Chapter Text
The town of Watkins Glen was bustling like it was every day. For a small town, it had tons of traffic. It didn’t take too long to get through town, though. Jennifer began driving up the east side of Seneca Lake. They passed winery after winery, Jen telling tom about each one they passed.
She drove for about 6 miles with a smile on her face. Tom couldn’t help but smile as he was happy that Jen was happy.
“Well, here it is!” She said as she pulled into a driveway. The large sign on the road said ‘The Grist Iron Brew Co.’.
“Another brewery?” Tom asked.
“Trust me, Tom. If you thought last night was good, this place is like ten times that. This place has a cult following.” She said as she parked.
“Then why don’t you and Amy meet here then? If it’s that much better?” he asked as he got out of the car. Jen chuckled as she got out as well.
“Well, my dear Thomas, this place only popped up a few years ago, and the other brewery has been there forever. And we just can’t part with the old place.” She said as they walked in.
Tom grabbed the door and held it open for Jen making her smile.
“Thank you, Tom. You just can’t help yourself to act like a gentleman, can you?” She chuckled. He shrugged and smiled as he followed her inside.
“Nope!” She smiled and lead him to the large bar that took up most of the room. Luckily it wasn’t too busy yet as it was earlier in the day and they had just opened.
A man behind the bar looked at Jen and smiled.
“Haven’t seen your face in a few weeks. Where have you been?” The man was in his late 30s or early 40s and was almost bald. But the most noticeable thing about him were his bright blue eyes.
“I've been busy, Daniel. Geez, I have a life,” Jen chuckled.
“Sure you do… and you brought a male friend. Are you sick?” He joked. She rolled her eyes and chuckled.
“I'm perfectly fine, thank you very much. This is Tom. Tom, this pain in the ass is Daniel.”
Tom chuckled and smiled, sticking his hand out for Daniel to shake.
“Nice to meet you,” Tom said with an award-winning smile. Daniel smiled and took Tom’s hand, shaking it.
“Nice to meet you too. It's not often Jen here comes here with a male friend.” He chuckled. Jen glared at Daniel with a look that could kill, making him laugh more.
“So what can I get you, Tom? I already know what little Miss. Death glare here wants.” Daniel said with a chuckle. Tom thought for a moment and shook his head.
“Well. I don't know. What would you recommend?”. Daniel had to think for a moment.
“How about you do a sampler? You choose a few of the brews from the list, and then you get a little taste of the ones you chose. Sound good?”
Tom smiled and nodded.
“Yeah, that sounds perfect.” Daniel smiled and nodded.
“Alright then!” He handed Tom a little slip of paper and a small pencil before getting Jennifer's drink. Tom checked off what beers he wanted to try and then gave it back to Daniel when he came over. He smiled and began filling small glasses of each beer Tom picked.
“What are you drinking, Jen?” he asked.
“I’m drinking the Maxximus Brown. Wanna taste?” she asked as she tilted her glass toward him. He shrugged his shoulders.
“Sure. Why not?” He took the glass and took a small sip.
“That's pretty good..” he muttered after a moment, handing her back her glass.
“It's my personal favorite here. But they have tons of others I like.” She said as Daniel came back over. He placed the samples that tom had picked in front of him and smiled.
“Alright, drink up.” He said. Tom nodded his thanks and picked up the first one. He took a sip and was silent for a moment.
“Not a huge fan of that one..” He muttered before taking the next little glass in his hand.
Jen watched Tom as she sipped on her beer. She never thought she would find herself in a bar with a British actor she had always loved and adored. Tom tried the rest of his little samples and decided that he liked The Breakfast Banshee Stout. Daniel got him a glass, and Tom thanked him.
“Oh, Danny can you grab us some cheddar and bacon tater tots?” she asked with an innocent smile.
Daniel frowned and sighed.
“You know I hate that nickname,” he muttered under his breath before he began walking towards the kitchen.
“Coming right up, JENNY!” he shouted before completely disappearing. Jen groaned and then chuckled.
“Jenny?” Tom asked with a puzzled look. It was quite amusing to watch the two interact. He could tell they had known each other for quite a while.
Jennifer chuckled and took a sip of her beer before looking at Tom.
“Let me explain.”
“I was hoping you would,” he said, cutting her off with a smirk.
“Smart ass.” She muttered under her breath before continuing.
“I came in here once with Amy, and we were making references from Forrest Gump, and Daniel got the smart idea to start calling me Jenny.”
The British actor chuckled and took a long sip.
“Sounds like you two have known each other a while.” He observed. Jen shrugged.
“Maybe two years? A little more than that possibly..” The two stood in silence for a few moments, listening to the classic rock playing in the background. Daniel came back not too long after he had disappeared with a bowl of cheese and bacon-covered tater tots. The shredded cheese was dripping down the tater tots making Jen's mouth cry.
“Bon Appetite,” Daniel said as he placed the bowl between Tom and Jen. Jen instantly took a tater tot and threw it into her mouth with a sigh of content.
“These are the best tater tots you will ever have. I guarantee it.” She said to Tom before eating another. Tom watched in amusement and decided to try one. He was pretty hungry from the hike they had taken anyways.
Tom took a cheese and bacon-covered tater tot and popped it into his mouth. His face instantly lit up as he ate it.
“Wow, you weren't kidding. These are fantastic!” he cried out before eating a few more. They both went back and forth between drinking their beer and eating a few tater tots.
Once the tater tots were wiped out, they drank the rest of their beers and relaxed.
“You don't happen to know of a really good place to get some kind of sweet, do you?” Tom asked with a chuckle. Anyone who knew Tom could tell you that he had the biggest sweet tooth on the goddamn planet. She laughed softly and shook her head.
“I might know a few places around.” She smiled.
His face lit up, and he smiled brightly.
“Will you take me to one?” He asked as though he were a small child asking to go to a toy store.
“Of course, but later. I still want to show you a few places before we go in that direction” She chuckled. Daniel watched the two interact and smiled. He had seen her with other guys, but no one managed to make her smile this much.
Daniel made his presence known and looked at the two.
“Can I get you two anything else?” He asked as he leaned against the bar.
“I don't think so, Daniel. How much do I owe ya?” she asked. Tom’s eyes instantly went wide.
“Oh, I don't think so. You are not paying.” He said. Daniel smiled. Every time Jennifer had brought a guy here, she always paid for him, but by the looks of it, Tom was going to have none of that.
“Tom, you paid last night. I’m not letting you pay again.” She said as she took her wallet out. Tom quickly grabbed it and then pulled out his own wallet and pulled out his credit card. He handed it to Daniel, trying to keep Jen from grabbing it.
“Tom! Damn you!” She said as Tom and Daniel laughed at her efforts of trying to grab the hard plastic.
Daniel handed Tom back his card, and he handed her wallet back to her.
“I want to hate you, but I can't because you paid for everything, and that would be rude.” She pouted, making Tom chuckle.
“Well, I know I could never hate you,” He said with a smile as he looked down at her with his bright blue eyes. She looked up at them and could believe how blue they were. Right now, they were almost an icy blue. Not to mention, his words melted her heart.
“Alright, well, I’m guessing you will see us soon, Daniel,” Jen said after a few moments of drooling over the hit Brit in front of her. He smiled and nodded.
“Good to know. It was nice meeting you, Tom. Keep track of her, will you?” He chuckled, shaking Tom's hand again.
“I will, don’t worry. And it was nice meeting you too, Daniel,” he said, shaking his hand back.
“Alright, you two. Stop hitting on each other. Come on, Tommy Boy! We have places to go and not much time to do it!” Jen said, walking out the door.
Tom shook his head with a bright smile.
“She's a handful, but she's a good person. She would do anything for anyone.” Daniel said with a smile.
“I’ve barely spent any time with her and already know that. I’m surprised she’s spending time with me and not her boyfriend or something.” This made Daniel laugh.
“Jennifer having a boyfriend? That will be the day.” Tom looked at him, confused.
“Why do you say that?”
Daniel looked to see if Jen was around and then looked at Tom.
“Just between you and me, she has been married before. Since then, she has been on a few dates and a couple of one-night stands, but she will never get serious with anyone.” Tom looked at him with shock but nodded.
“Good to know.” He nodded but then said, “You didn’t hear that from me, though.”
Tom smiled.
“Don't worry. My lips are sealed.” Daniel smiled and was about to say something else when they both jumped when Jen honked her car horn as if to say, ‘I’m done waiting.’. Tom chuckled.
“Guess I better go. Again it was great to meet you, Daniel,” he said, smiling before leaving the building. He got into the car, and Jen looked over at him.
“Geez make out a little or something?” she chuckled.
Tom buckled up and looked at her.
“Um, no? Not my cup of tea, darling.” he blushed out of embarrassment as she drove out of the parking lot. She got onto the main highway and began driving up the road.
“Where are we going?” He asked as she quickly slowed back down and pulled into a little place.
“This little art store is owned by a literal crazy cat lady. I sell some of my work here, but I like to come in every now and then to make sure she's still a little sane.” she chuckled as she parked.
The building was a literal barn, and cats were roaming around everywhere. Tom’s eyes were wide with shock as he and Jen slowly got out of the car.
“I don't think I've ever met a crazy cat lady before, Jen,” Tom said with a chuckle.
“Her name is Mrs. Hubble. Don't worry. She's really nice… she just has a shit ton of cats.” She smiled.
Jen lead Tom up to the door and walked inside. Instantly they were greeted by a fat orange cat.
“Hey, Cheeto,” Jen said as she passed the cat. The cat seemed to smile at Jen, making Tom look twice. He looked around and saw all kinds of different things. Jewelry, pottery, candles, etc. You name it, this lady sold it.
As they walked through, Tom continued to see more and more cats but no crazy cat lady.
“Maybe all of her cats ate her…” Tom joked, causing Jen to look back at him with shock.
“Tom!” she gasped. He instantly started laughing.
“Who's there?” An older woman's voice called from the back room.
“It's me, Mrs. Hubble!” Jen said before the older lady came out.
Mrs. Hubble came out with a gentle smile and a cat in her arms.
“Well, hello, Jennifer. How good to see you.” She then saw Tom, and her jaw dropped.
“Is that who I think it is?” She asked. Jen looked back at Tom and mouthed, “Oh god…”