No Strings Attached | ✔

X. Soon, Soldier

        I walk down the sidewalk the next day, intending to get to the super secret mafia base because Necksnapper called in for a meeting just a half hour ago. I take a sip of my coffee, letting the scalding liquid burn my throat.

        I wasn't expecting to bump into a person I knew on my journey until a police car pulled over to the side, right next to me. I freeze, my grip suddenly tight on my thermos. I have this incredibly sunken feeling that the police have identified me from my silhouette in those surveillance cameras alone and have sent officers to come and arrest me.

        But as I get ready to drop my coffee and bolt, the driver's side window rolls down and I see Jonah! Has Jonah come to arrest me? Hopefully not. It'll be embarrassing for him to suddenly find out the man he's been kissing was an enemy of his team. But, judging from his expression, it doesn't seem he's here to cuff me. He's wearing a nice sunny grin on his face as he says, "Hey, Tony!"

        I smile and wave with my free hand. "Hey! Fancy meeting you here."

        "Yeah! Me and my partner here are heading downtown to get some coffee to start the day." I bend over slightly to peek inside the police car, seeing Jonah's work partner. I wave and smile and he waves and smiles, except it's a little more awkward on his part. No need to look so tight, man. I regain my straight posture and my smile toward Jonah.

        "What about you? Where are you headed?" Jonah continues.

        "Oh, you know, walking around town, getting some fresh air." I say, bobbing my head. I mean, I'm not entirely lying. I'm just . . . leaving out the important parts.

        "Well, you chose a good day to do so. The sun is bright today." Jonah says. "It is." I finish, then it goes quiet. But not like awkward quiet, the good, calm kind of quiet. We stare at each other for, like, a while, and I think we're having eye sex. Not that I mind though. Jonah's eyes are pretty. It wouldn't be too late to act like your hook-up's wife and kiss him right here right now, would it?

        I can practically hear Jonah's partner roll his eyes, so I clear my throat and look away. "Well, I'll see you soon, right?"

        "Oh, yeah! Definitely. Soon, soldier!"

        "Aye-aye, cap'n!" We salute each other and then Jonah rides off downtown. I watch as his car completely disappears, then I turn around and walk in the opposite direction, taking a long sip of my coffee which is now luke-warm. I think Jonah's killing me.