Serendipity

CHAPTER 8

Rachel looked at the sign hanging off the side of an immaculately restored 1920s era brick building in Echo Park and smiled. "Sage Organic Vegan Bistro," she read aloud. "This is the second vegan restaurant you've taken me to. Have you given up bacon?"

Quinn smiled and shook her head. "Not entirely. I have cut back on how much I eat though. I just like to eat healthy and have managed to find a few places like this around the city."

Rachel tucked her hand into the crook of Quinn's arm and smiled up at the blonde. "Well, I must say, I am very impressed, Miss Fabray."

Quinn chuckled and reached for the door. "Then my day is now officially complete," she said dryly as she pulled the door open, her smile growing wider as Rachel refused to let go of her arm and instead steered the both of them through the narrow doorway.

"Oh wow," Rachel said as she came to a stop just inside the restaurant. The bistro was spread wide open in front of them, full of small square tables covered with pristine white tablecloths that were nearly all occupied by people who were talking and laughing as the waitstaff bustled about. It was busy, crowded, a little loud, but the restaurant still had extremely relaxed vibe that was impossible to miss.

The hostess, a pretty twenty-something redhead who was definitely checking Quinn out, led them through a maze of tables to a quiet spot in the back. "Is this okay?" she asked, ignoring Rachel completely as she sought Quinn's approval.

Quinn groaned inwardly at the girl's attention even as she smiled and nodded. "Perfect. Thank you," she said dismissively as she pulled a chair out for Rachel to sit, hoping that the young girl would get the hint and leave her alone. She heard a huff of a breath and the sound of retreating feet and when she took her own seat, she was pleased to see that the girl had left.

Rachel, for her part, had immediately caught on to the young woman's interest in Quinn and she was surprised to realize that, far from being amused by the fact, she instead felt mildly jealous. Or, if she was being truly honest with herself, her jealously was nowhere near mild. "I think she's into you," she said conversationally as she picked up her menu.

"I noticed," Quinn muttered, rolling her eyes. "At least it was just the hostess and we won't have to deal with her anymore."

Quinn's disinterest in the other woman was obvious, and Rachel found herself relaxing in her seat. "Does that happen to you a lot?" she asked curiously before she could stop herself.

Quinn frowned as she reached for her own menu. "Does what happen a lot?"

"Women just falling over themselves in front of you like that."

"Um," Quinn stalled, a light blush creeping up her neck. "Define 'a lot'."

The idea of enough women trying to get Quinn's attention that the blonde wanted a definition of 'a lot' was distinctly upsetting to Rachel, and she pursed her lips thoughtfully as she appraised the woman across from her. Quinn was smart, funny, beautiful, kind, and talented. It made perfect sense that other women would want her. "Never mind. Of course women are attracted to you," she said as she picked up her menu, hoping to distract herself from her confusing thoughts with the task of finding something she wanted for dinner. "Who wouldn't be?" she muttered under her breath.

Quinn's frown deepened as she watched Rachel's expression shift from curious, to jealous, to upset. It was quite a range of emotions to be hit in such a short period of time, even for Rachel, and she couldn't help but wonder if James' observation about the chemistry between the two of them had been right on. She was curious and wanted to ask Rachel about what had just happened, but she could tell that the brunette wanted to drop it for now, so she obliged her by also opening her menu and not saying anything further.