Read Bittersweet Taste :: Joan

We walked together while holding hands through the town to Lou's chit chatting here and there, nothing important but it feels so intimate knowing about random things, we passed the bakery, the coffee shop, the town hall and turning aroung in a nice corner with big trees all around is Lou's restaurant,

"You know? i love all the seasons in this cozy restaurant, one of the things that i like about here is that you can eat inside or in the garden and it feels like eating in a cottage core pinterest garden, it's really cute"

"Cottage what? what is that?" his gestures are priceless

"Mmm let me explain this (...) oh i have a better idea, come on let's go inside we can eat in the garden so you can understand but you have to close your eyes it's magic, really"

"Huh? ok (...)'' Patrick looked skeptical

I took Patrick by the hand led him through the garden and we seat in my favorite spot, under a weeping willow tree with outdoor light garlands that bring a very cozy ambience,

"Now open your eyes''

''Wow, it's really magical and cozy, so (...) do you like this kind of decoration for a garden?''

''Yeah, it's cute and i think that it gives a (...) what? (...)''

''Your eyes were shining while you talk (...) i think that you just look lovely and that made me fall for you even more''

(...)

We were both speechless as we looked at each other,

''Ahah (...) i (...) you're such a romantic'' i can't stop blushing and he laugh nervously,

when a waiter came and took the order i didn't need to look at the menu to know what to order,

''Please give me a Philly steak sandwich with fries and a coke"

''And you?''

''Mmm, give me the biggest plate here please''

''Oh no, don't do that, is to fancy and too big'' a giant lobster with shrimps and a lot of pasta is too much

''Why? i'm a man with appetite'' he said that without losing eye contact (...) fuck, now i'm horny (...)

*ahem*

the waiter clears his throat and blush,

''Then, i will order the same as him'' Patrick said as if nothing had happened

''Ok, sir'' and he goes away,

''Come on sweetheart, ask, i can see that you have a question in mind now"

''How do you do that? i mean, how (...) it's weird Patrick and it leaves me with many doubts (...)'' He said nothing just leaned back in his chair and scanned the restaurant very subtly,

''Without knowing it you have choosen one the best place in the garden, here you can see who came in, it even let you see the kitchen door so you can see the waiter coming (...) but it leaves your back unprotected (...)''

''Wow (...) did you went to the ARMY or something?''

''Ahahah no sweetheart, it was my experience hunting not the ARMY''

''Hunting? OMG do you kill animals?''

''Sweetheart, no, i don't kill animals ok? is just that (...)'' he looked out of the corner of his eye to see if anyone was paying attention to what we were talking about and when he noticed that they weren't, his shoulders relaxed a little

''Maybe this is not the place to talk about it, it's too dangerous and anyone can hear us, why don't we (...)''

''What do you mean by that? why anyone want to (...) you cheated on me, you told me that you will answer my questions but here you are (...)''

''Yes sweetheart, i know what i said to you but i didn't count that there is someone spying us outside of the restaurant it was the fucking cat that assaulted you (...) but keep talking to me as i said nothing i will send a text to the cops (...) it doesn't help much but lower your voice'

i got paled in seconds and started to feel a little pressure on my chest,

''What are you talking about? Alex is a cat? Patrick really are you ok? that's impossible''

*gasp*

''What? what happen sweetheart? are you ok?''

at that single moment i remember what my abuela says about some mayan Gods that can turn into animals, i'm scared about the answer of this question,

''What (...) are you Patrick?''

he just looked at me without saying a word

*ring* *ring*

the ringtone startled me so much that I even jumped a little, but it takes me seconds to notice that it's my phone ringing,

''Hey Rique, what's up?"

''Hey, ummm (...) we have an issue, someone fired tear gas into the store breaking the windows and the door''

''WHAT!!?'' i got up so fast that I threw the chair,

''Oh fuck, are you ok? are the clients ok? OMG how this happened?''

*sigh*

i pulled up my chair and sat down again, i manage to see Patrick talking to the waiter but i was focused on Rique right now,

''Jesus, when it rain it pours right? did you have the chance to see who was the shithead?''

''No, i didn't see it coming, i was charging the customer when that happened, we are ok i took her out the back emergency door but we both are nervous and anxious just that'' he said very calmly

''The police, have you called them? Look i'm going there ok? is your arm ok?''

fuck, i want to cry because iall of this crap is to much to bare but Rique needs me now, maybe later i'll see how to take out my frustration

''Yeah, it hurts a little but i'm ok and you don't have to the police just arrived, i gotta go bye"

*tut* *tut* *tut*

*ting*

a text? who is this time (...)

*gasp*

-Even though you were with a dog, i can see your lunch was good (picture of patrick and me laughing)

this motherfucker (...) wait, a dog? Patrick said that there was a cat (...) when I take my eyes off my phone and look at Patrick, he doesn't look like a dog to me just as Alex didn't look like a cat, everything seems confusing but all of this really reminds me of those mayan tales, maybe it's related and it's not a tale at all?

''Sweetheart i hear Rique's, so i ordered our food to go, shall we go?''

i took him by the elbow,

''This time you really have to tell me what's going on before i start to misunderstand things, i really hate miscomunitations, if we are going to keep seeing each other we have to talk ok? i don't care how hot and sexy you are, if you're hidding things from me this ends here''

''You think i'm hot and sexy, that's fine by me becau (...)''

''Come on! that's the only thing you hear? you're kidding right?''

''Of course i'm kidding boss''

''Ugh, just (...) i will carry the beverages'' i turned around but he grabbed my waist with his bare hand and pulled me close, kissing my cheek, i stay in the same place and feel my legs stop working when this man touches any part of my body

''Time to go sweetheart'' *wink* he say as he walk through the door,

I'm really fucked this time (...) because i can't walk with a hard on (...)

sing the anthem ~Say, can you see by the dawn's early light (...) ~

''Hi again Joan''

''Oh, officer Cameron! i wish i can say that it's nice to meet you but not (...)''

''Ahaha yeah me too, gladly this time no one was injured, Mr. Alvarez and Ms. Brown are being check by the paramedics just in case but we only have material damages to your shop, sorry for that, umm (...) i'm sure that it was Mr. Corbin the perpetrator i have been checking the survelliance cameras and i have a suspect that fits the description you gave me of him, it's odd because he didn't seem to be trying to avoid anyone or anything, he was acting erratically, which doesn't seem right to me. I'm going to send units to your home to monitor any anomalies ok? i already have Mr. Alvarez statement so (...) excuse, have Patrick already talk with you?''

''About what?''

''Nothing important i better start going, i'm leaving the crime scene to Officer Davis, see you then''

''Oh don't go i have something to tell you, i nearly miss this but i received this text during my lunch it's from Alex, he send me this because i think he got jealous that i (...) (...) that i went with Patrick for lunch, he even stalked us and i think he's (...)''

''Ok i need your phone as evidence so i need to take it with me, can you pick it up tomorrow at the station? you can stick to Officer Davis after this until we know both of you are safe''

''Oh no i can't, i have a flight tomorrow and i can't miss it, it's important''

''Umm (...) ok i have two options, first, the original plan, i take your phone and second, i can take a photo and a video of this, you keep your phone and when you come back you leave it in the station but with this there's the issue that something can happen to the phone and lost the info''

''That's not fair! ahaha you are saving me only one answer''

''I know, buuut i can give you another phone in the meantime so you don't get cut off''

''I can do that, ok i accept the phone but I need to get some numbers off my phone first''

''Ok, is solved then, will you come with me to the station?''

''I want to eat first and i will catch you later there Officer''

''Don't worry, go, see ya''

Watching Officer Cameron walk away i can see he's kind of cute, but not as cute and handsome as Patrick

''Mmm a penny for your horny thoughts sweetheart (...)''

''How you? (...) you mean Officer Cameron? ahah don't worry he's not as cute as you, plus, i kinda like you more ''

*wink*

i can hear Patrick's laughing as i walk away to check on Rique, now i'm worried about leaving him here, alone.

''Hey how are you? how's your arm? are you injured?''

''Hey dude, naaw i'm fine it was just the shock, the other girl is gone now but the police are working on the 'scene' so i'm staying here i supposed''

''No, go home and rest i'm taking it from here don't worry, i was so worried that something had happened to you but i'm feeling relieved now, *sigh* look, i'm taking a flight tomorrow i already talk with Luis and (...) they were attacked too (...)''

''WTF?! why didn't you told me? are they ok? why tomorrow?''

''I know, i'm sorry but i decided at the last minute and (...) it has to do with the hiking poles that Alex sold us (...)''

''There's more right?''

''Yeah, those men were Arteaga's lackeys, it's dangerous but i have to go, not to save them but at least i wanna take them to a safe place, they are already in my abuela's house in the city but they are 'narcos' and i'm afraid that something will happen to them (...)''

''Fuck (...) are you sure that i am no help if i go with you Jo? i can kick their asses you know?'' he's dissapointed i can feel it,

''Don't say that you dummy, you're my brother, not by blood, but by heart (...) don't say that you are no help, on the contrary you can help with the logistics here, you can found with the police or in customs office about the hiking poles, that would be very helpful''

''Awwn you're so chessy, i love you too bro, i can do that, i will stay here and i'll send you updates via text''

''Oh fuck i have forgotten, Officer Cameron took my phone because Alex was stalking us and it has proof or whatever it says, ughhh this sucks (...)''

''Yeah, like shit (....) ahahahahahah'' his laughter can be hear from miles away

''ahahahahah (...) what are we laughing about? ahahaha''

''to keep stress at the bay Jo, otherwise we will go crazy with all this crap happening at once''

*sigh*

''I'm tired already'' i tell him as I lean on his shoulder

''Yeah me too, that will be one hell of a flight, i know (...)''

''I hope they are fine''

''Me too, by the way the Officer is going to give me a phone in the meanwhile so i won't be cut off''

''Thank God for small mercies''

''Ahahah are you gonna be ok mama bear?''

''Mmm (...) you only call me that when you're really worried or scared, i will be fine, the cops are going to patrol our home so that's one less thing to worry about, i will be ok i promised''

''Ok, now go home and rest i will be there after everything here is settle''

''Yup i didn't know that i was so exahusted, so i'm going now (...)'' he stop on his tracks and turned around,

''Wait, you're going to stay with Patrick right?''

''Yeah, why?''

''Nothing (...) you're safe then (...) see ya bro''

''Wait, what do you mean?'' but pretended not to hear me

I heard footsteps and started to get anxious but his cedar scent calmed me down, i turn around and found Patrick behind me with the food still in the bag and my stomach growl,

''Sorry for that but im famished (...) i wish we can go inside and eat in my office''

''Don't worry sweetheart, Office Davis told me that it's safe to enter your office because they already check them they are all clear''

''Uff thank God''

''Ahaha i know, lead the way then?'' he said chivalrously and i really like that about him,

As we walk through the back door, i could hear the police lifting things saying they were evidence and even helping a little to clean up the mess in the store,

*sigh*

"What a day, i'm exhausted (...)'' i said as i placed the drinks on the coffee table in my office

''I can imagine''

''I'm sorry that our lunchdate was ruined (...)'' i'm dissapointed, i had great expectations of the date but that AlexFuckingCorbin had to ruin it

''Oh sweetheart don't worry we can always have more'' *wink* i'm starting to like it when he winks at me and makes me feel nervous but in a butterflyly way

''I'm sure of it (...) i look forward to them'' i say as i unpack our food

''Why don't you rest and sit down while i unpack?''

*crinkle* *crinkle*

''Ok, thank you i'm sooo tired but i have to stay here at the shop for anything that the cops need''

*munch* *munch*

*gasp*

''I forgot to pay for the food!!! i have to cal(...) wait, you pay for it right?" now i'm embarassed but he got my back and that got points for sure,

''Ahahaha yes and don't worry about it you were busy with all this mess, it's nothing really, just seeing you and being able to talk to yo(...)''

sometimes i act before i think and always regret it but today it's not the day, despite our height difference and the fact that he was on the other side of the coffee table i grabbed him by the tshirt and closed the distance between us and kissed him, and God Lord the only thing that crossed my mind was: finally.