Chapter 12 #3
“I happened to run into him, yeah,” Seth said with a grin.
“Found out his favorite coffee place, hung out there, bumped into him, got him talking—which wasn’t very hard, by the way—and when he mentioned his new project, wondered what was going to happen to that other great food truck lot only a few blocks away. ”
“And he said he thought we could co-exist?” Ren said with disbelief. “And you think he was telling the truth?”
“He’d have no reason to lie to me, since he had no idea who I was, but here’s the thing.
” Seth took a deep breath. “I’m not sure I disagree with him, actually.
Different trucks, different entertainment, and even if it does come down to it, you’re far more established, with roots in the community.
I’d give Food Truck Warriors an edge all day long. ”
“Huh.” Ren considered this. “Well, I guess we’ll see.”
“I didn’t know him way back when, but has Tony always been this way?” Seth asked, sipping his drink. The man had an appreciation for good bourbon, and it only made Ren appreciate him all the more.
“Tony?”
“Yeah. Or did he just wake up one day and decide, I’m going to be ambitious.”
Ren wrinkled his nose. ”Is Tony actually ambitious? I’m not sure. I think he’s plenty stubborn, with extra determination to spare. And according to Wyatt—have you ever met his brother, Wyatt?”
Seth shook his head. “Haven’t had the pleasure.”
“He’s crazy busy. Cookbooks and culinary demos, and being married to a major professional baseball player, but well, according to Wyatt, his brother dropped out of culinary school, argued with everyone, lost a bunch of jobs, and only turned his life around when their grandmother died.”
Seth actually looked surprised. “Tony did?”
“I know, it’s surprising, right?” Ren had been surprised when he’d shared a beer with Wyatt one night, and Tony had somehow come up. “But I don’t think it was just when his grandmother died. He changed, too, when he met Lucas.”
“You were around then, when they met?”
“Oh, yeah.” Ren grinned. “Food Truck Warriors didn’t exist, obviously, but Tony and Wyatt’s truck was on the food truck circuit, same as the rest of us, and we often ended up working the same festivals and the same blocks downtown, for the lunch crowds.
Anyway, when they met, it was like . . . oil and a blowtorch.”
Seth raised an eyebrow.
“I knew Lucas.” When Seth looked interested—more interested than he had been, anyway—Ren rolled his eyes. “No, we did not hook up. Though he kinda did the same thing I did. Lots of hookups, no relationships.”
“And he changed when he met Tony.”
“I don’t think he . . . changed necessarily, he and Tony just realized how good they were together. When you meet someone who fits you like that, who fills in all your nooks and crannies and opens your eyes, I don’t think it makes you a different person, but it shows you another way.”
Seth reached out and squeezed his knee.
Like he knew what Ren was trying to say.
And just like that, suddenly, Ren realized that he hadn’t just been talking about Lucas. Maybe he’d been describing himself, too.
Because he hadn’t changed. Not significantly.
But Seth was showing him a different way.
“Sometimes it’s not better or worse,” Seth said, with understanding in his gray eyes, “but just different, right?”
“Right,” Ren echoed. “Anyway, Lucas had been through a tough time at home, his parents kicked him out young, for being gay, and when Tony fell in love with him, Lucas’ story made him want more for the queer community. A place where we could come together.”
“Jonas Anderson can’t hope to match that kind of emotional dedication,” Seth said.
“No,” Ren agreed.
“He’d be stupid to even try,” Seth added wryly, “except that because he is like Tony, he’s sure as hell going to try, anyway.”
“You’re not going to stop him, are you?”
“I don’t think I could, but I can make sure he stays inside the boundaries that Tony and I decide on,” Seth said. Suddenly his eyes went darker. “I protect the people I care about, and I care a lot about y’all.”
“Not just me?” Ren teased.
Seth leaned in a bit closer. Ren wanted nothing more than to close the gap between them, and kiss him again, taste the bourbon and the cherry on his lips.
But it was wild enough that he’d brought Seth to trivia night.
Kissing Seth here? That was a whole extra level that he wasn’t sure he was prepared for yet.
“Not just you,” Seth agreed in a low voice, “but you’re definitely at the top of the list.”
Ren had guessed as much, but it felt so unexpectedly good to hear him say it.
“Now,” Seth continued, putting a hand on Ren’s knee and squeezing. “Tell me something about this trivia night. How does it work?” He gazed around at the gathering crowd. “Who do we need to watch out for?”
Ren laughed, unexpectedly delighted. “You want me to give you a rundown on our competition?”
“Absolutely,” Seth said. “After all, we play to win, right?”
“Right,” Ren said, grinning. “So those guys over there all went to Stanford, and came down here to work. This is like the one time they let them out of the office or something. They’re smart, but .
. . not pop culture savvy? So I can usually get them on the music or movie or entertainment questions.
” He gestured offhandedly at a group of four younger guys who were gathered in one of the tall booths closest to where Henry was setting up with his clipboard and microphone and tall stool.
Lots of other trivia nights had gone more computerized, but Ren liked that Henry hadn’t.
It was one of many reasons why he kept coming back.
“They also like that booth because they claim it gives them advantage,” Ren said, rolling his eyes. “They are full of bullshit, by the way. I’ve sat in lots of different spots and kicked their ass plenty of times.”
Seth looked fascinated. “I bet you have. Who else?”
“Hilda and Natalia over there,” Ren said, gesturing to a pair of older ladies, “they’re dynamite at history.
Both massive history buffs, and Natalia writes historical romance novels, which .
. .” Ren blushed. He should not be saying all this, confessing all his hard-won secrets, but it felt natural to tell Seth them. “Which are actually pretty good.”
“You’ve read them.” It wasn’t a question necessarily, but it also held zero judgement. Ren hadn’t missed how warm Seth’s gaze had gotten. It was setting him on fire, and in a moment, he might be actually forced to squirm on his stool.
“They have a similar vibe to the romantic comedies, you know,” Ren said. “I like them. A lot. Especially Nat’s.”
“Any other regulars?” Seth asked.
“There’s me, of course, and it looks like . . . yeah, Jason’s wife, Mackenzie, over there.” He gestured to a short redhead, wearing a headband like a crown in her curls. “She can be formidable.”
Jason leaned over the counter and grinned. “She’d be thrilled to hear you say that.” He turned towards Seth, his gaze suddenly speculative. “I don’t think Ren’s ever brought a date to trivia night before.”
“Oh?” Seth looked pleased. Very pleased.
“Yep,” Jason said with a knowing smirk. “Don’t think he ever has.”
“Jason, I’m going to tear up your tip into very small pieces and set it on fire,” Ren said between clenched teeth.
Jason just laughed though, because he probably knew the threat was meaningless.
Seth leaned forward, and it was impossible to miss the intrigued questions in his eyes. “Tell me more,” he said.
But just then Henry cleared his throat into the microphone and not only saved Ren’s life—but probably Jason’s tip too.
“I think we’re just about ready to get started,” Henry said. “Who’s in tonight?”
Ren raised his hand and, with his other, reached over and to his own surprise took Seth’s hand in his own and squeezed it. “We are,” he said.