Nothing Special 03 - Here Comes Trouble Read Free Page B

work, and when they did have a little free time, they would spend it unwinding, doing things that they both liked to do. Maybe it was time for both of them to get out socially… without the other. It was like they were joined at the hip. He realized he was being an idiot when he felt Ruxs’ hand on his shoulder and his breath on his ear.
    “Order for me. I gotta piss.”
    Then the heat from that hold was gone. Green didn’t bother looking up at the lit-up menu, he knew what he wanted and what Ruxs wanted too.
    “Can I help you?” The bubbly woman asked from behind the counter.
    He sighed heavily. “I got two orders. I’ll have two double-cheeseburgers, without pickles, extra mustard. One order of sweet potato fries, no salt. And I’ll have a sweet tea with mine. My next order. Two double burgers, no cheese, and no ketchup. Pickles on the side. Two orders of onion rings. Water no lemon.”
    “Is that all?” She smiled.
    He smiled back. “Yeah that’s it.”
    After she gave him his total, she’d just finished swiping his card when his partner was back by his side. The woman looked at both of them, blushing slightly while she waited for him to sign his receipt. They often got this from women, especially younger ones. Green had tribal art tats on his neck that peeked out of his usual tight, white T-shirt. His spiky black hair went in whatever direction his hands moved it in throughout the day. Denim jeans, fitting loosely on his narrow hips with a black-studded belt. His badge clipped to his hip.
    Ruxs’ pale green eyes wooed even the married ones. His dark designer stubble was always trimmed and neat. He dressed like a trendy Calvin Klein model. Leather coat. Cargo pants with black motorcycle boots. Always some band T-shirt. Today it was his favorite. Metallica. Tomorrow it’d probably be Green Day or The Stones. Ruxs ran his hand back and forth over his simple buzz cut. But Green knew that that jet black hair was baby soft, not prickly.
    They took their trays and walked over to their usual table. The one next to the window that let them see the entrance to the restaurant and the entire parking lot. As soon as Ruxs sat down he asked, “What do you think the meeting is about?”
    Green shrugged, taking a huge bite of one of his burgers. “No fuckin’ clue.”
    Ruxs took a few of Green’s sweet potato fries and automatically moved a few of his onion rings onto Green’s tray. He picked up the pickles that were placed on the side of his burger and put them on Green’s second burger. Same routine.
    They were almost finished with lunch before Green finally asked Ruxs, “So where are you taking this girl?”
    Ruxs didn’t answer until they’d thrown out their trash and were walking back to Green’s truck.
    “Um probably to a movie. Get a little something to eat.” Ruxs shrugged, buckling his seatbelt. “What are you doing tonight?”
    “Watching the game,” Green said pulling back into traffic and heading back to Cleveland Avenue. Usually he and Ruxs would be on his couch putting back a six-pack watching it together. He tried not to feel pissed about it, this wasn’t Ruxs’ first date for fuck’s sake, and Green had definitely been on his share.
    “Fuck man. That’s tonight. Shit.” Ruxs looked at his cell like he was going to call and cancel. “Oh hey. She sent another message. Maybe she’s gonna be —”
    Green turned and looked at his partner, who’d suddenly gone quiet. Ruxs was staring at his phone.
    “What?”
    “She sent a message with her address. Said she’s already getting ready.”
    “Damn, what time is your date?” Green chuckled humorlessly.
    “Fuckin’ eight, dude.”
    “Man. Have fun with that,” Green deadpanned. He took the turn onto Cleveland hard enough to jerk Ruxs in his seat. He could feel those dark eyes on him, but he kept his eyes forward.
    Ruxs reached under the seat and pulled out his twelve-gauge shotgun – or as his partner liked to call it – his