Ornery

"Chicken parm, okay..." Carson doesn't need to write it down, and waits for Jason's order, though Katie's teasing brings his eyes back to her. A grin sneaks across his lips. "You didn't used to be so mean, you know that?" He looks to Jason. "What are you teaching her?"

"Hey, don't look at me!" Jason holds up his hands. "She's ornery all on her own, trust me."

Carson chuckles. "Why is it the ornery ones we fall for, ay?"

"I have absolutely no idea." Jason knew he better swing this conversation around before it was an all-out teasing war. "But I do know that I want the meatball sub for lunch."

"You got it."

Watching Carson walk away, Jason's gaze drifts back to Katie. "Why did I fall for someone so ornery, hmmm?"


Eli takes off his mask and glasses, surveying his work of sanding before putting things away for the night. He was the last one out of the shop - he'd worked late, not really wanting to go home yet. This kind of work... he could get lost in it. It's where his mind could wander. He could turn up the music, and just let everything go when he had a paint job in front of him. He'd let his craft go at one time, too wrapped up in making money and gambling most of it away. Now though... now he'd renewed his love for the art and wasn't willing to let it go again just yet.

He takes one last look at Scarlet's bike before shutting out the lights and locking the garage doors. He'd be able to start painting it later tomorrow and he already had a pretty good idea of what he wanted to do.

Heading home, Eli takes his time, riding more slowly than normal. His mind wandered through the day's events, including his luncheon with Scarlet. There was something about her that intrigued him and drew him in. She could turn any man's head and had certainly turned his with her looks, those eyes and that smile. Yet at the same time, there was some feeling Eli got when around her - sometimes she almost seemed too bold, then when he looked into her eyes, he saw a timidness that begged him just to hold her. Sometimes she almost intimidated him with her confidence and even her occupation. But at the same time, she was seeking out his attention. Eli couldn't deny the fact that he liked women. But they didn't usually confuse him like this. He just wasn't sure what to do with it.

Arriving back home, he parks and heads inside the apartment. Seeing Ryan in the living room in front of the television, his normal routine would be to kick off his boots, throw his jacket somewhere, grab a beer and join her. Tonight though, he simply wanders into the living room, easing down in the overstuffed chair. Taking off his gloves, he yawns. "Hey, Speedy." His tone wasn't quite as chipper tonight - maybe he was just tired. "What have you been up to all day?"