patrick.

Patrick chuckled at the ridiculing from Blaine. The order was a bit much, but it really was the perfect mix. “It’s not bad! It’s really good. Try a sip!” He nudged the cup towards him and pouted. “Just experiment with the ingredients, and you’ll find something tailored to your pallet.” Patrick smirked playfully at the comment and inhaled slowly, trying to force back a giggle. “Well, you kind of can tell the difference. But you can’t really tell what two hundred forty degrees is since water boils at two hundred and twelve…” He winked at him and let his laughter slip.

Patrick gasped. “I can’t forget you! You’re going to be my marketing manager, duh! I didn’t even have a huge plan other than my design job, but now I have to quit it to make all these millions of dollars that wouldn’t have happened without you!” He smiled and nervously tapped two fingers on the table. “So, maybe you should give me your number that way we can talk business details. Or, other things.”

Blaine’s brows shot up, the laughter still dancing in the brightness of his eyes as he tapped the edge of his coffee cup.  “Um.  Excuse me?  I have found the perfect mix.  Thank you.  It just involves a whole lot less than what’s inside your cup.  How do they even manage to leave room for coffee,” he asked with a grin feeling lighter than he has in weeks.  Hell.  Laughing more than he has in months in a matter of minutes felt good.  Too good to not want to hang onto the moment for as long as he could get it.  Even if he was pushing making it to the bar on time? Patrick’s company was well worth running six blocks in a rush to make it there.

“Your marketing manager,” lips formed a perfect ‘o’ that he took in a deep breath and pretended to mull over the job offer way too hard.  Deflating with a breath blown out from puffy cheeks, he scrunched his nose and leaned in.  “If the salary is spectacular enough to pull me away from music?  Then you have yourself a deal.  Going to cost you though.  A lot.”  Performing at a piano bar might not seem very glamorous paired up with, say what Rachel was doing, but it let him make music and that was enough to get him by.  Pausing when Patrick asked him for his number, he felt the temperature in his cheeks and nose heat up to the 260 degrees he was just making fun of earlier.  Or, other things being the main reason for the blush.  But he nodded and pulled out his phone regardless.  If someone could brighten his day this much?  Getting their number was, without a doubt, a great idea.  You know.  For business.  “Give me your number and I’ll text you mine..”

A beginning of something new.  A new connection.  Strange how today started out like every other he’s had for over a year now..and now it was quickly turning into anything but..