they said was likely caused by the meningitis.”
Anka drifted over with our drinks and set them down. “Are you ready to order?”
I glanced at Lachlan. We hadn’t looked at the menus, but he nodded at me to go ahead. “Gimme Greg’s Beast Burger with sweet potato fries.”
“All the fixin’s?”
“Yup. Load ’er up.”
Lachlan ordered a chef’s salad and a side of asparagus soup. I bit back a comment when he stung me with a laser glare and a wrinkled nose. Fancy man with his fancy food and fancy car. I didn’t know why I was out with him, but under the layers and layers of arrogance, he intrigued me.
Anka vanished again to place our orders, and Lachlan studied my face as he sipped his ale.
“So meningitis caused epilepsy?”
“That’s what they told me.” I sipped my Coke and used my straw to swish the lemon around inside the glass. “There’s all kinds of medication out there to treat seizures. They work well enough when you find the right dose, but I was belligerent for years, unwilling to work with my doctors. Unwilling to accept what was a permanent part of me now. I didn’t wanna be the only twenty-year-old not drinkin’ when we went out. What fun was that? But alcohol severely affects how the medication works. So I was never seizure-free, and we couldn’t get a handle on ’em.
“They revoked my license when I was eighteen, on the grounds that I had to be clear of seizures for six months before I could get it back. You wanna see a devastated teenager? Take away the wheels he spent two years workin’ to buy. At that time, I was havin’ at least seven or eight seizures a month. Getting’ to a place where I was seizure-free seemed impossible. I put up with the not drivin’ thing for about five years. When Windsor became chief, I took advantage. He’s my brother’s friend. Took pity on me, I think. I’d take the truck to town and run errands for my dad. Windsor turned a cheek and didn’t ticket me. So I drove more. Then I drove every day. I guess you could say I got lucky for years. Kinda forgot after a while that I wasn’t doin’ things by the book.”
“That doesn’t sound like you. You seem like a straight shooter.”
I drank more and rubbed the scruff on my chin I hadn’t bothered shaving as I studied Lachlan. He was attentive and watching me closely. “I was reckless in my twenties. Had a lot of growin’ up to do. By the time I hit thirty, I settled down, but like I said, I grew comfortable with the rules I’d made for myself.”
“How old are you anyhow?”
“Thirty-five. You?”
“Thirty-eight. So what changed?”
“Eight months ago, I had a seizure while out drivin’. First time it’s ever happened. Was on the county road headin’ home after makin’ a simple run to the hardware store in town. My system was outta whack because I still had the occasional few beers with buddies, and the meds weren’t doing their job. I went off into the ditch and messed up my truck. Knocked my head good too. I was lucky I didn’t hit anybody or kill anybody. That was the end of Windsor turning a cheek to me breakin’ the rules. We’re older now, and I think he saw the risks too clearly. He sat me down, and we had a long chat. He warned me if he caught me behind the wheel again without a valid license, I’d be lookin’ at a list of fines and possible jail time.
“My doctor says if I ever want to drive legally again, I have to get my seizures under control. To do that, it means no more beers with the guys after working a long day. Even one or two drinks can mess with the way the medication works.”
“How long have you been seizure-free?”
I offered a wane smile. “Six fuckin’ weeks. They’re still not controlled. They’ve always been erratic. We’re playin’ with my medication, tryin’ to find the right balance. I definitely see a difference, but I have a long way to go before I can get behind the wheel of my truck again.”
“That’s shitty.”
I chuckled humorlessly. “Believe me, I know.” I drank my Coke, and Lachlan eyed his beer, frowning like it had insulted him. “Don’t feel bad havin’ a drink in front of me either. I’ve made peace with it. I’ve found it’s other people who are strugglin’ more than me.”
Lachlan