“You got it.” Mark started to walk away, then paused. “Hey, just so you know—Finn knows you’re here.”
I swallowed hard. “Oh?”
“Yeah. He’s been looking over here every thirty seconds since you walked in. Just thought you should know.” Mark grinned, winked, and disappeared into the crowd before I could respond.
Finn knew I was here.
I tried very hard not to smile like an idiot and failed.
The crowd let out a roar as the first puck dropped.
The Lightning scored early, three minutes in. It was a beautiful shot from the slot. People were jumping, shouting, hugging strangers, giving terrible high fives, and spilling alcohol like a drunk priest blessing a crowd of squirming children.
I glanced at the bar.
Finn was grinning and high-fiving someone across the counter. His whole face was lit up with genuine joy.
He didn’t look at me.
Not once.
Not during the first period, when the Lightning scored again.
Not during the second period, when theHurricanes managed to get one back.
Not during the third period, when the Lightning went up 4 to 1 and the crowd started celebrating early.
He was too busy, too focused, too buried in orders and chaos and running a successful bar on a Wednesday night.
Which was fine.
It was good, even.
I was here for the game and the food, not to stare at a bartender I barely knew. I was definitely not there to obsess over whether he’d noticed I was there.
(Even though Mark had just told me he had.)
My Penalty Box arrived, delivered by Jacks with a grin and a “Finn says to let him know what you think.”
Finn did, did he?
That was my inside voice. On the outside, I smiled and said, “Thanks.”
It was possibly the best thing I’d ever eaten. Thearepaswere crispy and soft at the same time, thetostoneswere addictive, theempanadaswere filled with something that tasted like goat cheese smothered in heaven and spices, and the grilled chicken was marinated in something that made me want to cry.
I grabbed my phone and texted Diego a photo.
Me: This is what I’m eating.
Diego: Where are you?
Me: Barbacks.
Diego: AGAIN???
Me: The food is really good.
Diego: The BARTENDER is really hot.
