this life

Eli let out another light laugh and shrugged, “It was just an idea, there’s no reason to go through with it. We could always settle with getting them on the phone with one another and listening from another room. There you go. That could be bad. I’d like to see us become more like Canada since my med insurance is my biggest bill.” He smiled at her, “Oh you do? Same here. I wouldn’t mind the business. But-- I don’t know if I’d even charge you. I’m a bit of a sucker for girls who can eat. Really, it’s only your first year? That’s gotta be scary. Not that I don’t think you’re doing well; there has to be a reason you did it in the first place. I know what you mean, believe me. Do you come here a lot, then? I promise that’s not a cheesy pick up line, I’m just wondering.” He laughed a bit. “Well how else would you eat them?” He asked, taking one of the pickles and dipping it into the ranch before eating it with a smirk.

Eli nodded like he’d heard it all before, “Maybe we can set up a meetup and see if they’ll become best friends or kill each other. It’s one extreme or the other, the only way to find out is to test it. I can’t do politics, it’s too shady to me. Just as long as we’re all still alive, I don’t care who’s in office.” He got a little more comfortable in his chair, taking a sip from his new beer. “It’s called Local Auto, it’s maybe a block or two from the university here. It really is. I make my own hours, too. You said something about dealing with kids, right? Are you a teacher?” Eli let out a laugh, only to be silenced by her question. He leaned forward against the table like he was going to tell her a secret, “What do you mean ‘really’? Have you had their fried pickles here? Phenomenal.” He smirked at her, only to have the food set down in between them, along with her new drink.

Eli looked at her with amusement, listening intently to her little story before letting out another laugh. “Uncle Kenny sounds like my Uncle Mike. Except he’ll turn everything into a conversation about the economy, then start his argument. I haven’t seen any of my elderly relatives go off on him just yet, though.” He chuckled again, running a hand through his hair. He nodded at her question, “Yeah, I do. I’ve had it for about...four years, I think. Probably, but I like giving them grief anyway. You get to do whatever you want when you own the place.” He shrugged a bit and laughed again. He smirked, then looked to the bartender when he brought his beer over, “Can we get a large order of wings and an order of fried pickles? And- Another drink for Olivia here. On me.” He smiled back to Olivia, “If you don’t eat the whole thing you have to pay me back. Deal?” He smirked, only kidding.

Eli’s eyebrows rose. “Really now? And what did Uncle Kenny do to deserve that kinda treatment from her?” He gave her a friendly smile before finishing off his beer and nodding to the bartender, indicating he wanted another. He shook her hand before pulling his back and laying it in his lap. “Perfume’s the trick, is it? I might have to start covering my shop in it. Some of those guys don’t even try to wash it off, I don’t think.” He started laughing at her question and shook her head. “I’m all for getting your number, but you just looked familiar and I was a little bored. I can leave you alone, if you want, just say the word.” He said, sitting up a bit like he was getting ready to leave.”

Eli’s smile turned into a bit of a smirk at her comment. He loved anyone who was willing to joke with him right off the bat. Of course, he was a friendly person anyway, but anyone who could catch his interest so quickly just got the better side of him. “Well if she does turn up, she’s free to kick my ass out of this seat. I don’t mess with any woman who can hold her liquor.” He sat down, then took another swig of his beer before setting it down on the table. “I’m Eli, by the way. It’s really nice to meet someone not covered in axle grease and smells like, it too.” He said, leaning over and extending his hand to her.