“She had a banana and a skinny butterscotch,” the girl noted and asked me, “You like?”
“The banana bread was fantastic and you do good coffee,” I told her.
“I make the bread,” the guy said, “secret’s mayo.”
“What?” I asked.
“I put a tablespoon of mayo in it.”
I blinked at him. “You do?”
“He puts a tablespoon of mayo in everything,” the girl said.
“Not pie,” the guy amended.
“Not pie,” the girl repeated.
“Why do you do that?” I asked.
“Moist Factor Five Hundred, babeeeeeee,” the guy said on a big, goofy grin and I laughed.
“Moist Factor Five Hundred?”
“Yeah, a tablespoon of mayo ups the moist factor by five hundred. You doubt me, make your favorite cake, brownies, whatever, just not pie. A recipe you’ve made for ages. Put in a tablespoon of mayo and wham! You won’t know what hit you. Moist Factor Five Hundred,” he shared.
“He makes his own mayo too,” the girl added.
“Make my own everything,” he agreed. “Homemade… only way to go.”
“Well, considering your banana bread is the best I’ve ever tasted, and I like banana bread so I’ve tried a lot, then you aren’t wrong,” I informed him and his goofy grin nearly split his face. “Though, I won’t be able to try the Mayo Moist Factor Five Hundred because I live at the hotel and don’t have a kitchen but when I get set up, I’ll do it and let you know.”
Both of them stared at me and then the girl asked, “Why do you live at the hotel?”
“I just moved here,” I explained. “Just started waitressing at Bubba’s and haven’t really had time to settle in yet.”
“Come over for dinner,” the guy invited instantly.
“Sorry?” I asked.
“Yeah, tonight,” the girl put in. “Shambala makes unbelievable veggie chili and it’s chili night.”
“Shambala?” I asked and the guy stuck his hand over the counter.
“I’m Shambala,” I shook his hand, he let mine go and the girl stuck her hand over the counter so I took it and Shambala went on. “This is Sunray Goddess but I call her Sunny.”
I shook her hand and said, “Well, um… hi Shambala and Sunny. I’m –”
“Flower Petal,” Sunny cut in and touched her finger to her earlobe and then to her wrist. “All flowery. I like!”
“And call me Shambles, everyone does,” Shambala said.
I laughed softly. “All right Shambles.”
“So… dinner?” Shambles prompted.
“Well, I’m working and getting used to being on my feet all day so I won’t be in any shape to socialize tonight,” I declined but I did it gently because as I did, their faces fell and because they did, I went on. “But I’m off tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow it is!” Shambles exclaimed.
“Tomorrow is Middle Eastern night and that’s way better than chili. Shambala makes all his own everything. Even the hummus and pita,” Sunny told me.
“Sounds great,” I smiled.
“I’ll write down our address and directions. You can come any time after five. We close at five and go straight on home. But we’ll eat around six thirty,” Sunny said while writing.
“And now, you give me the go ahead, I’ll rock your world. Don’t order. I’ll give you the best that we got,” Shambala offered.
“Okay,” I was still smiling, “I’m up for that.”
“Groovintude!” Shambala shouted with excitement and then jumped toward the espresso machine.
“This is awesome,” Sunny declared. “We’re new to this burg too. Everyone thought we were nuts, us, opening a coffee place in a Harley town. But we like it. The mountains are close and we can draw down the sun anytime we like. Just close up, bike out and do it wherever the spirit moves us.” She leaned toward me. “But, you know, we haven’t been exactly embraced by the populace.”
I knew. I definitely knew therefore I nodded.
“They’ll come,” Shambles muttered with both hope and determination in his two words.
“You give out free bites of your banana bread for a couple of days, you’ll be beating them back with a stick,” I told him.
“Hey!” he yelled, his head snapping back to look at me. “Great idea!”
Sunny turned to Shambles. “Why didn’t we think of that?”
“Because half the time we’re stoned?” Shambles asked back.
“Yeah,” Sunny grinned at me, “that sometimes messes with the synapses.”
I laughed and Shambles mumbled, “Mary Jane Enlightenment comes with a price,” so I laughed even more.
Two minutes later I had the directions to their house in my purse, Shambles gave me a skinny, vanilla cinnamon latte and a piece of zucchini bread loaded with pecans. I took a bite then a sip. Then I grinned at him.
“Rock your world?” he asked.
“Consider me a regular,” I answered while paying.
“Right on!” Shambles shouted.
“See you tomorrow morning then,” Sunny said as I headed to the door. “And tomorrow night!” she called.
“Yeah, definitely. Nice to meet you,” I said in farewell.
“Heck yeah, nice to meet you too!” Shambles yelled.