Passing Through

Part Twelve

 Chapter Twelve

The older guy behind the counter quite obviously knew Bo, if the beaming smiles weren't enough, they did a fist bump, then grinned at each other, before the smaller man turned to smile in Natasha's direction, "guapa!"

Natasha rolled her eyes, she'd learned Spanish in school, a guy referring to her as beautiful whilst he congratulated Bo for his what? Conquest? It was as misogynistic as it got. But she had to relax, step off her high horse. She always flew off the handle, over reacted. That was what this was, again. She was angry, stressed, pushed outside of her comfort zone, she couldn't take that out on this situation. Don't over react.

Bo introduced her to Leo Flores, the proprietor, she reached out and shook his hand, studying him intently, and she knew he was feeling a little awkward at his greeting, and knowing that she understood what he'd said.

He opened his mouth, she imagined to ask what she'd like, but she beat him to it.

For a moment she became the Queen of Sass, "I'll take a beef chimichanga por favor. And a Tempus Dorada? Gracias."

The two men were a little wrong footed at her commanding request, staring at her open mouthed. She should have studied the menu really, deliberated over the dozens of options, as she loved Mexican food. But to prove a point, or rather to score a point, she asked for the first thing she spotted. Plus she'd spotted the unfamiliar beer on a shelf behind Leo, and added that decisively to the mix, unsure how palatable it was, but happy to have silenced them both with her confident choices. Turning, she made for a small Formica topped table in the corner, and chalked up that point.

Men 0 Natasha 1.

She'd relaxed into the chair, and was checking her emails on her phone when Bo slid into the seat opposite her.

"I like sass."

There was a still a flame of anger that burned in her gut, but she quashed it, and instead of a nasty retort, she laughed. "That wasn't sass, it was anger. Bo Holding. I took you for many things, but a chauvinistic pig wasn't one of them."

He grinned at that, "so Leo was a little tactless, he tried hard, his business depends on good reviews, hospitality. It's a new venture."

Holding out a hand for him to shake, she grinned, "let me also offer my congratulations on finding a woman who apparently isn't ugly and bringing her here late at night on your way home for sex."

He gasped, mouth falling open, but before he could respond she silenced him with a raised hand as she added, "that's what just happened."

"He doesn't think that. He's just being friendly, you're being a little sensitive."

Normally that would make her cringe, or lash out, but this time, she just shook her head, she'd already made her point, "is that all the apology I get?" She didn't want or need an apology, she was enjoying pushing him, prodding his ego with a stick.

He laughed, "but I have provided the greatest food. And beer."

She couldn't argue with that, instead, she took the bottle of beer he had brought from the counter, and offered to her, and downed two large swigs. When she put the bottle down, he was studying her, his elbows on the table, chin on his upturned hands.

"What?" Suddenly she was nervous.

He shrugged, "just watching you."

She wasn't used to him being so agreeable, but it was far more favourable dealing with his anger, animosity, indifference...anything but flirtation.