Midnight Sun (80 page)

“
I
don
’
t
know
what
you
’
re
talking
about
.”
Warner
look
ed
down
at
his
plate
and
stuff
ed
two
more
fries
into
his
mouth.

Tonia
turned
towards
Hilde.
“
Mr.
Roboto
has
been
hassling
me
and
Tony
all
day
for
being
friendly
with
each
other.
” Tonia nudged Tomer with her shoulder in a playful
flirtatious gesture.

Lonnie
’s eyes went wide and she coughed at the image.
“
You
and
Tony?
”

Warner looked up from his plate and blurted out, “
They
’
ve
been
flirting
like
teenage
puppies
since
they
met.
”

“
You
’
re
just
jealous,
”
Tonia
said.
She
wrapped
her
arm
through
Tomer
’
s
.
“
A
t
least
I
’
ve
got
a
date
for
tonight.
Better
than
you
can
say
,
Mr.
Personality.
”

The
young
woman
came
back
with
Warner
’
s
coffee.

“
Hey
.
”
Tonia
looked
up
at
the
waitress
with
a
smile
.
“
Y
ou
seem
nice.
What
’
s
your
name?
”

“
Thank
you
. I
t
’
s
Myriam,
with
a
‘
y
.
’”
A
friendly
sparkle
lit
her
eyes
as
she
glanced
around
the
table.
Her
gaze
stopped
on
Warner
as
she
handed
his
coffee
down.
Warner
squeezed
out
a
tight
smile,
his
eyes
softening
as
he
looked
up.

“
Got
a
boyfriend
,
Myriam
with
a
‘
y
’
?
”
Tonia
asked
.

Warner
blushed
,
and
his
gaze
fell
back
to
his
F
rench
fries.

“
Nope.
Spent four years in the Army
,
then got out and went to
college.
Just
finished
last
month,
so
I've
never
had
time
until
now.
”

“Army? Well
,
y
ou
certainly
look
like
an
outdoorsy
type,
”
Tonia
said.
“
I
bet
you
like
hiking
and
kayaking.
”

“
Yeah,
I
do,
”
Myriam
said
.
“
Y
ou
too?
”

“
Me
,
no,
”
Tonia
replied.
She
pointed
across
the
table
with
an
open
-
handed
gesture,
“
but
Warner
here
does
all
that
kind
of
wild
man
stuff.
”

“
You
’
d
better
ask
Myriam
out
,
Warner,
”
Tomer
blurted.
“Army, wilderness chick
—she’s
definitely
your
type.
And
probably
your
last
hope.
”

“
You
clearly
find
her
attractive,
”
Tonia
added.

“
You
’
ve
been
staring
at
her
since
we
walked
in,
”
Tomer
said
.

“
So
just
ask
,
man,
”
Tonia
said.

Myriam
’
s
tan
skin
turned
bright
pink.
Warner
’s face flushed
beet
red.
He
looked
up
apologetically
.
“
Please
excuse
my
co-workers
.
”
H
i
s
voice
stayed
smooth
despite
the
purple
of
his
complexion
.
“
T
hey
’
re
not
very
well
educated
in
social
manners.
”