Moonlight and Merlot

The continuing saga of the lives, loves and heartbreaks of the residents of Dion Valley, CA.

As with all the best things in life, this is for adults only.

*****

Nick’s thoughts keep wandering as he put away the supplies from the afternoon delivery.  Lela with her green eyes and black clothing and gothic affectations…

He smiled , remembering the look on her face when he asked for an unspecified favor in return for his participation in her spell.  She looked ready to chew through him and the entire Diner. But, in the end, she agreed no matter how much she hated it. It was funny in a way that a witch, a worshiper of magic and nature and things intangible and ethereal would be such a stickler for predictability and outlines and plans.

He heard the bell over the front door sound, signaling the arrival of a customer. He heaved a mega-box of beverage napkins onto the top shelf, wiped his hands on his apron and left the storage room.

He saw the back of a man’s blond head and he immediately knew that this was something he did not want to deal with.

“Zach,” Nick said, and then instantly looked around for Phoebe. Now that Zach was back from school they were rarely apart.

Zach turned at the sound of Nick’s voice and flashed him a knowing smile. “She’s not here.”

Nick nodded as he took up his position behind the counter. “What can I get you?” he asked.

Zach sat down and picked up one of the small plastic menus, but instead of opening it, he tapped it against the counter instead. “Lela talk to you?”

“She did,” he said. He knew that Zack was involved in Lela’s plans, but he didn’t trust Zack and he certainly did not want to give out any more information than he absolutely had to. Not that Lela had told him much. Next to nothing in fact. But still.

“Are you doing it?”

“Yeah.”

Zach smiled. “She’s got you totally wrapped around her finger, doesn’t she?”

“Maybe,” Nick said, feeling his anger rise. Whatever relationship he and Lela had was none of Zach’s damn business.

Hearing Nick’s tone, Zach held up his hands in a placating gesture. “I just thought…”

“Why are you here, Zack?” Nick asked at the end of his patience. They had never been friends and Nick saw no reason why they should be now.

Zach shrugged. “I just wanted to see if you were in.”

“I’m in,” Nick said and then shuddered from a sudden chill.

“Good,” he said, and then opened the menu. “I think I want a burger.”

[Until next Tuesday…]