Free Beautiful Things Never Last by Steph Campbell

ass at first, but I saw something else in her that first day at her house.  Something I don’t think she meant for me to see.
     
            I was making it harder than it needed to be. Just needed to keep it simple. I deleted the message and started again.
                            To: Quinn
                      Hey, this is Ben. You free for lunch again today? My treat.              
                                        Send.
                                ####
            “Okay, I’ll bite, what the hell is this place?” I asked, as Quinn parallel parked her hybrid next to the rows of Harleys.   I was stoked that she said   yes   to lunch, but hanging out with a biker gang wasn’t exactly on my agenda.
            “This place is to die for ! I hope you’re hungry!” Quinn said.
            “ I trust you.” My lips stretched across my face into a nervous smile.
            I motioned to the entrance, which happen ed to be a huge skull with bright orange hypnotizing eyes, where the gaping mouth serving as the entryway.
                  The sign above sa id , THE VORTEX.
                          “Well now, th at’s your first mistake,” she said , adding an adorable wink. “It’s not so bad inside, come on.”
            She grab bed my hand and pull ed me through the bony face. I graze d my thumb over her soft ski, and wondered if she fe lt more than just my hand, if there was any possibility that sh e fe ltsomething more. I felt like a tool admitting to myself that I already did.
            Once inside, The Vortex was a lot less intimidating. It honestly couldhave easily pass ed for a small Applebee’s. The walls were full of tchotchkes like old street signs, barber’s poles and all sorts of other kitsch. It’s was already past the normal lunch hour, so the majority of the tables were empty. Quinn walked right past the hostess stand and pull ed me in the direction of the patio. She decide d on a table right in front of a mural of a fire-breathing skull with pin-up style devils lounging across it. So much for the   Americana   theme.      
            “So, what’s good here?” I open ed my menu and glance d up at Quinn. She quickly diverted her eyes, but I did catch her staring at my arms as she unroll ed her silverware and s moothed t he paper napkin onto her lap.
            “You won’t need that,” she said . “I’ll order for you.” She pluck ed t he menu out of my hands and set it on top of hers at the edge of the table.
            “Okay, a little controlling, but I like it,” I sa id .
            She flip ped her long brown hair over her shoulder and lean ed back in her chair.
            “Ha, yeah, I guess I am.” She smile d at me, and it s truck me for the first time just how completely out of my league she was.
            “That’s fine. But you should know when ordering, that I’m a strict vegetarian.”
            Quinn’s smile transform ed into tightly pursed lips and her brow furrow ed . “Wait, seriously?”
            “No way, are you kidding? Bacon and I have a very deep love affair going.”
            “Oh thank god. That right there would’ve been a deal breaker for sure,” she sa id with a laugh. “Wait, I mean, not like   this   is anything…”
            I nodded. “Right.”
            Quinn picked up one of the menus again and star ed down at it.
    “At least not yet. I give it a week,” I said.
            “A week before what?” she ask ed.
            “A week before you’re begging me to go out with you,” I sa id . I link ed my fingers behind my head and lean ed back in my chair . I was hoping that the arrogant smirk on my face would camouflage my nervousness.
            “Is that right?” She raised one eyebrow and grinned.
            “I’m counting on it.”