More like magical bioweapon cat.
“If y’all are going to try to make me look like an idiot, the least you can do is try my beer,” Aiden tells us all.
He’s watching me expectantly, so I take the darkest one on the end, then tip it up and chug it.
It’s not the cheap shit I’m used to, not that I drink a lot, but I did go to college in the 2010s.I can definitely chug a beer.
I get halfway through and put it down, though, because everyone is staring at me with slightly horrified expressions of disbelief.
“It’s good,” I say, and it comes out slightly wheezy.
I really don’t want to burp.I have a feeling none of us would like that, especially me.
“You just chugged half a porter.That’s the most alcoholic of all of them.”
“I can’t tell if he’s in love with her or outraged,” Em stage whispers.
“Sorry?”I try.“I don’t know much about beer.It tasted like a… cherry cordial, weirdly enough.”I grab it again, tasting it slower this time.“I like it.”
“You’re supposed to start with the lightest,” Jack tells me, eyes darting between me and Aiden like he’s watching a tennis match.Not that I know anything about tennis.
“Oh.I didn’t know.”
“You can drink them however you like,” Aiden tells me.“Jack is a stickler for rules.”
The rest of them all groan and roll their eyes at that.
“Oh, come on,” Em says, sipping the lightest of the set of beers in front of her.“We all know you’re the most outrageous when it comes to this stuff, Aiden.”
“This stuff is my art, Emma.”Aiden glares at her.
“Oh,” I say again, in a small voice.Shit.I insulted him by chugging the beer.Today is not my day.“This is definitely better than getting lemon Pledge thrown at me.”
“Who the fuck threw Pledge at you?”Aiden asks me, his voice low and furious.
Em and Tara share a look, and I nervously grab the lightest colored glass.“Uh, it was nothing.”
“No, it’s not nothing, if someone came into your store and assaulted you?—”
“Ghosts,” Em says.“She has a ghost problem.”
I cringe, shrugging my shoulders and nodding in agreement.Prudence puts her paws on the tabletop and I really, really hope she doesn’t decide to start talking.
Luckily, she sits back down, giving me a long look before curling up in a little ball on my thighs.I dust a few crumbs off her coat as a gesture of goodwill.
“Oh, is this how it’s going to be tonight?”
“What’s this one?”I tap a nail against the next glass.It’s frosty, and I lick my lips in anticipation.The porter sufficiently loosened me up, and after all the cleaning I did today, a lighter beer does sound incredible.
When I look up, Aiden’s staring at me, something dark in his gaze.
Jack clears his throat.“It’s our take on a Belgian White.Lighter, crisp.Less alcoholic than the porter you tried to slam.”
“That does explain the insta-buzz.”
I sip it thoughtfully, trying to appreciate all the citrus-y flavors.“You know,” I finally say after another gulp.“This would taste really good with one of your spicy kolaches.”
Tara slaps her hand on the table.“Thank you.That’s what I’ve been saying.”
