Page 7 of Mixed Connection
I stifle a giggle noticing the comics on Paloma’s newspaper-printed chair cushion. “What’s so funny?” Paloma asks. I point toward her cushion, she tilts her hips slightly, looking down at her seat before joining in with her own snicker. Almost as soon as Janelle’s butt hits the seat, she stands, brushing her hands against her ass.
“Tell me if I have a whole poodle on my butt?” She turns around, bending slightly to give us a view of what the offending faux fur chair may have left.
“You’re good babe! No poodle butt for you today. Not yet, anyway!” I wiggle my fingers, making grabby hands at her. I love the vibes at Eggs Benny, and I love it even more, now that Janelle is here to share it with us.
“What can I get for the most beautiful trio of ladies I have ever laid my eyes on?” Benny greets the table. He’s an older gentleman who bought this building with his husband a few years ago and we fucking love him. The previous owner was a grouchy old lady.
Paloma purses her lips and says in a teasingly mocking tone, “You are laying it on mighty thick this morning, Benny Boy.”
He throws his hands up in mock defense, his fingers wiggling on either side of his head as a sassy smirk causes his cheeks to point. Leaning forward, he kisses each of our cheeks. Both sides. Benny loves a flourish and it’s my absolute favorite thing about him. He isn’t scared to be himself, fully and without apology. Claiming right here at this moment, I want to be like him when I grow up. “How are you girls this morning and who is this?” He wiggles his brows.
“Benny, this is Janelle. We all went to high school together and she’s visiting for a little while. Janelle, this is Benny, he is scandalous. Believe nothing he says.” I giggle, introducing them.
With theatrical flair, he clutches at his neck, as though reaching for a strand of pearls in a feigned display of offense. Rolling his eyes slightly, he bends at the knee and covers his mouth to whisper to Janelle. I giggle as he begins speaking loud enough for Lo and I to hear as well. “I’m a proud tease. I’d flirt with a biscuit if it would talk back.”
Janelle reaches out her hand like an eighteenth-century dutchess and bats her eyelashes at Benny. “It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lord Teaserton.”
“Oh, the pleasure is all mine,” he says as we scooch back into our seats. At this point I don’t even bother with a menu; I look at Janelle, knowing it’s her first time. Her shoulders are relaxed even while reading over the item descriptions, intermittently pausing to share some juicy gossip with Lo about people from the reunion, their dance moves something of the future. Theywere zig-zagging all over the floor, stepping on toes, but the joy on their faces was everything. I still made sure to keep my toes far away from those foot crunchers they called feet.
When Janelle looks up at me, a twinkle in her eyes, it’s all the confirmation I need as I knew she’d love it here, it’s like she’s always been a part of our trio, even during the ten year hiatus. And the feeling of rightness, in this moment, with the crew back together, it’d take a nuclear explosion to pry me away.
“What can I get you ladies?” Paloma orders the honey and lime fried chicken and waffles and Janelle opts for a Tex-Mex omelet with toast. Both rattle off their orders so we can get to girl talk and stuff our faces. Benny then turns towards me with a knowing look as I hand him the menus I’ve gathered.
“Benny, can you ask Ralph to make me something new…surprise me!” We have tried every single item on the menu since they opened. So, I started pushing Ralph, the head cook, to create new things. He always creates something amazing, he literally can not make anything bad. “And a pitcher of your sunrise sangria, pretty please.” I can already feel the bubbles on my tongue from the lemon-lime soda, the tart citrus flavors that make me forget there is red wine mixed in to create the perfect brunch drink.
He shushes me and walks off with our orders, waving goodbye for the moment. Off to tend to other customers or flirt with his hubby. The girls and I take the time to catch up on life. It doesn’t take long before we all feel as though we never lost touch. Some people just click, and it’s always been that way with the three of us.
“Sooo, Lo, who are you seeing right now?” If she wasn’t my best friend, I probably wouldn’t catch the slight tightness in Lo’s shoulders at Janelle’s question. It’s a question she’s asked often when we’re with friends or when her mom calls, but she’s never been the relationship type. It has been years since Palomaactually dated anyone seriously. She may have had a few casual flings here and there, one that resulted in an actual boyfriend, but it fizzled out as quickly as it started.
“Men are not on my radar. The bar has all my attention,” Paloma responds, her voice confident. I eye her from the top of my glass of sangria that I have been drinking like juice. Benny garnishes the glass with a fresh slice of orange, making the entire drink that much better. “I know it may not be the norm, but I don’t want to date around. Cass and I have worked so hard to build, not just Shaken Tropes, but the brand around it.” Her eyes skate to me for just a moment before continuing, “I’m kind of hoping we get the chance to expand in the near future. I don’t want a relationship to take my focus away right now. It’s not worth the heartbreak or the effort.”
Janelle moves to grab her sangria, taking a sip before responding, “Hey, I get it, Lo! Do what feels right for you. I’m not dating anyone either. I mean, I’d like to put myself out there and I have, but being active duty doesn’t give me much time aside from online dating. I know it works for so many, but I’ve not had any luck with it.” She shares her own reasons for singleness and continues, “I’m proud of you for standing in what your needs are and I am so ready to see this bar of yours. Cass told me a bit about it at the reunion and it sounds incredible!” Then her eyes turn toward me, but before she can ask the question that I know is sitting on the tip of her tongue, out comes Benny with our food.
Paloma’s eyes widen into saucers as soon as she sees the chicken and waffles, and I can’t lie, it looks absolutely delicious. So does Janelle’s meal.
He sets my plate in front of me and I do my best not to drool. “Ralph wanted to try something a little different for one of your favorites. Chorizo gravy and biscuits with a sweet potato hash and a honey whipped butter.”
“You tell your husband that I love him.” I point my fork at Benny’s chest to ensure he knows how serious I am before I holler toward the kitchen, “Ralph I love you!” Knowing Ralph can hear me from this distance, I can see in my mind’s eye the smile that I know he has on his face.
We all enjoy the food, sampling from one another’s choices. At one point, Paloma almost took out my finger when I attempted to grab a bite, she gets a bit stabby over waffles. We joke and people-watch those around us.
“We should plan a trip!” I say, and Paloma’s gaze turns to me, honey drips from her mouth as she stuffs another bite in, nodding her head in agreement.
“Gol, yuspft,” Janelle tries and fails to speak. We all make eye contact and burst out laughing—yes, we all somehow understood what she said.
“Fuck, that was way funny!” Holding my face from the pains of laughter, I grin and continue, “Janelle, I know you’ll have to give us your schedule but I think we should, it’ll be like old times.”
“I am so down! Ooh, let’s go on a cruise!” Paloma exclaims, clearly excited by the thought of it.
“But isn’t that more like a couples’ kind of thing?” I furrow my brows in question. For whatever reason I imagine a cruise with a significant other. You know, drinking our fill while going on excursions that turn steamy, someone to snuggle in the sheets with. Never did I think of a cruise as a girls’ trip.
“Girl, no! There are all types of cruises. Maybe we can find one that’s adults-only and all-inclusive. One that stops at a lot of good beaches!” Paloma says, waving off my comment.
“True! We could also rent out a badass house instead. Ooh, on the beach in Tulum or something.” Janelle then adds, giving us both a judgy look through her lowered lashes, “Just remember I need time to put in the request! I will not be missing this.”
“Now, that is a couples’ thing. I love y’all, but if I am in Tulum, I want to be getting my cheeks clapped under the stars.” I pinch my lips together before Paloma slaps the table with the palm of her hand and squeals. We all start laughing again, clearly we’ve had our fill of sangria. This is exactly why we choose Benny’s upstairs deck when the days are nice. It’s a covered deck and all the surrounding, sliding glass doors are open, allowing the warm breeze in. We’ve been here for a couple of hours and even I am feeling far past tipsy.
Pushing my glass back, I grab a piece of my remaining biscuit, stuffing it in my mouth as if that is going to help soak up the alcohol. Eventually, Janelle brings up how much she missed Paloma at the reunion.
