Chapter Fourteen
Joaquin
“I know just the place.”
Eryx had asked me to go out for something to eat, and I was far too covered in paint to go anywhere formal.
“Where would you like to go?”
“Somewhere special.” I grinned at him.
“I’m not very dressed up,” he protested.
I looked him up and down. He wore a button-down and nice slacks.
I wore paint-splattered overalls, and what was under them was not much better.
I’d never figured out how I managed to get so much paint under the overalls, but I always did.
Which was why I had other clothes with me, but they were just jeans and a T-shirt.
“This place has no dress code. Let’s lock up and go. ”
“I’ll trust you.” He followed me out the door and out onto the sidewalk. “Do we need to drive?”
“No, it’s close by. We can walk.”
When we approached the PBJ place, he cast me a funny look. “Is that what it looks like?”
“You haven’t been here yet, I take it.” I opened the door and held it for him. “It’s very good, much more than it sounds like.”
He stepped inside and drew a deep breath. “It smells so good.”
“They are a peanut-butter and jelly place, but they make all kinds of nut butters in house and bake their own bread.”
“Joaquin!” Tanner came out from the kitchen and walked over to give me a hug. “You haven’t been here in an eternity. How are you?”
“I’ve been so busy.” I hugged him back before stepping away. “Tanner, this is Eryx who has bought the old theater and is revamping it.”
“Godric is going to be so excited when he finds out. He loves going to theaters, says watching movies at home just isn’t the same.”
“Can he even go? Aren’t there things that trigger him?” I spoke to Eryx, “His partner has a severe nut allergy that has really affected his life.”
“And you have this restaurant? Isn’t it dangerous?”
“It was, and I had to stop working in the kitchen, but then the healer, Quinn, had a new treatment that seems to be helping. He can’t eat nuts or anything, at least not yet, but being around them no longer makes him react.”
“That’s amazing.” Eryx shook his hand. “Joaquin says your food is very good, and I can’t wait to try it. Any recommendations?”
They had a special of the day. Extra-crunchy peanut butter with house-made blueberry jam.
“We picked the berries ourselves with the kids last weekend. It was a great outing,” Tanner said.
“I’d better get back to work, but let me know how you like the sandwich.
We’re always glad to get a new customer.
I can’t wait to tell Godric about the theater. How soon are you opening?”
“We don’t have a specific date yet,” Eryx told him, “but hopefully not too long. I’m trying to make it a real experience, so that takes time.”
After Tanner went to put in our orders, we found a café table with high stools and sat down to wait.
A server brought our sandwiches and took our drink orders in just a few minutes.
One of the best things about the place was how fast they were.
Not that sandwiches took too long to make, but they were always busy.
“This is really fun,” Eryx said, looking around after taking a bite. “I haven’t had peanut butter in forever. And I don’t remember it tasting so good.”
“They have a huge menu, so it never gets boring. Cashew butter is also pretty delicious. I think the fact that they make their own everything is important.”
We finished our sandwiches and ordered peanut-butter-cup brownies. I even had a glass of milk with mine.
“Well, thank you for bringing me here,” he said, grabbing for the check. “I have heard there are a lot of other good places to eat here, but I haven’t been to many. Maybe you can show me around.”
“I’d like that.” I tipped the last of the milk down my throat. “Just let me know. You have my number. I’m just about done with the painting. Little bit of touch-up and I’m out of there.”
“About being out of there. I’ve had time to think about what you asked me about the first time we met.”
“Oh, I understand that you need to keep the snack bar yourself. No hard feelings. I’ll figure out what to do.”
“It’s not that. I have decided to take you up on your offer. You can run the concessions and pay me a percentage as rent. It will be your business.”
“What about all your contracts?”
He shrugged. “I’m a lawyer. I’ll get them to see reason. If you like the idea.”
I fisted my hands to keep from throwing my arms around his neck and kissing him. “Like it? I love it.” I winked at him. “It’s almost like it was my own idea.”
“No need to rub it in.” He put some bills on the table and stood. “Let’s go look at the mural again.”
We walked back to the theater, talking about the plans he had for the theater and ideas I had for the concessions.
I’d never seen it coming, had been trying to make plans to do something besides my popcorn.
In my excitement, I grabbed his hand and squeezed it.
The contact sent a shock up my arm, and I gasped then tried to cover it up.
When I went to pull free, Eryx held on, and we walked the rest of the way to the theater holding hands.
I didn’t hate it.
“Tanner and Godric went through a lot to be together, didn’t they?” he mused. “With Tanner’s business and Godric’s allergies?”
“They have other businesses now, too, but yeah. At one time, I think Tanner was going to sell out or close the place. I’m very glad they have found a treatment that makes things easier for them.”
“Me too.”