“Will you give me a chance?” My gaze returned to his face, and I saw the promise and honesty in his expression that I had never seen in Desi’s. Not now, not in 1994, not ever. I gulped, and when I responded, it came out so quiet I was sure he couldn’t hear it, but I wasn’t going to take it back. I was sure of what I wanted. But I knew that, eventually, I had to move forward.
“Yes.”
20
“Ginata is coming in tonight. She’ll be taking her usual booth and wants her usual served all night. Prudence, I want you on her table.”
I stood behind the counter with Landon as we listened to Yorick go through his evening meeting before the shift. Landon knocked his elbow into mine and made a quick silly face, causing me to let out a small giggle. Yorick shot us a look, and I straightened up.
“She’s bringing her men tonight.” His eyes darkened for only a moment before moving on to remind the waitresses that just because a familiar offers themselves, we’re still on the clock and needed to act appropriately. He looked pointedly at Sol, a pretty, dark-haired vampire who came here after her home country made the vampire laws unbearable. Last night she had spent a little too much time indulging in a young man with a red ribbon around his neck.
“Thankfully, we were able to cover your tables, but let’s not put that burden on others, okay, everyone?” Yorick said to everyone.
“I don’t need any more flashbacks. Okay?” Prue smirked.
I watched as Bette, a blonde vampire whose legs were taller than my body, put her arm around Sol and giggled with our newest co-worker about Prue’s comment. Prue had been trampled to death during a fight she self-inserted herself in, at naturally, a bar. Yorick clapped his hands, and everyone separated. The doors were opened to the public, and vampires started trickling in. It only took about five minutes before Landon, and I were hard at work making extravagant cocktails for the elite.
“Two Blood Cosmos and a Bloody Mary plain.” Sol came up and handed me her paper with the order on it.
I grinned. “On it.” And began to prepare her drinks.
“Wow, it only took a week, and you’re faster than I am.” Landon teased from across the bar, where he was filling martini glasses with chilled blood and olives.
“It helps when you don’t stop and flirt every time someone comes up here.” I laughed. He shook his head.
“No, see, it helps quite a bit.”
Just then, he slid the drinks across the counter to a pair of buxom brunettes, and in return, I watched them both slide fifty dollar bills to him. My mouth fell open, and I glared at him.
Touché.
As the night went on, I found myself continuously checking the door. It was almost midnight, and still, no Ginata. I glanced at the booth directly in the center in the back. It sat empty with a small place card that read,“reserved.”
Then, as if I had thought a little too hard about her, the energy in the building shifted. Voices seemed to lower, heads all turned, and then there she was, striding in like the queen she was.
Dressed in a plum-colored cocktail dress, her bright hair shone as it rested all around her. Her smile was stunning as she walked into the room, accompanied by three giant vampire men, all in different colored suits but looking just as regal as her.
“Those were the men Yorick was talking about?” I whispered to Landon, who had appeared by my side.
“Hermen. Leo, Elias, and Cap.”
“Cap?” The entire room paused to watch the foursome walk to their table and take a seat. Ginata sat in the middle, with two blondes on her left side and a raven-haired man on her right.
“Capricorn. He’s the blonde farthest from her. He used to work with me here. He’s her latest. He replaced George.”
“Latest?” I stared at the group, taking them all in, piece by piece. Prue hurried over and began to take their orders. Ginata seemed bored, and the men all rushed to make sure the attention returned to her as the room erupted back into play. Conversations restarted, the music grew louder, and movement continued.
“Yeah, her last boyfriend, George, he was her familiar. He left out of the blue. She likes to keep three men at all times. So she brought Cap in.”
I blinked. Ginata stretched her neck, letting the other blonde bend down and kiss her bare skin. The dark-haired man on the other side rubbed her shoulders, and it hit me then. They were all—together.
“Wow, so is that why Prue does it too? Polyamorous relationships?” I asked aloud. Landon laughed. I frowned. “What? This is all new to me.”
“Apparently. Prue isn’t special. They aren’t the minority. Most relationships in Ginata’s territory are polyamory.”
“Since when?” I shot back, skeptical.
“Since always. Haven’t you noticed?”
