Nico set the limes on the counter. “Probably not.”
Shay sipped her coffee. “That was a very synchronized answer for people I’m not asking about.”
“We’re short limes,” I said.
“That explains the limes.”
“I respect your investigative process.”
“It doesn’t explain the wet.”
“He lost an argument with the ocean.”
Shay glanced at Nico’s gold chain and open shirt. “The ocean has taste.”
“Shay.”
“I’m going to prep mint now,” she said, and walked away with a smile she didn’t deserve.
By ten thirty, Taryn had opened the takeout window for early pickup orders, Mari had threatened a tomato into behaving, and Dusty had arrived wearing a shirt that said SURF THE NOW even though the now was mostly him dropping a stack of napkins.
Nobody knew Nico was a shark.
Everybody knew something had happened.
That was worse in some ways, because restaurant staff could make eye contact feel like a deposition.
I kept moving.
“Mari,” I said, “push roasted peppers, tomato prep, and anything that doesn’t need blender space. I need the board special shifted toward spicy pineapple.”
Mari pointed her knife at the prep list. “Already doing it, but I appreciate the illusion that you’re in charge of my tomatoes.”
“I live for illusion.”
I turned toward the takeout window. “Taryn, charm the beach-volleyball crowd toward anything easy to batch. No blender promises until the second case of limes lands.”
Taryn gave me a thumbs-up. “I’ll make pineapple sound like destiny.”
“Make it sound like fifteen dollars.”
Dusty drifted past with bar towels.
“Dusty,” I said, “restock the service well from the auxiliary chest.”
He saluted with two towels. “The auxiliary chest and I have been preparing for this moment.”
“Prepare faster.”
Nico stayed useful and quiet. He moved cases. He held the storage-room door open when I pointed at it. During the early lunch pop, three drunk men tried to turn the patio line into a philosophical concept. Nico stood near the rail, broad shoulders loose, gold chain catching sunlight, and all three of them remembered how lines worked without hearing one threatening word.
I took a tray of waters past him. “I hate how effective that was.”
“Do you want me to apologize?”
“No. I want you to become less visually persuasive.”
“That may take time.”
