Page 15 of Freeing Hawk
We parked and jogged across the street with Tiberius. A few people wanted to pet him, and I refused. Tiberius was a rescue, and he was barely getting used to me and the people in my life. I hated strangers petting him. They weren’t impressed but I didn’t want anyone getting bitten.
“Yo! James!” The food truck owner called.
I reached up to bump fists with him. “What’s good!”
“Long time no see man.” He leaned over to speak with me. “You home for good or just visiting?”
“I’m home, man.” I told him. “I’m not saying if they call and ask me to help out, I won’t.”
“Once a ranger.”
I laughed. “Yeah. I want to do something else now, you know?”
“I feel you. What you Jonesing for?”
“Lemme have some oxtail with rice and peas.” I looked over at Romeo. “This my boy Romeo.”
The two of them bump fists.
Romeo glanced at the menu thoughtfully. “Jerk chicken on rice and peas.”
“I got you.” He told us. “Grab a seat for a second.”
Together, Romeo and I sat on one of the benches while Tiberius sniffed at a nearby tree.
“So, what do you think of what I suggested earlier?” I asked.
“I think you have a good point.” Romeo leaned back. He looked out over the water. “I feel a little isolated where I live now.”
“Are you thinking of moving?”
Romeo nodded. “More and more lately. I’m used to being around people—people I trust. Where I am right now, I just—”
“You feel alone.”
“Yeah. Is that weird to say?”
“Nah.” I stretched my back to push my head up toward the sky. “I get that way too. If I didn’t have Tiberius, I’d be ripping my hair out—and I have no hair.”
Romeo smiled.
I’d know Romeo since the Army Rangers. He was a good guy but after he lost almost his entire squad, he just couldn’t deal. After his honorable discharge, I couldn’t see myself running a business with anyone else.
“I have more than enough space,” I told him.
“Leta isn’t going to pop by all the time, is she?”
I laughed. “Leta is in Peru right now researching her new book. I spoke to her a week ago.”
“Shouldn’t you have spoken to her again?” He asked.
I shrugged. “Signal is sketchy where she is right now. She told me not to worry. If I don’t hear from her in another day, then I’ll start worrying. We have a schedule.”
“Bruh!” The food truck guy called.
I got up and hurried over. “You got a case of dragon I can get?”
The driver glanced both ways then dipped behind the counter. He popped up again with another bag and I accepted it, shoved some cash into his hands with plenty for a tip and gave him a mock salute.
