Page 25 of War

I sat down on a stool.

Neo appeared through the kitchen door. “What do you want to drink? We have water, lemonade, or Pepsi.”

“Water’s fine.”

Neo opened the fridge and pulled out three bottles. He closed the door then crossed the floor to the bar. He gave one bottle to me and set the other two down on the bar’s surface before he went to a cabinet for some plates.

“What did you do today?” he asked as he carried the plates over.

I laughed. “I annoyed Amantha. Pretty productive day, if I say so myself.”

I twisted the cap off my bottle of water and took a drink of the cold beverage.

“You worked today, didn't you?” Neo asked. He slid the plates onto the counter.

I set the bottle down and shook my head. “I only work part time at Airplayne Adventures. I'm off Thursday and Friday. Then I work at the mud races over the weekend. Today wasexclusively spent trying to guess Amantha's last name. ...And sleeping. But mainly guessing.”

Neo laughed and sat down on his own stool. “Did you guess right?”

“Not yet. But I have time. Any chance I can bribe you to tell me?”

“Nope. I'm staying out of it.” Neo grinned. “You're going to kick yourself if you don't guess it.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Why is that?”

He looked at me innocently. “No reason.”

A key scraped in the front door lock then a moment later the handle turned and the door swung open. Amantha came limping in using a cane.

“Hi, guys,” she said as she closed the door behind her.

She looked tired.

“Hey,” Neo said.

“Hi,” I echoed.

“I see Zion found his way back.” She tossed her purse and keys onto the coffee table and used her cane to walk slowly to her stool. She sat down beside me.

“I did. And I brought pizza.”

“Awesome,” she said. She sounded tired, too.

Neo passed a plate and a water bottle over to her.

“Thank you.” She smiled at Neo.

“You're welcome.”

Neo passed me a plate.

“Thanks,” I said with a nod.

Neo nodded back.

I cracked open the top pizza to peek inside. “Hawaiian.” I put the box on the counter by Amantha. The other two would be the specialty orders.

“Oh, you didn't have to...” Amantha protested.