Page 90 of Into The Light

“Welcome,” the young bartender said in his thick island accent when we slid onto the rattan stools. “What can I get for you two?”

Emilia looked to me, but I just shook my head and shrugged my shoulders. “You know better than I do. What are we having?”

She pursed her lips tight and her nose wrinkled while she decided. I loved how her face looked when she was deep in thought.

“We’ll do two rum runners, please,” she said decidedly.

“Two rum runners coming right up,” he said and spun around to go make our drinks.

“Rum runners?” I asked with a raised brow.

“Fruity and delicious. It’s like vacation in a glass. You’ll love it.”

“I’ll take your word for it.”

When the bartender returned, he placed the two colorful drinks in front of us. A piece of pineapple clung to the rim and a small pink umbrella stuck out of the top of the glass.

“Start us a tab please?” she asked him, and he responded with a smile and a nod before moving off to give us our space.

I started to pluck the umbrella out from my drink, but Emilia stopped me with a look.

“Ah ah! You’re my Mark right now. And Mark would never take that umbrella out of his drink. In fact, I’m surprised he doesn’t insist on one in everything he drinks.”

I chuckled and slid the umbrella back into my glass before raising it up to hers. “Cheers. To Mark.”

“To Mark.” She smiled and clinked my glass before taking a long swig.

When I lifted the cocktail to my lips, I was taken aback by the fruity smells. I took a small sip and my eyebrows shot up to my hairline.

“Bad? Good? I can’t tell what’s happening in there,” she asked, circling a finger at my head.

“Do they make this by the gallon?” I smiled and then took a big drink. “It’s the greatest thing I’ve ever tasted.”

“Yay! We’re getting drunk on rum runners!”

“I don’t think I’ve ever been drunk.”

“Really? Not even before you turned?” she whispered, making sure the bartender didn’t hear.

I shook my head and took another sip. “No. We had ale and wine, but I never really drank a lot. It dulls the senses, and I didn’t want to get caught off guard.”

“So, you were always that serious, huh?” she teased.

“Yep. But not tonight. Today I’m Mark and he is never serious.” I held her eyes while I downed the rest of my glass, slamming it back on the bar with a long sigh.

“Holy shit,” she stammered. “I need to catch up.”

I laughed while she slammed her drink and pushed it across the bar clanking it against mine.

“Bartender? Can we have two more?”

“Of course,” he answered.

“Wait!” she shouted before he could turn away. “What’s your name?”

“Jonas.” He smiled.

“Jonas, I’m Emilia and this is Aiden. We almost got eaten by a shark today, so we’re planning on getting wasted if that’s all right with you?”