Love Secret (part two)

Clinks and babble filled the space of the diner, making the silence between Josh and Remi seem louder.

Remi looked around to see if any other people were just eating, not talking. The tables in the middle of the diner were filled with larger groups of 4 or more. It was hard to look at those groups, there was so much noise and bustle, too many unfamiliar faces, attitudes, and clothes. On the other side were booths, and Remi studied the couples there. He knew that looking off to the side, not looking at Josh, wouldn’t help the awkward silence, but he gave enough time to staring at strangers to see that the other couples here were talking after all. He sighed and brought his eyes back to his plate, stabbing a potato with his fork.

He was full. He ate so fast, of course, since it seemed he couldn’t tell Josh what he needed to say.

“Do you want to know a secret?” Josh said, catching Remi’s gaze with his own. Remi blinked and looked away, but nodded assent.

“I’m not really hungry anymore, but I just have to take a bite of this toast.”

Josh held up a triangle half-slice, a glint of mischief in his eye.

“Uh…is that your secret?”

Josh grinned, then his gleaming teeth snapped down on the buttery triangle.

Remi admired Josh’s ferocity, but was still confused. Chewing, Josh presented his work, showing a perfect round bite taken from the center of the longest side.

“I didn’t take a bite because I wanted toast, but because I really wanted to make this shape. It should be in a cartoon, right?”

Remi couldn’t help but smile, his cheeks warming as he again looked away.

“I’m sorry, Remi, I know I’m weird.”

“No, I like it!”