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Andy: I’m good. Thanks.
“Are you okay?” Sera asks as I drive out of the parking garage.
“It’s my assistant, Andy. Ever since Vegas, he’s been acting weird. I think he might be considering leaving us. He’s always been reliable, the best fixer in town. I might need to talk to him.”
“That sounds like a good idea,” Sera says.
“My problems are tiny compared to what you’ve been through. Ignore me.”
“Doesn’t being in a relationship mean we confront our problems together, no matter how big or small? Or are we not?—”
I take her hand, squeezing it. “Don’t question that, Sparkplug. If we’re not in a relationship, then I don’t even know what it would mean to be in one.”
When I arrive at the restaurant, I spot Victor leaning against the wall, sucking on a vape pen. I chuckle, shaking my head. “He used to smoke a pack a day. Now look at him, sucking on that child’s toy.”
“Maybe it’s better?”
I wink at my woman. “I think he’s nervous to meet you.”
She brushes down her shirt. “Not as nervous as I am. It’s like meeting your parents.”
“It’s the closest thing there is to meeting my parents, that’s for sure.”
I climb out of the car, meaning to walk around to Sera’s side to help her with the door. But then Victor quickly walks over, opening it before I get the chance.
“Thank you for giving me the chance to be a gentleman for once in my life,” he says, offering her his hand. “Victor Langley.”
“Seraphina Vale… well, Sera. Nobody calls me Seraphina, really.” She giggles nervously. “Nice to meet you.”
“A pleasure,” Victor replies, giving me a look.
“Excuse Victor, Sera. He’s giving me an ‘I told you so’ look because he promised to be on his best behavior. Shall we?”
The three of us walk into the restaurant, quiet this early in the morning. The manager nods to me from behind the counter, and I lead our small group to my usual table in the corner.
“Do you come here often?” Sera asks.
“Victor used to bring me here when I was a teenager,” I say, sitting.
“He’d put up shop right here, at this table, with some old piece of junk from the thrift store, taking it apart, putting it back together, taking it apart again.”
Sera smiles at me. “I would’ve loved to see that.”
Victor chuckles. “Get him an old computer. You won’t be able to keep his hands off it. I was a mess back then, but…” He raises his hands. “Anyway.”
“A mess?” Sera murmurs.
"Booze. Cigarettes. Women. Believe it or not, I used to be quite the ladies man…" He shrugs. "And then I saw this kid in the library, reading the book I'd reserved. It was about hard drives… A specialist, boring, dry book, but he was devouring it like his life depended on it. After we got to talking and I learned his story, I offered what help I could."
"And then you got your act together, and now you're a very rich man," I say.
"'Got my act together,' he says," Victor mutters. "Has he told you?"
Sera shakes her head, curiosity evident in her expression. "Told me what?"
"When he was old enough and earning a decent wage, he paid for my rehab… not once, not twice, but three times. When it finally stuck, we went into business together."
"Then this old dog sold his shares," I say, chuckling.