Page 70 of Spiced!

“Possibly a finger,” Finn added.

“It was more than a kiss,” Benji said.

“Less than a finger,” Jacks said.

“At least to the knuckle,” Finn said.

“Both of those things are true,” I said in total surrender, then immediately looked at the ceiling because I had not intended to admit anything.

“The vet?” Mark asked after everyone recovered from the sudden admission.

“How does everyone know about the vet?” I asked, exasperated.

“Benji,” Finn said.

“Benji tells everyone everything,” Jacks confirmed with a floppy-headed nod.

“I relay relevant information,” Benji said. “It’s a public service.”

Mark looked at me for another moment with the assessing calm of a man who ran a business and also, underneath that, genuinely cared about the people who ran it with him.

“Good,” he said simply. Then he checked his watch and went back to being a boss. “Jacks, the new tap needs looking at before the crowd comes in.”

“Already on it,” Jacks said.

“Benji, the well inventory from last week is still—”

“Done this morning,” Benji said.

“Adrian.” His expression softened. “Have a good set tonight.”

“Always,” I said.

Orders issued, he turned and went back to the office.

I stood behind the bar, looked at my orange Fanta, and thought about how there were people in the world—the ones who showed up and stayed—who could embarrass you completely and love you genuinely in the same breath, and how that was one of the better things about being alive.

“For the record,” Benji said, appearing at my elbow with his ever-present cocktail napkin, “I’m naming a drink after this.”

“You are not naming a drink after this.”

“The Mofongo Sunrise,” he said. “Or possibly The Vet’s Orders.”

“Benji.”

“The Spiced Catalyst is already taken. I need options.”

“Benji.” My protest came out as more of a plea.

“I’m workshopping,” he said as he went back to his bottles.

I picked up my Fanta, took a long sip, and stood in the bar that was home in the way few places ever were. I let the warmth of it sit in my chest alongside everything else that had recently taken up residence, which was, at the moment, quite a lot.

It was, all things considered, a very good Monday.

Chapter 19

Brendan