Page 44 of Ride the Lightning

“Why aren’t you flustered?”

“He’s a good-looking guy, but he doesn’t crank my gears like he does yours,” Jonah said. “Seriously, do you want me to drive us to the next interview?”

“Fuck you, St. John,” Rocky snarled as he increased his stride. “Just try and keep up.”

Their next stop was Daisy’s Place, where they hoped to find the owner, Daisy Gallagher. Marla said Daisy was another queen from back in the day who’d turned her love of cooking into a successful business. She’d noted that Daisy made the best pies on the planet. Seeing the dessert display made Jonah’s mouth water.

“Do you mind if we get a bite to eat while we’re here?” Jonah asked Rocky. “I’m starved.”

“I could eat,” Rocky said.

“Yo, Dais,” yelled a burly man wearing head-to-toe leather. “I found one of your fake fingernails in my scrambled eggs.”

“The fuck you did, Edgar,” a deep voice said from the kitchen. “Keep it up, and you’ll be digging them out of your ass.”

Edgar’s laughter rumbled and crackled like a Harley Davidson motorcycle. “Oh, baby,” the man yelled back.

A few seconds later, a six-foot drag queen stepped out of the kitchen wearing a cotton candy-colored wig the same hue as her waitress dress. She carried a heavy tray laden with plates and cups, but it didn’t prevent her from stopping at several tables to dish up sass. As she neared them, Jonah saw the name Daisy stitched across one chest pocket.

“You boys sit wherever you like, and I’ll be right with you,” Daisy said, smiling at them. “Don’t pay any attention to my Edgar and me. We’ve been yelling at each other for twenty-five years. Keeps the fire burning, if you know what I mean. I promise you nothing weird is in the food, and I never threaten to shove my fingers up anyone else’s ass.”

Nonplussed, Rocky said, “Good to know.”

Jonah followed Rocky to a booth in the middle of the room. He was aware of curious eyes on them and figured Daisy’s was the kind of place that drew a steady crowd of regular patrons. If Rocky noticed the attention, it didn’t seem to bother him. He flopped down on the bench seat. The menus were tucked behind the condiment holder. Jonah grabbed two, handing one to Rocky before opening his own.

“I want one of everything,” Jonah said to Rocky.

“Just the breakfast menu, or lunch and dinner too?” Daisy asked when she arrived at their table with a pot of coffee in her hand.

Jonah laughed, “I meant breakfast, but now I’m not so sure.”

“Everything is made from scratch, so you can’t go wrong with anything you choose,” Daisy said. “Are you gentlemen drinking coffee, or can I get you something else?”

“Coffee for me,” Rocky said, flipping the mug right side up so she could fill it.

Jonah did the same thing. “Can I also have a glass of orange juice?” he asked.

“Sure thing, love,” Daisy said. “Are you boys new to my diner? I don’t remember seeing you here before, and I never forget a handsome face.”

“Quit flirting and get back to work,” Edgar shouted from the opposite side of the diner.

Daisy ignored him except for extending her middle finger in Edgar’s direction.

“This is our first time eating here, but if the food is half as good as your sass, I see many returns in my future,” Rocky said.

“Aren’t you scrumptious?” Daisy cooed. “Listen, I’ll let you fellas look at the menu for a few minutes while I go squeeze your orange juice for you.” She used her arms to push her breasts together and did a little shimmy.

Jonah laughed at her antics. He could see how she and Marla had been friends for so long. “Stay,” he said, stopping her before she could leave. “I’m Jonah. Marla might have—”

“Oh my!” she exclaimed, covering her heart with her hands. She sat down in the booth beside Jonah. “I’m so happy to meet you. Marla said you’d be stopping by soon. Thank you, thank you. From the bottom of my heart.”

“Cold black heart,” Edgar said as he approached the table. He extended his hand to Jonah first, then Rocky.

“Want to join us?” Rocky asked, scooting over.

Edgar dropped a kiss on Daisy’s forehead, then sat beside Rocky.

The interview didn’t last as long as Sandy’s because Daisy hadn’t known Earl as long, but she seemed to love him as much as Marla and Sandy had. Daisy refused to let them pay for breakfast and hugged them fiercely before they left the diner.