“Order anything you’d like, Sebastian,” I said.
“Anything? Or anyone?” Sebastian gave a cheeky wink to my best friend.
Sebastian waited for her response. Embarrassed, Becky blushed and giggled. Sebastian took that as a positive sign and he, too, grinned.
Alexander chuckled and I sneered. I was the only one not finding any humor in his comment.
“Four chocolate malts, four burgers, and two atomic fries,” I said to Dixie.
“Sounds good to me,” Becky said.
“How do you want the burgers cooked?” Dixie cracked her gum so loud it sounded like a car backfiring.
“Rare,” Sebastian said.
Alexander kicked Sebastian underneath the table.
“Rare?” Becky asked.
“We don’t serve hamburgers rare here.” With the tip of her pen she pointed to a small disclaimer on the bottom of the menu. “This isn’t a five-star restaurant, if you hadn’t noticed. You can order your burgers ‘burnt’ or ‘not burnt.’”
“Then four not-burnt burgers,” Alexander said with a grin.
Dixie blew a pink bubble, winked at Alexander, and wiggled toward the kitchen.
We all cracked up, and when our laughter subsided there was an awkward silence.
Sebastian checked out Becky, which caused her to fiddle with her napkin.
“Alexander and Sebastian grew up together in Romania,” I told her. “Just like us, best buds.”
“That’s great,” Becky said demurely. She wrung the napkin again.
Since no one else was talking and I was dying to find out more about Alexander, I figured this was as good a chance as any to steer the conversation in that direction.
“So what did you two guys do for fun in Romania?” I asked.
Alexander shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know—we just hung out.”
“And played golf?” I asked.
“No.” Alexander laughed. “We did the things kids do—”
“Yes—but you weren’t normal kids.”
Becky appeared puzzled.
“I mean, since Alexander’s grandmother was a baroness,” I said, covering my comments.
Dixie returned with our shakes. Becky hid behind hers and the rest of us began to devour ours.
“Did you get into trouble?” I asked.
“I did—” Sebastian said. “But Alexander was always there to get me out of it.”
I nestled into my boyfriend.
“What do you do for fun?” Sebastian asked Becky.
“Me?” she asked, surprised the conversation was directed toward her.
“Yes.”
Becky leered at me as if I were going to answer for her.
Sebastian waited, but Becky didn’t answer. She just played with her straw.
“We do girlie things,” I answered for her. “Talk, gossip, and talk some more.”
“Do you like cemeteries?” he asked.
“Me?” She shook her head vehemently.
“Was Alexander in his attic room painting like he is now?” I asked.
“Uh…yes. He always was working on some masterpiece. But he rarely showed me. He kept them hidden in an armoire in his room. Do you paint or draw?” he asked Becky.
“No—I’m not an artist.”
“Did you guys go clubbing?” I asked Sebastian.
“Sure, sometimes. Do you like to go out, Becky?”
“Uh…me?”
“Alexander,” I said, clearing my throat. “I left something in the car. Can we go get it?”
“Uh…sure,” my boyfriend replied.
Sebastian reached into his back pocket and handed Alexander his keys.
Once Alexander and I were outside Hatsy’s, I stopped.
“The car is over there,” Alexander said.
“I didn’t forget anything. I wanted to talk to you.”