29. Another Saturday Night #2
Cassie rolled her eyes playfully, swatting Kellan on the arm, but watching Alex out of the corner of her eye. Her heart sputtered as Alex ducked their head and chuckled, a similar heat climbing up their neck and cheeks.
“Alright then,” Kellan looked at both of them expectantly. “Let’s go celebrate properly, with salsa and something deep-fried.”
Alex still hadn’t stopped smiling. “Sounds perfect.”
The three of them pushed out through the glass doors into the cool night, laughter echoing behind them. And just like that, a full-circle moment quietly fell into place… without fanfare, but with all the promise in the world.
***
The scent of authentic Mexican spices permeated the air as they approached the restaurant. The front door was open, the sound of a Mariachi band spilling out into the night. Radiating excitement, Kellan practically skipped inside. “I can’t believe we haven’t been here in over a year.”
The restaurant is comfortably full, about two dozen tables and booths spread throughout the main dining area, with a decent-sized bar tucked to the left. A handful of bar tops seat patrons enjoying tacos and margaritas, and the bartenders move efficiently behind the polished wood bar .
They’d barely stepped in when Maria spotted them from across the restaurant, her voice rising above the din.
“ ?Ay, mi chiquita! ?Cuánto tiempo! ” she called out, her voice warm and unmistakable.
“Cassie Jenkins! I thought you’d forgotten all about us!
” Rushing over, Marie wiped her hands on her apron.
“Months, mija. Meses. I thought you and your new friend would come around more often.”
Cassie winced with a sheepish smile. “Hi, Maria…” she said, stepping forward and wrapping Maria in a hug. “We’ve been… busy.”
Stepping back, Maria gave Alex a long, pointed once-over. “See? I remember you. The quiet one with the nice eyes.”
“Still quiet. No missing eyes,” Alex replied, a nervous smile pulling on their lips.
Maria narrowed hers at them. “Huh? And back again. With jokes? I’m impressed. No one survives my shovel talk and comes back for round two unless they mean it.”
“I still have emotional scars.”
Maria laughed, her stern facade finally crumbling. “That means it worked.”
She turned to Kellan next, a glint of merriment in her eyes.
“?Kellan, mi hije! ?Dame un abracito! ” Not waiting for a response, she pulled them in for a hug, Kellan squealing in delight.
When they finally untangled from the hug, Maria grabbed Kellan’s hand.
“Don’t just stand there. Come on. You’re not sitting with the tourists. ”
Pulling them past the bar, she guided them through a decorative stone archway into the restaurant’s quieter back room - the same section Alex and Cassie had sat in on their maybe first date.
The music was lower, the lighting more intimate.
Heading to the back corner, she pulled two of the small tables together, Kellan and Alex grabbing the corresponding chairs .
Cassie and Alex settled comfortably on one side of the table, their shoulders brushing, Kellan across from them.
As they sat, Maria motioned to a young woman approaching with a notepad. She had dark curls pulled into a high ponytail, a nose ring, and a confident smile.
“This is my daughter, Selena,” Maria announced proudly. “She’ll be taking care of you tonight.”
Selena nodded politely. “Nice to meet you all.”
Arching a brow, Maria glanced between them, clearly amused. “If any of them act up,” she said, speaking to Selena, “you tell me. Especially that one,” she said, pointing at Cassie.
Cassie gasped in mock horror. “Me? I’m a perfect angel.”
But Maria just grinned and walked away, pulling Selena with her. “She’ll be back with menus.”
Kellan clapped their hands. “I love this place! It’s like a taco-scented dream.”
Cassie groaned into her hands. “We are never bringing you to dinner again.”
“Too late,” Kellan sighed, completely content. “I’ve imprinted.”
***
The smells drifting from the kitchen were enough to make Cassie sigh in anticipation. When Selena returned she didn’t even bother with menus, instead she set down glasses of water and a small bowl of fresh guacamole with house-made chips, still warm from the fryer.
“Okay,” she said, flipping open her notepad, clicking her pen. “No menus tonight. I’m your guide through this culinary journey. So, let’s start simple. Chicken or beef? ”
Cassie grinned. “Beef.”
“Spicy or mild?”
“Spicy.”
Selena nodded, jotting it down. “You?”
Alex glanced at Cassie, then back at Selena. “Chicken. Medium spicy?”
Selena smiled. “Noted. And you?” she asked Kellan.
“Beef. Spicy. With bonus spice.” Kellan leaned forward a bit dramatically. “Surprise me.”
Selena chuckled, scribbled a few more notes, then said, “Trust me, you’ll be taken care of. And save room for dessert.” She headed back toward the kitchen with a wink.
Dinner arrived in waves…flavorful, colorful dishes, nothing like the usual fare at chain restaurants.
Slow-roasted barbacoa tacos on handmade tortillas, grilled chicken with smoky mole poblano, elote with lime and cotija.
Cassie sighed happily after every bite. Alex ate with quiet appreciation, nodding thoughtfully at each new dish.
And Kellan? Kellan asked questions like they were preparing for an Olympic sport.
“Did you say your mom makes the mole herself? Like from scratch?”
“Wait, is that achiote I’m tasting?”
“Can you write down how to pronounce that so I don’t embarrass myself in the future?”
Selena handled each question with grace and laughter. She brought out a rich flan and a slice of tres leches cake to share for dessert.
By the time they finished, the restaurant had thinned out. Most of the tables in the main room were empty, though the bar remained lively. The three of them lingered in the quieter “friends and family” room, plates mostly cleared, conversation easy and comfortable .
Maria returned with a warm smile, Selena a step behind. “I’m done for the night. If Selena gives you any trouble, you let me know.”
“Mama!” Selena blushed, kissing Maria’s cheek. “I promised to take good care of them.”
Selena then turned to the group. “I’m just going to walk her to her car. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
Kellan stood up, extending their elbow to Maria. “I can walk you to your car.”
Selena hesitated. “That’s okay. I can do it.”
Maria looped her arm through Kellan’s, smiling wide. “I would be delighted. Selena, you stay here. Take care of my friends.”
Kellan smiled brightly, then glanced at Cassie and Alex. “I’m gonna go. You two okay to walk back?”
Cassie nodded, hiding a smirk. “We’ll survive.”
Kellan gave them a mock salute, then turned to Maria, offering a gallant, ”After you.”
Selena laughed and shook her head, setting the check on the edge of the table. “Let me know if you need anything else,” she tossed over her shoulder as she followed her mother and Kellan out.
The moment they were gone, Alex exhaled quietly and leaned back in the booth. ”Is it weird that I’m kind of… impressed?”
“With Kellan?” Cassie asked, finishing her water.
“With the whole night,” Alex said, eyes sweeping the warm lights and cozy corners of the room. “This place. The food. You… bringing us here. Again.”
Cassie watched them for a second, then nudged their knee under the table. “You weren’t threatened with death this time.”
Alex chuckled, pulling out their wallet. “Progress.”
Cassie reached for their hand. “My turn this time, remember?”
Alex searched Cassie’s eyes, then smiled and nodded .
They sat for another moment in comfortable silence before standing and gathering their things. Cassie pulled a few bills from her purse, setting them on the check. Selena waved from the bar as they passed through, and Cassie called out a thank you, promising not to stay away so long next time.
Outside, the air was cool and crisp, the streets quiet, streetlights casting a soft glow on the sidewalk as Alex and Cassie made the short walk back toward the rink parking lot.
Alex shoved their hands in their jacket pockets. “That was nice.”
Cassie nodded, glancing at them. ”It was.”
They walked in silence for a beat, their steps falling in rhythm.
Alex thought about saying something…about how easy tonight had felt, how glad they were that Cassie had suggested this place, how they had almost asked her to dinner the night before. But instead, they just offered her a small smile. “See you Monday?”
Cassie bumped her shoulder against theirs gently. “Absolutely,” she said, grinning. “But no bells on… that’s Kellan’s job.”
They parted at their cars with quiet waves and smiles that lingered even after the engines started.