“That’s nice of him. I really feel like we owe him more than tequila for this. Maybe we should take him out to dinner or something?”
East grunts in response so I don’t push my luck. I grab the orders from my table and spin my way back out to the main room, running the food out and getting refill orders on beers and drinks.
By the time I stop for a break and look up, I see East sitting with Gramps and Sherry at one of the tables where Gramps is holding court. Sherry and I had managed to convince the folks at the rehab to give him a few hours out of the facility for the event, and I haven’t seen him so excited in ages. He’s still weak and needs a wheelchair to get around, but his speech has improved dramatically and it warms my heart to see him getting to talk to so many people.
I walk over to the table and sit down next to Gramps, rubbing his shoulder and giving him a big grin.
“Your Gramps was just telling me about what it was like when he opened this place.” East smiles at me.
“Oh yeah? He loves telling that story.” I glance over at Sherry who has probably heard it fifty times by now and she smiles at me.
“It’s a good one. Ages like fine wine. Just like your grandmother did,” Gramps grins.
“She was really beautiful. I miss her.”
“Me too, kid.” He looks at me thoughtfully.
I lean my head against his arm and squeeze.
“You having fun tonight, though?”
“Yeah. Few of my guys showed up.” He grins again. “And your guy here is letting me talk some football with him. Told him I’ve seen him play a few times.”
I hadn’t said anything to Gramps about who East is to me, and it feels strange to hear him called “my guy” but I look up at East and he smiles like he approves. My heart squeezes a little in my chest that the two of them are getting along, and East made a point of coming over to talk to him.
“I had to meet the guy who made this place happen. I told him it’s my favorite place to come watch games and relax.”
“He does love the cheese fries, almost as much as you, Gramps.”
“That’s why they’re on the menu. Classic. People think it’s the wings. But it’s the cheese fries that keep ’em comin’.”
We all have a little laugh.
“Okay Gramps, I gotta get back before I’m missed. But I wanted to come say hi. If I don’t get to see you when you leave, I love you. And I’ll come by tomorrow to visit, okay?”
“Sounds good, kid.”
I lean over and give him a quick hug before I hop up again, noticing that Tammy is signaling for me, and one of my tables already looks like they’re in need of refills.
* * *
When we finally close theplace down and get everything in some sort of order, it’s nearly three in the morning. While I probably should be collapsing into a heap on the floor, I have a buzz as we run the final numbers. It blows every other night at the bar completely out of the water. I jump up and down and kiss East on the cheek.
He grins. “Fuck. Pretty damn good. We also had some news folks come by.”
“I know. I did a few quick interviews. The paper, a news station and a local blog. Told them all about the place and Gramps. If we get some free press from this, that will be amazing!”
“We’ll get it. Now we just have to track how this trends. Hopefully it gives you a sustained boost for a while.”
“I hope so.” I let out a little sigh. “You want a drink?”
“Yeah, I think I could use one. This shit is not for the faint-hearted. I don’t know how you do it day in and day out.”
“You get used to it,” I say as I pull a bottle of whiskey out and give us each a generous pour. “But you really pulled this off, you know?” I slide the glass to him.
“I didn’t do that much.” His brow furrows.
“Don’t be modest. You did a lot of it. I was all spun up with Gramps and you picked up all the slack. With the menu, the orders, and running all the numbers. Not to mention all the marketing contacts you pulled out of thin air. I’m gonna have to tell the professor I was a slacker and you deserve the real credit for the grade.” I take a long sip of the whiskey.
