Every Chapter

Chapter Eleven

The seaside bar and grill called Joans had always been one of Quinn's favorites since she was a little girl. Not for the taste of the food, it was a locally owned business and there wasn't anything really special about the food. No, what drew people in was the atmosphere. Tiki torches burned on the outside blue deck that desperately needed to be refinished. Lights strung between the rafters of the deck, sagging just above your heads, exposing their yellow lighting. The deck had a sloping ramp that led you right to the beach, palm trees lining your pathway.

Each table outside was a different thrifted find, every chair was different and just like them so were the plates, mugs, and cups. That was Quinn's favorite part, not just that they made use of old things. But the difference in everything here, in everyone. This was one spot in town where you didn't have to be one thing or the other. When Quinn was with Tanner, she was one person, when she was with Rina or any of her old friends, she was another. But here she could just be her, everyone was themselves here. Under the same roof all different social statuses gathered together for breakfast in the morning and beers and cocktails at night.

Even the sight of Ian sitting two tables over staring at her with a disgusted look did not bother her here. She didn't care, she felt good here and he would not take that from her. She gave him a small smile and his disgust turned into a question mark.

"Omelets or Waffles? Tanner said to her ignoring the waitress in front of him, drawing her attention to him now.

She handed her unopened menu to the woman with a smile.

"Definitely French toast and coffee."

"I like the sound of that." He folded his menu over and handed it to the woman.

"It will be out shortly." She took down their orders and left.

Tanner sat back in his seat, staring to the beautiful woman in front of him.

"It's so perfect here." She closed her eyes and allowed the slight breeze to wrap her up.

"It really is." He agreed, but he did not close his eyes. In stead he took her in.

The food did not take long before it arrived at the table. They weren't busy that morning. Like most mornings, most people were too busy working to come to breakfast except for the retired crowd who had come and gone from here over an hour ago.

They picked through their food and ate. There was no issue sharing a silent meal together. The issue was when the meal was over, when the food was gone, and they were forced to converse. Not knowing much about one another and wanting to finally learn.

"Favorite color?" she asked abruptly as he took a sip from his dark green mug.

"Easy, red. What about you?"

"Blue."

"Okay, favorite food?" he countered.

"Twizzlers." He choked out a laugh, "that is not a food it's a desert."

She rolled her eyes. "Yea, that you can eat."

"Oh, come on." He laughed.

"Whatever, what about you?"

"Definitely lobster." She rolled her eyes as the words left his mouth.

"No, it's not."

"What do you mean it's not?"

"No one actually loves lobster that much; they just act like they do because everyone else does."

He looked away, lips holding in a smile, and he whispered.