I pushed through the doors into the kitchen, hurriedly. I headed straight for the back exit, hoping that Slip was on time.
I threw open the door and felt a margin of relief that he was there, standing against the wall smoking what smelt like a joint.
‘I’ve only got an hour lunch break, come on,’ I urged him inside and led him through the kitchen and to a small table at the back of the restaurant where the employees ate on their breaks. Once we were sat down Slip picked up a menu and started perusing it.
He had insisted that we meet face to face rather than him telling me over the phone what he had heard about Phantom, I was anxious and infuriated that he hadn’t told me. I had waited all of Sunday and Monday morning and now, on my lunch break he was just sat opposite me like we were going for coffee.
‘So what can I get?’ Slip asked and I bristled about how casual he was being.
‘Whatever you want, I’ll go order but then we’re talking, okay?’ I hissed and Slip nodded, smiling at me boyishly.
‘Steak Filet Mignon, rare, with a white wine.’ Slip told me.
‘A red wine goes with steak and you’re twenty. I’m not serving you wine, I’ll be right back.’ I got up from the table and placed Sip’s food order along with a green salad for me. I came back with two glasses of water and took my seat again. ‘Well?’ I demanded.
‘Why are you so interested?’ Slip asked and I narrowed my eyes at him.
‘I just am,’ I leaned back in my seat, hiding my hands as I played with my fingers.
‘You know who he is, don’t you?’ Slip grinned at me.
‘I don’t,’ I replied, too quickly for him to believe me.
‘Who is it?’ He asked excitedly.
‘I don’t know, Edwardo.’ I snapped, using his real name. His smile dropped when he realised that I wasn’t playing. I had barely slept for the past two nights because my mind was playing the worst case scenarios in my head on repeat.
‘Okay, sorry!’ He held his hand up in defeat and I took a deep breath, I was stressed. Slip hadn’t given me any indication of whether there was good news or bad news and I felt like ripping my hair out from the roots.
‘Just tell me if they’re planning something, okay? I don’t want anything to happen to him, he hasn’t done anything wrong.’ I said, my tone becoming gentler and I took a large gulp of my cool water.
‘It was only a passing comment, I couldn’t ask too much about it without sounding suspicious but Hunter’s really salty about the whole thing. He’s trying to get back into racing here but Patrick’s making him work for it apparently and he’s not happy about it.’ Slip told me and I nodded.
‘Hunter?’ I should have known, he always manages to ruin whatever good thing I’ve got going on, even when we were together.
