Page 112 of The Fire

“Which kind, Hen?” Jamie asked. “We have two varieties today.”

“Two, huh?”

“Jamie and I are trying out a couple of sauce flavors,” I interjected quickly. No one needed to know the details of Chicken Wing Death Match, Part Deux. “To see which one ends up on the menu. When we have a menu.”

Hen frowned and nodded. “Gimme a couple of each.”

Jamie put the wings together in a cardboard container while I got Hen’s burger, then I watched with my arm wrapped around Jamie’s waist while Hen took a bite of each chicken wing.

“Oh, this is good,” Hen said, taking a bite from a wing with Jamie’s darker sauce, and I could practically feel the smugness emanating from my boyfriend, even though he didn’t say a word.

“I refuse to open a Chicken Emporium,” I said under my breath.

Jamie’s whole body shook with his laughter, and I buried my face in his bicep to hide my smile.

“Oh, but this one,” Hen said, eyes widening as he bit into one of the chicken wings I’d made. “It’s got a little bite to it, don’t it? Yeah, this one’srealgood.”

“Haha!” I gloated.

“Can we at least call it All Hail Parkerand Jamie?” Jamie muttered.

“Sure,” I agreed. “As long as your name…”

“Is in smaller print,” Jamie and I finished together. Then the two of us collapsed into giggles.

“I dunno boys,” Hen said, sucking on his fingers. “I’m thinking your best option is to include both.”

“Two wing options on the menu,” Jamie said, taking a deep breath to control his laughter. “Yeah, we’ve thought of that.”

“Nah, both in one order. You know? Little of this, little of that. Like a… whatchamacallit, Diane?”

Diane leaned over Henry to scoop up some of the sauce on her finger.

“A variety pack?” she said. She popped her finger into her mouth, and her eyes opened wide. “Oh, I agree. Tangy and spicy and sweet all at once. I’d order both together. I don’t think either one is better than the other.”

“And I’m gonna need these in my life at least once a week,” Henry said.

Diane rolled her eyes but grinned too. “Speaking of which,” she prompted. “Don’t you have something for the boys?”

“Oh, right. I’d forget my head without you, Diane.” Hen dug in his pocket and produced a white envelope that he placed in the flowerpot. “Little thank you for Jamie being so good to Diane over the years and a little incentive too, in case Parker decides the hardware business is more his speed.” He winked, and they moved to one side to finish their food.

“Hey, Parks, I’d like an order of both wings,” Angela said, before I could pull that paper out either.

And as soon as I’d gotten her order up, Lina Davenport, Daniel Michaelson, and Julian Ross were standing in line waiting to order.

I handed Lina her burger and a soda, and she thanked me profusely, then put a blue envelope into the pot. “A little something from Macarena and me,” she said happily. “A little thank you for the birthday party birdseed treats.”

I laughed. “It was no big deal.”

Jamie finished Julian and Daniel’s order, and then Julian nudged his boyfriend. Daniel fished a paper from his pocket and dropped it into the pot too.

“From Jules and me. Apparently I have you to thank for a lot of things, Parker.” He put an arm around Julian’s waist, and Julian looked up at him adoringly.

I shook my head. “That’s not—”

“Mostly, we really miss having a place to watch football,” Julian interrupted. “Daniel doesn’t have a television.”

“Besides, Angela told us what was going on… and I try to always do what Angela tells me,” Daniel said, winking at Julian’s mom.