table.
“What?” she asked, clearly startled.
“Do you know that man?”
She looked at me, then over at the man, and then back at me. “IthoughtIdid, but no.”
“He’s been staring at you, too.Yousure?”Ipressed again, getting the sense she wasn’t telling me everything.
“I saw that too, butIthink he probably just watches ourTVstation and recognized me.He’smoved on now, so it doesn’t matter.”
Sure enough, he had just walked out the restaurant’s front door.Istill didn’t like it though.Witha bounty on both our heads, you could never be too careful.Ilooked over toAxel.Henodded slightly and then got up from the table.Hetold the group he needed something from his car, butIknew he was going to check that guy out.
The conversations continued, andIlearnedDanwore shorts year-round—given he was from northernMinnesota, nothing was too cold for him.Taliahad just been named inBlackEnterpriseMagazine’sTop40 under 40last month for her contributions to science in the media.Oh, andAcewas going to auction herself off for a date next month for a foster youth charity.
That irritated me more than it should.Ihad no claim over her anymore.EventhoughIhad regretted the decision to divorce her a million times,Icouldn’t change the past.
Thankfully,Ididn’t have too much time to focus on that particular quandary sinceAxelwalked back into the restaurant.Beforehe had the chance to fill me in,Taliaspoke as she got up from her chair.
“Alright, kids…Thissuperior curling player needs a nap.”
More groans and mumbles could be heard fromDanandAce.
Talia had ridden over withDan, so both said their goodbyes.
Talia spoke toAceas she leaned in for a hug. “Asa curling master, my advice is to jump that man’s bones.”
I wasn’t sure if she meant for me to hear it, butIdid, andIknew she was referring to me.
Ace growledTalia’sname before telling them both she would see them at work the next day.
They both walked out, leaving justAxel,Ace, and me at the table.
I turned to her and asked, “Youready to leave too?”
