The Rack was relatively quiet in the mid afternoon. Katie came in and Josh made her usual smoothie.
"Sorry I missed our G-Force game today," Katie said. "My mother and I went clothes shopping for the new school year."
"That's all right," Josh assured her. "We didn't play, mostly we just chatted on line and I moped about the fact that I wasn't going to be able to visit her in Cleveland before school started."
"How did she take it?" Katie asked.
"She wasn't surprised, she had said that she didn't think it was practical," Josh answered. "I wanted to try anyway."
"Andy said you were stubborn," Katie said with a smile.
"It's one of my most endearing qualities," Josh said, 'except when it annoys the heck out of you."
"So what does Andy think?" Katie asked.
"At the moment, I think it's annoying the heck out of her," Josh admitted. "She told me that I should take you out."
"Take me out?" Katie said with mock concern, "Is that like in a date, or a commando raid?"
"Oh, a date," Josh assured her.
"So what did you tell her?" Katie asked.
"I told her I would think about it," Josh looked at her speculatively, "What do you think about the idea?"
"Are you asking me on a date?" Katie asked, puzzled.
"I guess I am," Josh announced, "there's a new zombie movie coming out this week, want to go this Friday night?"
"Sure, that would be fun," Katie agreed.
"It's at eight, how about I pick you up at seven?" Josh asked, "Assuming you give me your address."
Katie took a napkin and wrote her address on it and handed it to him. "Don't use it to clean up a spill," she advised.
"You're as bad as Andy," Josh said, "and, yes, it's probably the kind of thing I would do."
He looked up to see Kyle coming in. Kyle walked over to the counter. Josh said, "Just a moment," to Katie and went over to Kyle. "How are you feeling?" Josh asked.
"You heard about Amanda leaving?" Kyle asked.
"She had to officially quit so that she could leave on good terms," Josh told him. "We're short handed now. I don't suppose you want a job."
"No, my job is over at UDub," Kyle said. "Maybe Lori would want to work here."
"I don't want Lori bossing me around," Josh shook his head.
"Wouldn't you have seniority?" Kyle asked, "You could boss her around."
"You really are from another dimension, aren't you," Josh said. "No one bosses Lori around."
"That's true," Kyle said with a smile.
"So how are you holding up?" Josh asked. "We aren't going to have to take you out drinking again, are we?"
"I'm never doing that again," Kyle said, with sincerity. He shrugged, "It's still a surprise that I'm getting used to. I am going to miss her."
"Well, at least you know she is coming back at Christmas," Josh said. "Andy isn't coming back at all."
"I'm sorry, Josh," Kyle said. "That must be hard."
"Yeah, so what do you want, your regular smoothie?" Josh asked. "I can make them too."
"I know you can," Kyle smiled, "Sure, I'll have a smoothie."
Josh went over to make the smoothie. While he was doing so, Katie came over to Kyle and said, "Hi, I'm Katie."
"Hello, Katie," Kyle said, he thought a moment. "You were at the Latnok party with Josh."
"Yes, I was," she said, surprised.
"I remember things," Kyle grinned.
Josh returned, "Here's your smoothie."
Kyle paid him and then went to his usual table. He was sitting there drinking it, when he saw Declan come in the door. He waved to Declan who waved back. Declan got a coffee and came over to join him.
"So where was Amanda going?" Declan asked.
"How did you know that Amanda was going somewhere?" Kyle asked.
"Foss and I are still watching your houses," Declan said. "He saw her load a bunch of luggage in the car and drive away with her mother."
"She's going to the conservatory in New York for the fall semester," Kyle said glumly.
"That's tough," Declan said. "I'm surprised her mother could pry her away from you."
"It was Amanda's idea," Kyle said. "She is still bothered by the kidnapping and my story, Zzyzx, Madacorp, Latnok … the whole thing. She wanted to get away for a while and think. She's still scared."
"We are working to keep her safe," Declan assured him.
"Me too," Kyle said. "She's still troubled by Jessi. She thinks Jessi and I may be destined to be together, even though I tell her I love her."
"Well, Jessi certainly thinks so," Declan nodded.
"I'm sorry, Declan," Kyle said.
"I only went out with her a couple of times," Declan shrugged. "Her head was in a really strange place then. As soon as she got focused on you, I was invisible. Don't let it bother you. You really ought to give that girl a look, Kyle. She's pretty amazing, and really stuck on you."
"I have," Kyle admitted. "I do have feelings for her, but I still want to be with Amanda."
"Foss would certainly like it," Declan laughed.
"Why would Foss like it?" Kyle asked, slightly puzzled.
"Because Jessi would be a lot easier to protect than Amanda, and Foss is all about keeping his job simple," Declan said.
"That's true, but if I listened to Foss, I wouldn't have a life at all," Kyle objected. He looked at Declan, "So you are still working with him? He told me he was teaching you to shoot."
"Yes, he bought me a gun and is teaching me how to use it." Declan said. "It's kind of fun, if you forget his reminders that it might be used for something other than target practice."
"I don't like the idea of shooting people," Kyle frowned.
"Neither do I, but I don't like the idea of getting shot either," Declan said.
"Are you 'packing'?" Kyle asked with a smile and a hint of concern.
"No," Declan said. "I can't get a concealed carry permit until I'm twenty one. Foss doesn't want me to carry my gun unless we have a clear threat. He says there's no point in risking getting arrested without a good reason. I don't get it out unless we are practicing."
"I don't like the idea of putting you in danger, Declan," Kyle said.
"Kyle, you know I always have your back. I just don't want to be closed out, keep me in on what's going on and I'll be happy."
"I will, I promise," Kyle said.