“Have you had anything to eat?”

“A sandwich,” she said.

“What kind?”

“Lettuce.”

“Is that all?”

“No one has gone to the store. We’re running low.”

“Ugh, this is not good enough. Get up, come on, we’re heading into town.”

“What? Why?” she asked.

“It’s your birthday, and you’re eighteen. It’s only fair for you to have a decent meal. Come on.”

She quickly grabbed her jacket and joined him out in the truck.

Robin expected him to head into town, but he didn’t. He went in the opposite direction. “Where are we going?”

“I know a great Italian place.”

“O-kay. Are you sure we should be seen out together?”

“It’ll be fine. Don’t freak out. So what did you do today?”

“I read a lot, studied. Watched a couple of movies.”

“Without me? How dare you.”

Preacher had become her movie buddy. He didn’t seem to mind her obsession with romantic films. He hadn’t asked her since the first night why she loved them so much, and she suspected deep down he enjoyed them as much as she did.

“Don’t worry. They’re movies you’ve seen already so you’re not missing out on anything.”

“Don’t watch any I haven’t seen.”

“Do you really enjoy them?”

“They’re fine. Why? Easy to watch.”

“I just didn’t expect you to like them.”

“And why is that?” he asked.

“I guess I’d have figured you like more dangerous, scary, horror kind of films.”

“Robin, I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about the kinds of movies I watch.”

“No, of course not.” She looked out of the window but it was too dark to see anything, and now her curiosity started to get the better of her. “What kind of things do you like?”

He glanced over at her. “You really want to know?”

“Why not?”

“I like my club. It’s important to me, but I also like to erm, I like to draw.”

“Draw? As in sketch or paint?”

“No, just a pencil and a notepad. I don’t do it often, but I do like to do it. I’m pretty good if I do say so myself. Other than that, I don’t like anything else.”

“Do you ever allow yourself to like anything?”

“Because of the club?”

“Yeah, I imagine having so many enemies, it could be hard to let your guard down.”

“You’re very perceptive.”

“My dad, he told me once that you had a lot to deal with and didn’t want to have to worry about the bullshit Bishop and I got up to.”

“It didn’t bother me. Bishop, he acts out, but there’s not a lot I can do. It’s his prerogative. The kid wants to cause trouble, let him. I really don’t give a shit.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Why are you apologizing?”