Page 38 of Amore
We got onto the freeway and headed toward Santa Monica. “Yeah, I can put in a request, but it’s hard to get reassigned before the department makes the change. I’d have to expose our relationship or flat-out lie and say nasty things about her. I don’t want to do that.”
“So, what are you going to do?”
“I’m not sure yet.”
Just knowing he didn’t want to be with Candace made me feel better about spending time with him and having the paparazzi catch us. It would probably piss her off, but Luke didn’t want to be with her, and she would have to deal with it.
But I wondered if he wanted to be with me.
* * *
We arrivedat the Santa Monica Pier and parked in a nearby garage.
“I thought you couldn’t have dogs on the beach in LA County?” I asked as we got out of the car.
“You can have a dog on a leash on the pier, but I was thinking, after we grab our hot dogs and walk a little, we can head to Leo Carrillo State Park in Malibu. I know it’s dog friendly there.”
“That’s usually where I go.”
“Then we have a plan.”
“Aren’t you tired from working twelve hours?” I grabbed Amore’s leash and hooked it onto his collar, then let him out of the car.
“A little, but it’s cool. I’ve been thinking about these hot dogs all day.” Luke took Amore’s leash from me, and we headed toward the entrance of the pier.
“Really? They’re that good?”
“They’re that good.”
“Now I’m intrigued.”
As we walked down the pier, Amore wanted to chase seagull after seagull, but Luke held his leash tight. When we got to the hot dog stand, I realized we were at a to a Japanese fusion hot dog stand. I wouldn’t have thought to make an American hot dog Japanese, but there we were, looking up at the menu with seaweed and teriyaki sauce for toppings.
“All right. These aren’t the hot dogs I had in college on the streets of New York City.”
“No, they aren’t.” He slung his arm across my shoulders.
“What do you usually get?”
“The spicy cheese one.”
I looked up at the menu. Their signature hot dog was topped with teriyaki, seaweed, mayo, and three types of spicy cheeses. I wasn’t sure about the seaweed, but figured if Luke liked it—and it was their signature hot dog—I had to start with that one. “All right. I’ll get that too.”
“Want to share the Japanese pickled plum fries?”
I snorted. “Um, okay?”
“Trust me.”
“I do.” I laughed again. “But whatever happened to plain hot dogs or chili cheese dogs?”
“That’s so retro, Franks. These are going to blow your mind.”
Luke placed our order, and once it was ready, we walked to the railing that overlooked the shallow water. He handed me my hot dog and urged me to take a bite.
“I’m nervous,” I admitted.
“Just trust me.”
