Chapter Text
The Last Sample: A Reylo Costco Lovestory
“Are y’all sure you’re ready for this?” Poe asked, his eyes twinkling with laughter.
“I’ve waited all my life for this moment,” Rey replied, her face alight with anticipation.
“Hold up! Gotta add this to my Instagram story,” Finn leaned into Rey, his iPhone held up above. He tagged the picture with #ReysFirstCostcoTrip and added a shopping cart emoji.
“Now remember,” Rose cautioned, “you don’t have to try every sample Rey. This is your first time, so pace yourself. And for the love of all thing pure and good in this world, stick to the list this time guys! Our budget is limited, and we barely had enough to pay rent after the last Costco trip.”
“Amateurs. It isn't an authentic Costco trip unless y’all left with a belly full of regrets, right Finn?” Poe grinned.
“I accidentally ate a laundry pod one time Poe! Like you’ve never mistaken a Tide pod for a gummy treat,” huffed Finn. “Besides, I’m not the one that blew the drinking budget on the Star Wars Lego set.”
“It was the Millennium Falcon and y’all won’t find that cheaper anywhere else. I stand buy that purchase!”
“Guys.The samples aren’t going to eat themselves. Let’s go already, Scooby Gang!” Rey admonished the group. At this rate, they would spend her first time at Costco outside the doors in the lobby.
She had only moved to Alderaan, Virginia from England a month ago, after her student visa was approved. She lucked out in meeting Rose at student orientation, and they hit it off like butter on popcorn. Rose lived with Finn & Poe in a cozy four bedroom colonial style duplex close to campus, and when they all got along like lifelong friends after one meeting, they offered Rey the fourth room. Ben, a childhood friend of Poe’s, owned the duplex unit next door, although Rey had never actually met him.
“Okay Rey. Stick with me kid,” Poe gestured to his side, “they won’t let you in without a membership.”
Poe flashed the card to the greeter, and they were in.
Rey’s eyes widened at the sight before here. Rows upon rows of plasma televisions, all set to scenes of green vivid forests to display their technicolor prowess. Rey had never seen so much green in her life.
“Out of my way, Finn. You are walking too slow,” Rose grumbled, bashing the cart into his heels. “I haven’t had breakfast yet, and I overheard someone say they were sampling taquitos by the freezer.”
“Patience, grasshopper. This is Rey’s first time. We must ease her into the way of the Costco warrior.”
Rey giggled. “I am rather hungry Finn. And I think I smell hot dogs.”
“Rey honey. That’s for after-shopping eating.” replied Poe with his southern accent. “And at $1.50 for a hot dog and coke, that them there is gourmet eating for us.”
“A feast for kings!” Finn exclaimed.
“The dinner of champions!” Rose added, before her face fell in laughter.
“OK kids. Less talking, more walking,” Rey sped forward.
Somewhere between the boxes of granola bars and the gummy snacks, Rey lost the Scooby Gang. It was her fault. She had stopped to look at a display of three different types of almonds, and the next thing she knew, they were gone.
She figured they would somehow catch up with each other. After all, how big can one store be ?
Making her way slowly, she came across a sample stand of beef jerky.
“Would you like to try a sample?” a petite elderly lady with big goggle glasses asked. “It’s hormone free from a local distributor.”
Rey reached for the paper container, looking at the name tag discreetly. “Thank you, Maz!”
She had never tried beef jerky before. There was a lot of things she never had the chance to eat, Rey thought to herself before pushing the memories away. She chewed slowly, her mouth savoring the salty beef flavor.
“You again. Doesn’t your mama feed you?”
Rey looked up, seeing Maz scold a man. A rather handsome man. He was tall, with dark hair hanging just to his shoulders, kept underneath a ratty baseball hat. He was significant in size, his broad chest outlined beneath a black tight t-shirt underneath a checkered fleece shirt buttoned half-way up. His biceps bulged from beneath the fleece shirt. He wore dark blue denim. His thigh were massive. I could probably wrap my legs around his waist and his thighs alone would hold me up. Her eyes shifted slowly to the center. Clearly his thighs aren’t the only thing that is massive.
Rey blushed at the thought. Her eyes traveled up to his face, his lips plush, his tanned face sprinkled with a few discreet but beautiful moles.
His eyes were a golden brown -- and staring intently into her own with a satisfied smirk.
Bollocks! Rey quickly looked at the display next to her with fake interest, her face flaming with embarrassment at having been caught staring at him like he was a drink of water on a hot day. Her eyes focused to what she was looking at, and she groaned internally at the Depends for Women sale display. Bloody hell!
She swear she heard him laughing before shuffling off. This Costco trip was going swimmingly.
“I’ve seen that look in many different eyes. The longing you seek is in front of you, not behind you.” Maz spoke softly, jolting Rey out of her thoughts. She looked up to see Maz staring intently at her, like some grandma imparting wisdom.
Rey darted away.
Her eyes scanning the crowd, Rey still couldn’t find Poe, Finn, or Rose. Best to stick with the sample areas, Rey thought. She walked to the freezer section, betting that Rose would be somewhere near those taquitos. Scanning all four aisles, she came up empty in her search.
Her eyes narrowed as she spotted the taquitos. There would be nothing wrong with having a bite while she waited. She grabbed a taquito and moved to the side before biting into her generous sample, closing her eyes as they rolled to the back of her head as she let out a little moan of pleasure.
“Taste something you enjoyed?” A deep voice asked.
Her eyes bolted open, landing on the broad chest covered in plaid. She didn’t want to look up, knowing all she was going to see is a handsome smirk. But her traitor of a heart forced her brain to control the eyes upwards -- where she met his handsome smirk.
Damnit!
Rey fled down the aisle, not looking back.
After 5 minutes of hiding in the baking aisle, she peeked around the corner back to the taquito station. No sign of the lumberjack. Still no sign of the sign of the Scooby Gang either.
Rey headed back to the taquito station, for a second sample. She spotted one left on the tray as the server was starting to pack things up.
As she got closer, she saw Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome speeding towards the taquito station.
Oh no he doesn’t! It’s MINE! Rey sprinted, reaching out for the last sample.
He reached for the sample at the same time as Rey. Their hands touched. What felt like an electrical spark shot through their arms. Rey gasped as he froze, his eyes widening as they stared at one another.
“That’s my taquito!” Her hand wrapped around one side of the taquito, his on the other. They began to pull at it.
“I’ve seen you at this sample station already,” he glowered at Rey. “Don’t be greedy.”
“Oi! Greedy? Like you didn’t go to town at the beef jerky station, Paul Bunyan!” Rey’s voice raised a notch, as she glared at the imposing man.
“It’s Ben. My name is Ben. You need to let go. You’re still holding on! Let go!” He yelled.
The taquito split apart, the inside contents spilling onto the floor.
They stared at each other, before Ben’s mouth quirked up, his eyes crinkling with laughter, before a deep laugh escaped his mouth.
Rey burst into laughter, clutching her sides.
“PEANUT! There you are! Thank God!” Finn, Poe, and Rey rushed up. Their eyes narrowed as they took in the scene, noticing a taquito and all its contents scattered on the floor.
“Ben? Rey? What’s going on?” Poe asked.
“Ben here and I fought over a…” Rey paused. “Ben?”
“Yah,” Poe drawled. “Ben Solo. Our neighbor. The guy we pay our rent to. Surely you’ve met him before?”
Rey blushed, looking up at him.
“I don’t believe I’ve met this pretty lady yet,” Ben drawled. “But I sure would like to get to know her better.”
Rey smiled up at him. “I would like to get to know you too. I’m Rey.”
“Jesus Rey. This wasn’t what we meant by an impulse buy.” Rose gently scolded. Everyone laughed.
“While we don’t we call it a day. I have advanced screening tickets to The Last Jedi, if you are interested?” Ben smiled at Rey, his eyes filled with hope.
“Are you asking me on a date?” Rey asked, excitedly.
“I am.”
“Then I accept!”
Rey thought she heard Rose sigh. She caught Poe nudging Finn in the ribs.
“Can I take a picture for my Insta?” Finn asked.
Ben and Rey turned towards Finn. Ben wrapped his arms around her shoulder, and she leaned into him.
“Excellent.” Finn added it to the story, adding the hashtag #ReysFirstCostcoDeal with heart emojis.
“Do you guys want to come over for a beer after we are done shopping?” Ben asked the group.
“Sure thing!” Rey said, as everyone nodded their heads in affirmation. “But can we get a hot dog and coke first?”