“We will. Later. After I prove I’m worth it.” He was already back to making drinks when he glanced back over his shoulder with a wolfish grin. “I’msoworth it.”
Mark was laughing so hard he had to lean against the bar.
“What did we just do?” I asked.
“Hired chaos incarnate.”
“He’s going to drive me insane.”
“Probably, but he’s also going to make you so much money you won’t care.” Mark clapped me on the shoulder. “Congratulations, you have a bartender. Now, go text your lawyer boyfriend and nail down that date.”
I pulled out my phone, but motion pulled my gaze upright. I looked up at Benji, who was making six drinks at once while somehow also taking a selfie with a customer and explaining why the Lightning were going to win the Stanley Cup this year.
“Hey Finn!” Benji called from the bar. “Where do you keep the edible glitter? Every gay bar needs edible glitter. It’s not optional.”
“Um, we don’t have edible glitter. I’ve never even heard of—”
“We do now! I’m ordering some. Consider it an investment in sparkle.”
Mark was laughing again.
I moaned.
But the crowd around the bar cheered and chanted, “Glit-ter! Glit-ter! Glit-ter!”
Chapter 23
Chase
Saturday started the way every Saturday started—with me at my desk at Morrison & Morrison by 8 a.m., a cup of coffee that had gone cold an hour earlier, and a stack of files that seemed to reproduce when I wasn’t looking.
We had another mediation Monday. I needed to review the settlement proposal, prepare talking points, anticipate counterarguments. It was all standard Saturday work.
By eleven, I’d made it through two files and three more cups of coffee.
By noon, my phone was ringing.
Diego.
I considered ignoring it. I had work to do.
But I knew Diego would just keep calling. Eventually he’d show up at my office, and that would be much worse.
I answered. “I’m working.”
“You’realwaysworking. That’s the problem.” Diego’s voice was slightly breathless, like he was already at the gym. “Get here. Now. Don’t make me come get you.”
“I have a mediation Monday—”
“And you’ll still have it after you work out for one hour. It’s one hour, Chase. I’m not asking for your whole day. I can’t let my bestie turn flabby. It wouldn’t be a good look for me.”
“For you—?”
“Yeah, walking through town with you looking all sloppy and out of shape? What would people think of me? I have a rep to consider.”
I chuckled. “You’re impossible.”
“Whatever. I’m already here, already on a treadmill with an empty one beside me. If you’re not here in thirty minutes, I’m coming to get you, and I will carry you out of that office.”
