Free Rum & Ginger by Eon de Beaumont

outside of T.C. McFlannigan’s.
    “He said he’s not a big fan of eggs,” Ben replied.
    “Who’s not a big fan of eggs? They’re eggs, for Christ’s sake.”
    “I know. What was I thinking?” Ben rested his chin in his hand. “Last night was so great. And then the sex. I thought everything would go back to normal.”
    “I’m sure he was just worried about what he had to do at work.” Lena lit another cigarette. “It wasn’t like he was trying to hurt your feelings or anything.”
    “I know. I’m being overly sensitive, aren’t I?” Ben asked.
    “Maybe. Be more of a dude and don’t worry about it,” Lena stated. Sometimes Lena could accidentally be extremely insightful.
    “That’s actually pretty good advice.” Ben sat up straighter. “Going out tonight?”
    “I don’t know. Is it a day that ends in y ?” Lena looked at her wrist as if there were a watch there. “Oh, look at that. It is! I guess I am.”
    Ben threw an arm around his friend. “At least I can count on you to never change,” he said, squeezing her shoulders.
    “Come on, let’s get to work,” Lena said with a slap to Ben’s leg.
    “Hey, don’t start being a good employee now.”
    “Never.” Lena laughed lightly as they walked back into the restaurant.
     
     
    T HURSDAYS WERE Wing-A-Ding-Ding Nights at McFlannigan’s, and the dining room was packed. On nights like this, Ben helped his servers by picking up the slack, running drinks and generally making himself available to them. He’d been giving Janine, the hostess, a break, greeting customers and finding tables for them when he saw something that caught his breath.
    Brodie the Bartender approached the hostess podium with a very attractive blond companion. Like Brodie, his companion was heavily pierced and tattooed. The young man had a single streak of blue in his hair. Ben could feel his cheeks flush even as his veins seemed to run with ice. Was it jealousy he was feeling? He opened his mouth but couldn’t find the breath to say anything. He could only manage pasting a vacant grin onto his lips. Years of food service made the expression a reflex.
    “Ben?” Brodie’s smile was completely genuine, if a little surprised. “What’s up?”
    “H-hi. Welcome to T.C. McFlannigan’s Funstaurant. Are you ready for a fun food fest?” Ben winced at his automatic reaction. He shook his head. “Hey, Brodie. Sorry. Autopilot. I’ve been saying it all night.”
    “That’s cool, man. I get it. This is my friend Braden.” Brodie indicated the blond man.
    “Hey.” Braden offered a hand, and Ben shook it.
    “Hey. So can I get you guys a table? Just two?” Ben asked, hoping the answer would be no.
    “Yep,” Brodie responded.
    “Great,” Ben lied, and put on the false smile again. “This way.” He grabbed two menus and showed Brodie and his date to a table near the window in Lena’s section. “Lena will be your server. She’ll be around to get your drink orders. Enjoy, okay?” Ben left them and immediately sought out Lena.
    “What’s up?” Lena asked.
    Ben’s shock must’ve been evident on his face. “He’s here.”
    “Who’s here?”
    “I sat him in your section,” Ben said.
    “Who? Sat who in my section? Ben, take a breath,” Lena instructed him, grasping his bicep.
    “Brodie.” Ben placed his hand on Lena’s.
    “What? Brodie the Bartender?”
    “Yeah. He’s on a date.”
    “Oh,” Lena said, realization dawning on her face. “You’re jealous.”
    “Damn it, Lena. No I’m not.”
    “Then why’d you sit him in my section?”
    “’Cause you kind of know him,” Ben answered. “And so you can listen in, find out if it’s serious?”
    “Jesus, Ben!” Lena whisper-screamed at him. “You want me to spy on him?”
    “What? No.” Ben thought for a second. Had he just lied to her? No. No, he was being absurd. “No. I was just kidding. Never mind. Just go take their drink order.” Lena rushed off clucking her teeth.
     
     
    “Y OU ’