Page 20 of Dueling Flames

“My leg!” I cried while holding it. I couldn’t stop from laughing though, ruining the effect.

“I bet you’re all healed and just milking it.” He parked.

“I wish,” I said while getting out of the car. “Got an X-ray this week. Not quite healed, but close.”

‘I’m sure your partner will rejoice when you finally leave her place.”

“Nah. She’ll miss me. Cry herself to sleep.”

“More like you’ll cry yourself to sleep. Probably the closest you’ve been to getting laid in years.”

“Damn dude. Why are we friends again?” I said with a laugh.

We walked into the local restaurant decorated with cheap wine bottles and grape leaves. It was owned by a married couple. One was Italian and the other Polish. Joe and I used to eat here all the time when he still lived in the area. They had great lasagna and perogies.

The hostess walked us to our seat when I noticed long light brown hair from the corner of my eyes. I glanced over. Lissa. Joe and I were seated two tables away, and I had a direct view of her parents. Lissa’s back was to me.

Her mom had the same hair color as Lissa but with blue eyes. She almost looked like a doll with her perfect makeup and no tan lines on her exposed arms. The father looked distinguished yet rough. His face was covered in wrinkles either from hard work, sun damage, or excessive smoking. Probably smoking, he looked like a smoker. His tailored suit almost fit him. I could tell the jacket was designed to make his shoulders look wider than they were. It was something my abuela used to point out to me at church. All three were overdressed for this place.

“What are you looking at?” Joe hit me with a menu.

I pointed with my head toward Lissa. “That’s my partner over there with her parents.”

Joe turned his head as subtly as a rhino, then swung it back to look at me. “The one with the dirty blonde hair?”

“Yes. And only half the place noticed you looking.”

“Yea, but did you see the girl at the bar? The redhead?”

I glanced past Lissa’s table to the bar and saw the ginger in question. “And?”

“She’s sexy as hell. I’m going to take her back with me tonight. I hope you’re okay hobbling home.”

“Ass,” I said, then picked up the menu. I knew he wouldn’t make me walk. Though he might make me get an Uber.

I had a great time catching up with Joe. I couldn’t help but think about how different the last few weeks would have been if Joe still lived in town. He would have let me stay with him in a heartbeat. But I wouldn’t have become so close to my partner.

A quick glance in her direction told me she’d consumed more alcohol than I’d ever seen her drink. Good thing we don’t have work tomorrow, but I know she had training.

“What’s that face about?” Joe asked, then looked where I was looking.

“She’s drinking more than normal.”

“The redhead?”

I looked at Joe. “Why would I know anything about the redhead? Lissa.”

Joe raised an eyebrow at me. “You’re really worried. You like her.”

I scoffed. “I’m her partner. Of course I worry. What if she can’t pull her weight?”

“But you all don’t work tomorrow. Besides, you haven’t been holding back either.”

“I…” I looked down to see the number of empty glasses in front of me. Don’t they clean up the empties here?

“You’ve lived with her for a month and that’s enough time for you to know the real Lissa. And you like her.” Joe’s smug grin spread across his face.

I felt my face get hot. I did like her, but I didn’t want to admit it. I’d seen relationships between partners blow up before.