Sparks (Inferno 0.50)

“You look nice tonight, Taylee,” he compliments in a kind tone.

“Thanks,” I reply, shooting a nervous glance at Luke. He feels my eyes on him and leans back in his seat, giving me a quick eye roll before turning his attention to the menu.

“What did you have earlier when you were here?” he asks me conversationally.

“Salad,” Trenton and I say together.

Luke glances up at him and chuckles, shaking his head. “Thanks for answering, Mom.”

I lean under the table and give his thigh a firm pinch. It’s my “cut the shit” move when I’m in a position where I’m unable to verbally chastise him.

“Um, what are you thinking of having, um …” Now it’s Trenton’s turn to fail at the name of his own blood, but my son doesn’t seem bothered by it.

“Don’t know yet, Mr. Miller,” he replies pointedly. “Still looking.”

“You don’t have to call me that. You can call me Trenton, if you want.”

Luke rolls his eyes at his menu before he replies.

“Sure thing.”

Dinner is quiet for the most part. Luke seems to have already become completely oblivious to the fact that his father is at the table with us and I’ve been spending my few spoken words attempting to spark a conversation between them.

By the time picking a dessert comes rolling around, I’m completely over how they’re being with each other, so I do the only thing I can think of.

“Sweetheart, when she comes back, can you order me a slice of Key Lime pie? I’ll be right back,” I say to Luke.

“Where are you going?” he asks, grabbing my wrist and looking at me with earnest eyes.

“I’m just going to the bathroom,” I reply with a light laugh as I wrench my arm out of his grip.

He grunts as I begin to walk away. I catch Trenton’s eyes before I leave, and mouth talk to him before I disappear from sight.

I walk through a small maze of chairs and tables until I finally see a sign for the restrooms and when I walk in, I let out a heavy sigh. I don’t really have to use the bathroom, but it’s the only thing I could think of that would force the two of them to communicate.

Heading over to the sink, I place a hand on either side of the cool ceramic and look at myself in the mirror. For some reason, my eyes are red and half open, but I don’t pay my reflection any mind.

It’s always been something of a liar when it comes to the real me. I know what Taylee Greene really looks like and it’s not the woman in the mirror.

I decide not to look at her anymore because she’s starting to taunt me with her wicked smile and darkening eyes. There’s something brewing in her mind and I’m afraid of what she’ll make me do if I hold her stare any longer.

Turning on the faucet, I splash some cool water onto my face to try and get rid some of the red in my eyes. I reach blindly for the paper towel dispenser and rip off a piece to dry my face with, balling it up and tossing it into the garbage receptacle as I walk out of the restroom.

I’ve been gone long enough to give them sometime to at least introduce themselves to each other, I think, and I’m hoping that my little ruse worked.

When I approach the booth again, and see them huddled in deep conversation, a small victorious smile spreads across my face.

Looks like it worked.

The moment Luke sees me, he coughs loudly, then leans back in his seat. I sit back down next to him and he smiles at me, slipping a protective arm around my shoulders and I lean my head against him.

“Sorry that took so long,” I say to him. He shrugs and gives me a squeeze.

The waitress returns with our desserts and I pick up my fork to dig into my pie when I notice that Trenton is watching me with serious eyes now. He looks like he’s debating on saying something and I raise an eyebrow.

“Are you okay?” I ask him, the fork hovering in front of my mouth.

He steals a glance at Luke who gives my back a quick rub, then nods.