I laughed. "I thought you were denying that?"
"I can't believe you like Quest Bistro too," she said, ignoring my comment. I watched her open up the lid on the soup. There was a faint tan line where her engagement ring once was. For a second I felt slightly guilty. But just slightly, and only for a second. I had done her a favor. And I was going to show her why settling for Patrick would have been a mistake. She needed a man. What she needed was me.
"I go there for lunch all the time," I lied. But the sandwich was fantastic. Maybe our taste buds were soul mates.Soul mates.There was no such thing as a soul mate.
"It's weird that we never ran into each other before our blind date."
"Well, technically we did. You hailed me a taxi."
"So you admit it?"
"Of course I admit it. Although, you kind of gave it to me."
"You're the worst." She took a bite of the sandwich. "Or the best. This is just what I wanted today. So much better than peanut butter and jelly."
I laughed.
She just looked up at me.
"Oh, you're serious?" I asked. "What are you, five?"
"It's actually pretty good. And cheap." She looked embarrassed again.
I knew she was low on cash. I had looked up her address. It was a rundown apartment in a not so great area. And she was working as a secretary for a dick. She had to be desperate for a job. Asking her to the gala would be perfect. It would be the best night of her life. She'd fall for the wealth and charm, right on top of me. I wondered if she'd be offended if I paid her afterward. She needed the money. And I wanted to help her out.What am I thinking?
"Maybe you should pack yourself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich sometime and reminisce about when you were young."
"I'm not sure that would help me reminisce," I said. "I've never even had one."
"You've never had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich?"
"Can't say I have."
"What kind of kid goes through childhood without trying peanut butter and jelly?"
"I don't know, it was never in my lunch. Maybe our chef wasn't fond of it." Now I was just rubbing my money in her face. She wasn't going to accept my invitation if I acted like a complete ass.
She bit her lip. "We have to fix that immediately." She pulled a paper bag out of her purse. "Here."
"I'm not eating that."
"I'm a good cook."
"I'm not sure cooking has anything to do with making that."
"Which is probably for the best. Because I'm not really a good cook."
I laughed. "If I try this contraption, do I get anything in return?"
"The delicious taste?"
"How about you owe me a favor?" I took a big bite.
"Wait! I didn't agree to that."
"Too late," I said, with my mouth still full. Hell, it was actually pretty good. Sweet and savory at the same time. Just like her.
"I don't owe you a favor."
