Page 111 of Reaper

“Thank you.”

“What did you think of the shop?”

“I thought it was nice until you opened the office door,” she deadpans, making me laugh.

“Your reaction was priceless. I can’t wait to tell the other guys.”

“Have you talked to Evelyn lately?” she asks, changing the subject.

I frown. When was the last time I talked to my sister?

“No, why? Is something wrong?”

“I don’t know.” She nibbles on her lip as she looks out the window. “She stopped by the other night while you guys were in church and just seemed sad.”

“That’s right. She was already in her room asleep by the time we came out and you were in the shower. Did she hint at why she was sad?”

“She talked about life and death but nothing much.”

“Ah.” I nod. “When she loses too many in one week, she falls into a little funk. Now the fire and drinks make sense.”

Natalie swirls her straw around in her glass. “You know what I think she needs?”

“I’m afraid to know.” I sigh. “Lay it on me.”

“To go on a date.”

“The last thing my sister needs is a man in her life.”

“Fine, then she needs to get laid.”

I cringe. “Can we not mention my sister’s sex life right before we eat? I’d like to keep my appetite.”

“Don’t be dramatic.” Natalie rolls her eyes.

“I’ll show you dramatic,” I mumble as the waitress walks up.

“Here you go. Let me know if you need anything else.” The waitress drops off our food and walks away.

Natalie does a little dance in her seat as she eyes her food.

“Excited?”

“Hell yeah, I was worried for a minute. I didn’t know what you ordered, and I was afraid I was going to be stuck eating something gross.”

“I wouldn’t have let the order go through if I thought you wouldn’t like it.” I point out as I pick up a fry, popping it in my mouth.

“Such a knight in shining armor,” she quips as she picks up a chicken tender.

For the next fifteen minutes, we finish our meal before tossing money onto the table and heading back across the street.

Opening the door leading into the lobby, I see a box on the counter from one of the parts companies.

“Weird,” I mutter.

“What is?”

“Usually they would drop the parts in the garage, not in here.”

---