THREE - The Lunch Break

"Hey Zack, can I grab your keys real quick? I just remembered that we haven't had lunch yet."

"Yeah, sure."

"Okay. I'll go to Brian's and pick up our usual order then. Austin, do you want anything?"

"I've heard of that place, but I've never been. Is there something you would suggest?"

"What kind of sandwiches do you like? They have chicken and tuna salad, cold cut sandwiches, breaded tenderloin, soups and salads."

"Do they have a club sandwich?"

"Yeah. Corned beef or turkey?"

"Turkey. How much would it cost?"

"Oh shoot, I don't remember off the top of my head."

"Tell you what, I'll pay you back plus tip when you get here."

"That works, but I really don't need a tip."

"I insist."

"Okay. Anything to drink?"

"No, thank you. I have water here."

"Also, they have wonderful desserts. Zack and I typically get the peanut butter brownies."

"A peanut butter brownie sounds amazing right now."

"Alright. I will be back within a half an hour, and I expect the couch to be up here by then." Zack nods in response.

"You two better have the chairs done and the sofa box up here by the time I get back."

"Yes ma'am."

"Don't call me ma'am, Zackary, you know how I feel about that."

"Sorry, mademoiselle." He replied with a faux curtsey. I could tell they were both having a tough time trying not to laugh.

"Better." And with that, I left with Zack's truck to get lunch.

***

I love Brian's Coffee Shop. They have the best desserts you could ask for, as well as amazing croissant sandwiches. I walked through the front door and basked in the scent of chocolate coming from the dessert counter.

"Hello, Alex! The usual I'm assuming?"

"Yes, with one more order. Zack and I are meeting with an interior design client, and we all decided to take a lunch break, so I will need the usual order as well as one turkey club and an extra peanut butter brownie."

"Coming right up!"

***

"Club sandwich and a peanut butter brownie." I handed Austin his lunch with the little note of the price since he said he'd pay me back.

"Hot Ham and Cheese on Croissant and a peanut butter brownie." I handed Zack his lunch before sitting down with mine, only slightly surprised that Zack was sitting crisscross-applesauce on the floor so I could sit in one of the only two chairs in the room so far.

"Nice job with the chairs, by the way, I'm impressed you guys actually got them both done by the time I got back." I opened my sandwich box with a smile. Ah, the smell of cranberry chicken salad on a buttery croissant. We ate lunch in silence until Austin startled me with a question.

"How have I not known about this place? This sandwich is amazing."

Zack laughs, "You did mention that you're not from around here. Brian's is typically where the locals hang out. Alex and I have been going there since they were still a bookstore cafe."

After lunch, we finished the living room, and Austin seemed to be impressed. We take measurements of the bedroom and make plans to return tomorrow. We left around 3:30 in the afternoon and decided to head back to the interior design department store we visited earlier in the morning to get started. We started in the storage section and found a set of bookshelves that fit Austin's vision perfectly. I also fell in love with some low maintenance plants in little gold pots that would liven up the space while fitting in with the theme. After a few hours, we decide to get dinner at the local Stake'n'Shake, or as I like to say "Shake'n'Stake" because I like to think I have my priorities straight.

"So, when are you going to put yourself out there? Not that I don't enjoy your company, but you've got to be tired of spending all of your days off being my muscle."

"Alexandra, there will never be a time when I don't enjoy spending time with you. You're my best friend. And believe me, heavy lifting really isn't so bad. It just cuts down the amount I have to do in my weekly workouts." He laughs but avoids my original question.

"I think you missed my point. Zackery, you deserve to be happy. You haven't dated since college. I know, she-who-shall-not-be-named broke your heart, but at some point, you have to open yourself up again."

"Alex, I appreciate your concern, but I'm fine. I just haven't – it's… complicated." Dodging. Typical.

We ordered our usual, a Royal Steakburger for him and a Chili Steak Frank for me and added two salted caramel pretzel milkshakes. I feel my pocket buzz as Zack leaves to use the restroom and find a text from Austin, and we text back and forth for a while:

Austin: Hey, I didn't get a chance to talk to you earlier, but would you like to go out for dinner sometime? I mean outside of the apartment remodle. Just you and me.

Alex: If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were asking me out on a date.

Austin: That was the idea, yes. Is that okay? I know you probably don't go out with clients often. It's just that you're the first girl I've met here that doesn't see the fame but sees me. It's refreshing, and a little intriguing.

Alex: Well, that sure is a compelling argument.

Austin: So… What do you say? Saturday night?

Alex: Sure, why not? You're right, I don't typically go on dates with my clients, but there's a first for everything. 😊

I notice that Zack is on his way back to the table, and the waitress is on her way with our food, so a shoot Austin another quick text: Hey, I'm sorry, but I have to go now. I would definitely like to talk more about this date tomorrow so we can get a time and location locked down. We have the materials for your bedroom and will be there in the morning.

Our food and milkshakes arrive as Zack asks a question that I definitely wasn't expecting. "What about you? You haven't dated anyone since that playboy of a boyfriend senior year of high school, if I remember right."

"I've been on a few casual dates since then, but none were worthy of a second date, much less a full-blown relationship." He chokes with laughter. "No pun intended! I swear!" I can feel my cheeks flush as I recover from the accidental dirty joke hiding behind my words.

"You're a real-life Felicity Smoke some days, you know it?"

"Oh, shut up." I mean, yeah. Like Felicity, I hope to have my own Oliver Queen someday. Sexy, loyal, and a good cook. One can dream, right?

"What? You've got some skills with computers, and your double entendre are just as endearing."

"Thanks, but you didn't need to point it out." I retort with a small laugh. He smiles, and then continues to devour his sandwich. Cops and their food. Gosh. Maybe he doesn't date because taking a girl to dinner simply scares her away… "Oh, speaking of dates, I might have one on Saturday."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Austin just asked me out."

"Over text? Come on. And I thought you never dated clients."

"I think he felt embarrassed asking me out in front of you. I know I don't date clients, but by Saturday, he'll be a former client, so it's not completely breaking my undisclosed rule."

"I don't know. If he couldn't find the guts to ask you out in person, he doesn't deserve your time."

This is a side of Zachary that I don't see often. I get that he's protective of me, but that strange look has appeared again. "In his defense, the presence of a best friend that carries a gun everywhere he goes is probably a bit intimidating."

"You've never had a problem with me carrying before."

"I didn't say that I did, I'm just saying that he seemed tense after finding out. You really should be up front and honest with people about instead of hiding it until they accidentally discover it on their own."

"To be completely honest, I don't think about it. I forget to mention it to new people because it's almost a part of me at this point. I'm sorry if it ever has repercussions with clients." I can tell he's being sincere.

"Remember that one old lady?" I laugh so hard that I can't finish the story.

"Yeah! Ha, she was so shocked that she screamed and alerted her neighbor, who thankfully worked for the force. He was able to calm her down by assuring her that I was one of the good guys like him." Now we were both laughing hysterically.

We finished our meal, going over more funny stories of past customers of mine. He drove me home and walked me to my apartment again.

"You really don't have to do this every time you know."

"I know. Goodnight, Alex. See you in the morning."

"Yeah. See ya tomorrow."