Novel Squares
Chapter 16: Are You Afraid Of Me?
Detecting that she was ill at ease, Jimmy asked amusedly, “Are you afraid of me?”
Kate shook her head immediately.
Jimmy said, “They say I am too hot to be a policeman, so I have to pull a long face at work to match the outfits. Luckily I can still be who I am when I get rid of the costumes.” And he made a face to indicate he was just joking.
Kate burst into laughter and asked casually, “Don’t you need to go to work today, sir?”
“Don’t be so polite. Just call me Jimmy.”
As for speaking, he glanced over at her and continued, “You prefer me in uniform?”
Kate was struck dumb. “Oh, no, I was just asking.”
Jimmy said with a casual air, “I thought you liked uniformed temptation.”
Kate didn’t catch him. “What?”
Looking into her big green eyes, Jimmy suddenly realized that she was not one of his female colleagues whom he could freely make fun of. Her confused look made him think of himself taking liberties with a high school student. He felt ashamed for his attitude.
He hurriedly held it back. “Nothing.”
The car zigzagged its way through alleys and finally stopped by a courtyard. The cyan colored stone wall was a bit old, and the pitch-black iron gate was half-open. There was a small board hung on the gate with a few words on it: “Lexi’s Mexican Kitchen.” This man drove so far to such a place, ordinary and even crude. Was he saving money for her?
Amused by her puzzled expression, he said, “Don’t be deceived by its modest appearance. The food here is superb. And of course,” his tone changed suddenly, “the prices are also nice.”
Hearing that, Kate reached for her satchel. She had all her savings with her. One thousand dollars.
They pushed the door open, and an old man came up to welcome them. He was of medium height, lean, tanned skin with grey hair and a benign face. Jimmy greeted him warmly. It was spacious and bright inside. There was a young couple dining on the other side of the restaurant.
Jimmy knew the place well as if he was at home. He pointed at the seats by the window and asked Kate to sit down. Then he picked up the plain-looking menu on the table and asked Kate if there was any food she avoided.
Kate shook her head and asked him to just go ahead and order for both of them, as she didn’t know the meaning of the names of the food at all. Then he ordered tortilla soup, enchiladas, quesadillas, and fajitas.
The old man got into the kitchen to help prepare their meal, while Jimmy prepared the juice for them. Before long, the guests at the other table left and paid their bill. There were only the two of them left. Jimmy found a remote and turned on the TV.
He switched the channels for a long time and finally stopped at a teen sitcom. Looking at the hilarious teen girls and boys jumping on the screen, Kate asked curiously, “You like watching this?”
Jimmy raised his eyebrows. “No. I picked it for you, in case you get bored waiting for the food.”
He showed a wronged face to amuse Kate. She laughed, “Thank you, then.”
An old lady with an apron came over with a dish in her hands. She looked chubby and kind. She said laughingly, “Here’s the enchilada.”
Kate took her hands from the table to make room for it. The portion was generous.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.
Jimmy took a breath dramatically and added lemon and a spoon of chili sauce to the enchilada. He said with a sigh, “Dear! I’ve been missing it these days in my dreams.”
Lexi, the old lady, said laughingly, “Jimmy, it has been two months ago you came here last. What major cases have you been busy cracking?”
Jimmy’s face darkened, and he replied depressingly, “Forget it. I’ve been running trivial errands all the time. Major cases don’t come to me.”
“Maybe you will find the next mafia while running errands someday.”
Kate burst into laughter.
Lexi caught sight of Kate’s little dimples and said in surprise, “Pretty dimple girl. Jimmy, your taste has improved a lot lately.”
Jimmy dramatically put on a woebegone look at once and said, “Lexi, don’t you disclose my story. You made me look like a playboy. You should take responsibility if I am still single after 30.”
Lexi responded immediately, “No problem. I have a granddaughter…”
Jimmy coughed. “If I remember correctly, your granddaughter is in primary school, isn’t she?”
“Going to junior high next year. Can’t you wait for a few more years?”
Kate was amused. Both the old lady and the young man were jokesters. But thinking of herself being involved in their joke, she felt her face slightly burning.