I roll my eyes. He acts like we haven’t experienced Seth’s magic a few times already. They invite us over at least once a month.
We eat in silence for a few minutes, surrounded by the warm breeze and fine mist. My muscles throb, and the thought of unloading the freight tomorrow makes it worse. But the hot food lifts my mood, or it tries to, anyway. The darkness still lingers. It always does.
“Hey, has anyone heard from Mel?” Declan asks, taking a bite of macaroni salad.
Piper gives him a look. “Yes, and everything’s running smooth. No reason to worry.”
Declan doesn’t reply.
Seth nudges him. “Relax, babe. The bar is in good hands.”
“I’m just not used to having so much time off.”
Piper snorts. “Preach!” We all laugh, then she adds, “I still think you did the right thing, though. Promoting Mel.”
Declan lifts his gaze. “Yeah?”
“Definitely.”
“Oh, I agree,” I say. “She’s been amazing.”
Declan offered Melody the full-time position after another full-time employee was let go. Denny cost the bar thousands of dollars last fall when he failed to limit his customers’ alcohol intake. They’d drunkenly climbed the sound system and caused severe damage to the stage. It took months to get everything fully up and running again, and we lost revenue.
Melody was happy to have more hours, and even happier to be part of the crew. Within three months, Declan promoted her to front-end manager—a position he always wanted for me, but I had no interest in. All that paperwork? No thanks. She’s much better at the job, and she enjoys it.
“How’s Oliver doing?” Seth asks, referring to one of the new hires.
“Great. I really like the guy,” Piper says.
“I like him too. He’s great behind the bar and wicked fast. Plus, he brings in more tips than anyone with that sassy smile.”
Seth grins. “Good. Myka keeps asking about him.”
“Send her our thanks.”
Seth met Oliver through his boss, Myka, and encouraged him to apply. He’s the fifth new hire in two months. Just another sign of how much our small bar has grown. It’s amazing to finally have a full crew.
Before taking another bite, I say, “Graham would be proud of what you’ve done to the place, D. I hope you know that.”
Declan pauses at the unexpected praise. “Thanks, man.”
He had taken advantage of the forced remodel to make Graham’s Bar his own, but it hadn’t been without guilt. He wanted to keep the bar true to Graham’s dream, and I can still see his late partner in it—in the line of collectible steins above the bar and the framed paintings Declan brought in from his house after we’d painted over the murals. All those small things still nod at the former owner, but with the updated seating and modern colors, plus the music decor and neon lights, it feels much more like home to all of us. It suites our style.
It fits our customers better too, apparently. Business is booming.
“Hey, what are we doing for family day? Do you know yet?”
I freeze as all eyes turn toward me.Shit.
Since closing the bar on Mondays, Declan and Piper have declared the last Monday of the month to be “Family Day,” a day for the four of us to do something together. I initially hated the idea, since we spend all of our time together at work anyway. But deep down, it meant everything to me to be included in that.
Declan smirks. “You forgot, didn’t you?”
“No.” A total lie.
Piper laughs. “Whatever. You totally forgot.”
I duck my face. It’s not the first time I’ve forgotten.
