Page 16 of F*cking Shattered
She moves her palm against her chest. “Are you sure? That’s a very brave order for someone who’s never eaten here before.”
I nod. “Yep, that’s what I’ll have.”
She looks at the man sitting across from me. “I’ll have the same,” he tells her.
I hand my menu to the waitress before looking at him. “You don’t even know what I ordered.”
He shrugs. “I’ve had everything on their menu. It doesn’t matter what it is.”
I realize I still don’t know his name and embarrassment settles over me because this man knows me in ways nobody else does.
“Well if you’re going to crash my lunch, I think I need to know your name.”
“Are you sure you want to know? That won’t break the spell for you?” The corners of his lips turn up just a bit.
How does he know so much about me? Am I really that transparent? “Seeing you again today after what we did last night has already broken the spell,” I lie. “So I think knowing your name is okay.”
He lets out a small laugh. “It’s River.”
River…that’s a weird name. “Don’t you want to know mine?”
The waitress places a glass of water on the table in front of him and he picks it up, taking a drink. “I already know your name, Jovi.”
“What? How do you know that?”
He lets out a deep laugh. “Calm down, I’m not stalking you if that’s what you’re thinking. I heard your dad tell George yesterday. That’s how I knew you were outside.”
Oh. That makes sense.
The waitress places our meal down in front of us and the smell of the food wafts up, stinging my eyes and making them water.
“What’s the matter?” River asks, picking up his fork to eat.
“I don’t like spicy food.”
“Then why did you order the spiciest thing on the menu?”
I open my mouth to tell him ‘because of the list,’ but then think that maybe I shouldn’t tell him about that. That list is between Katie and I. I don’t want to share that secret with anyone else. Plus, he’d probably think I was completely crazy.
“It’s just something I thought I needed to try.” I shrug as I pick up my fork and poke at the sliver of meat.
He shakes his head, not understanding, as he takes a bite of his own food. “Do you want to order something else?”
I shake my head. “Nope. I ordered this, and I’m going to eat it.” I raise the fork to my mouth and take a bite. The slice of chicken is already hot and burning my mouth so the spiciness of it doesn’t even register…until I swallow. Then my mouth feels like it’s on fire. My eyes start to water as my mouth stings.
I stick my tongue out and try fanning it with my hands. When that doesn’t work, I grab my glass of water and chug down as much of it as I can. The burning on my tongue is what I imagine hell to feel like. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think my mouth was melting.
River’s laugh cuts through me, and I turn my angry gaze at him. “What’s so funny? I’m in pain here!”
He throws his head back, laughing even harder.
I reach across the table and smack his shoulder. “What’s wrong with you? Make it stop!” My eyes are completely filled with tears now. They are running down my face faster than I can wipe them away. But my tearstained face is not what I’m worrying about. I’m worried about never being able to taste anything ever again because I know my taste buds are burning off right now.
All my yelling at River and acting like a complete crazy person gets the attention of the waitress and she rushes over with a glass. “Drink this.”
I take the glass, more than willing to drink anything that will put me out of my misery. I chug the magical substance, that just so happens to be milk, and little by little, the burning subsides. I set the empty glass on the table while she stands back watching with a look that says ‘I told you so’.
“Oh, that’s so much better. Thank you.”