Chapter 134

I was the Ice Man. That was who Mark had first been intrigued by. My stomach rumbled, and I decided not to pursue the conversation. “Is it still warm?”

“Warm enough.” He pushed the other container of soup across the table to me.

“Mark, I hate stating the obvious, but we don’t have any plates or bowls.”

“Don’t tell me you’ve never eaten directly out of the carton?”

“Well…no.” Not even in college.

He said something in Chinese.

“Excuse me?”

“Live a little.”

“Ah.” I picked up a spoon and tasted the soup.

“How is it?”

“It’s not bad.” It couldn’t compare to The Trusty Tiger’s in San Francisco, but for a storefront restaurant in the Midwest, it was rather good. “When did you learn to speak Chinese?” I offered him a taste of my soup, uncertain if he would take it from my spoon, and inordinately pleased when he did.

“Mmm. As you say, not bad.”

“Not too spicy?”

“I’ve had spicier.”

“Are you going to answer me?”