I don't understand why he won't just quit. Walk away, drop it, move on, whatever. He barely knows Todd, and he's got an entire town of people to save. He must have better things to do than to ask me every day about taking my brother to karate class.
"What is wrong with you?" I ask him finally on the tenth day and all but drop his pie on the table before him. I plant both hands on my hips. "Can't you take a hint?"
"I think ten days qualifies as more than a hint," Petr says, amused. "Even this ground pounder understands."
"Then why do you keep asking?"
He shrugs. "Initially I wanted to take him to karate. Now … it's more a matter of principle. You declared war by being stubborn, so I at least need to show up to the fight."
What is it about him that always makes me want to smile? "War, huh." I never thought of it that way, though in hindsight, there is a part of me that's wanted to drive him away. If he stopped asking, stopped showing up, I could tell Todd it wasn't a sincere offer and take the easy way out with the karate class issue. "There's no pie in war."
I take his pie away. Just to drive home my point, I eat it at the counter while Petr sips his coffee and watches, entertained.
"I'm still charging you," I call to him across the diner.
"Cheers." He raises his mug.
I lift my fork in response.
"Since I'm buying, I might consider this a first date," he adds.
He smiles under my icy glare. I don't really appreciate the joke.
I expect today to be like every other one, where he pays the check and leaves. Rather than walk out wordlessly after our exchange, he approaches the counter.
"My family throws a town-wide Thanksgiving feast every year at the community center. You and Todd are welcome to come by," he says.
The offer is friendly yet measured, as if he wants to play it off as something he reminds everyone about. The idea someone this handsome and confident might be afraid I'll say no confuses me, yet I can't think of any other reason why he seems almost nervous asking.
I'm not sure how to respond. It's not a personal invitation per se, but I can't prevent my pulse from quickening at the chance he's bringing it up.
"Just … if you're interested." He winks and backs away from the counter. "I can guarantee we won't run out of pecan pie."
I roll my eyes and turn my back to him, waiting until I hear the jingle of the bell over the door before I face the façade of the diner. Like I have the past several days, I watch him climb onto his motorcycle parked out front, put on his helmet and drive off. I find myself wondering about his leg. If Todd never told me about him, I'd never know from how Petr walks or acts or anything.