Afterboom - Chapter 28

Johnson's Market

"Hey Pete, what goes on?" Eddie greeted the cashier as he strolled into Johnson's market five minutes later.

"Not much Eddie, how's Phil's Studebaker doing?" inquired a scruffy college boy from behind the cash register.

"Ahh we just got 'im up an runnin' again just yesterday. He'll be taking it out for a spin later." He said smiling at Pete.

"Hey do you have any more of those maraschino cherries?" Eddie inquired.

"Yeah there should be some in the back, hold on a second I'll go have a look said Pete walking around the register, "So, got a special night planned tonight huh?" he called from the back store room.

"Yeah you could say that." Eddie said avoiding the conversation to come. Considering that Knight's Ridge was a tiny little hamlet, news about him dating Janet didn't spread as quickly as he anticipated.

"Sure. Man, Latekka you're my idol. A new flavour every night and you still have the energy to sweet talk them." He said shaking his head in admiration.

Eddie laughed nervously, "Well I wouldn't say every night. I mean the one I'm seeing at the moment, I've been seeing for months now. Nearly a year. Haven't you heard?"

"The taking down of the Conqueror?" Pete replied in disbelief as Eddie went around the store dropping things for dinner in his basket. "You mean someone actually got you to settle down?"

"You make it sound like she neutered me." he said with a sour face.

"Well as good as. I mean she managed to calm you down enough to see what you were missing. I bet she's a real knock out."

"Oh she's a knock out alright," he said taking his grocery bags off the counter, and in true Eddie Latekka fashion flashed a wink at the girl cashier in appreciation, "Thanks, Pete," he said closing the door behind him.

Here's hoping I knock her rosebud socks off, he thought smiling to himself as he loaded up his truck with all the food.