Page 17 of Styx & Stones

CHAPTER TEN

STYX

Shit.

I finally have the girl of my dreams willing to spend time with me, and I have no idea where the hell to take her.

I could take her home to Mom’s, but if she’s there we’ll likely get the third degree for cutting class. We could go to my dad’s, but there’s fuck all to do there besides drink. Not that I’ve ever been opposed to that, but chemo seems to be poison enough for now.

She closes the passenger door of my dad’s beat-up truck and grins. “So, where are we going?”

I swallow and draw a blank, choosing to start the engine so I don’t have to answer.

“You don’t have any idea, do you?” She laughs and opens the door. “You promised it would be good.”

“And it will,” I say. “I’m just getting a plan together.”

“You’re so full of it.”

“I’m not full of it.” I throw the truck in reverse and pull out of the lot. “This will be an afternoon like no other.”

“Uh-huh.” She grins. “I can’t wait to see how truly miraculous this afternoon is.”

Ten minutes later, we’re staring up at a blackened-out storefront in The Mission, and I’ll admit, if I didn’t know the owner and chef, I’d be glancing up at the restaurant with a grimace on my face too.

“You’re kidding me, right?” Alaska says.

“Nope.”

“I am not going in there.” She folds her arms in front of her chest. “For all we know this place is run by an axe murderer, and we’ll end up on the news. A cautionary tale for other kids wanting to cut school.”

“He’s not an axe murderer.”

“How do you know?”

“Because he’s like my uncle.”

Stones blanches. “Oh shit. I didn’t mean ...”

“Yes, you did. But he’s not really my uncle. Not by blood anyway.”

“So, he’s a creepy, touchy-feely uncle then?”

“Come on, Stones. Live a little.”

She scowls but steps across the threshold. With a grin, I follow her into the darkness. I’ve never been here without my parents, so I’m just praying I’m not wrong about Uncle Carlos.

“Hey, little Hendricks!” Carlos booms so loudly that all of the patrons turn their heads to give us a once-over.

“Hey, Uncle Carlos. How’s it going?”