Chapter Thirty-Two
Soyer, Valentin, and Simeon were scheduled to leave on Tuesday to avoid the holiday return travel. That meant that on Monday, I had one more day to serve Soyer his cherry pie before he’d be gone. Winter had really settled by then.
We’d seen a good amount of snow, with plows keeping the streets clear. It reminded me that the reader had mentioned a sexy plowman, which made me wonder whether I should’ve gotten the title of the book he’d been reading to make the next few days pass faster.
The diner had been decently busy when I’d come in and had remained so for most of my shift.
It was nothing like the reopening, but there was always something to do.
Lynn and Duncan had dropped by again, and Lynn showed me photos of the cat doorknobs on her new kitchen cabinets.
They’d left shortly after, having gotten a call that had them rushing out in such a hurry that I didn’t even have time to wrap their food to go.
Rae frowned at the door closing behind them. “Ugh, emergencies. Aren’t you glad we don’t get emergencies?”
“Like a coffee emergency?” I tried to look serious.
They nodded. “You mean, like, if we ran out of coffee? Oh, that would be bad. Ben, what would we do if there was a coffee emergency?”
Ben slurped from the cup I’d refilled ten minutes ago. “I don’t know. I don’t work here.”
Rae gasped. “You would let the undercaffeinated mob take us?”
That had me cackling.
Rae turned to look at me, their expression concerned. “Amory, are you okay? That wasn’t even that funny.”
“Or funny at all,” Ben added.
Kasey looked out at us from the passthrough. “What did I miss? What’s the joke?”
I waved him off. “Nothing. Just about the mob. When I first… After Soyer and I started dating, after he told people, they came by here to get a look at me.”
Rae nodded. “Ant has confessed that he was there. And that he made you think he was terrible at math.”
Ben groaned. “It’s just that when he heard you were human, he got curious. He certainly meant nothing by it.”
I shook my head. “No, that’s not even what I mean.
It’s just that Jenny still worked the shift with me back then, and when Soyer came in, everyone left.
And I do mean everyone. They left money on the tables and ran out of here.
Jenny was in the kitchen to drop dishes, and when she came back out, Soyer told her everyone who’d been here had just been killing time before a flash mob. ”
“Hmm. We could have a flash mob. Something blue…” Rae narrowed their eyes at me. “Elias mentioned he has to do a redesign for the menu because someone wants to add blue tea.”
I shrugged. “That was just a thought.”
Kasey hummed from his side of the passthrough. “Blue food can be fun. Although, Chef had me make blue pasta once. Never really got that to look right. Pasta isn’t my favorite food to make.” He sighed and went back to what he was cooking.
Rae took my hand. “Can’t I have a nice, holiday-themed drink or two at least? Just for the holidays? Something with gingerbread. Please?”
“I wouldn’t mind a gingerbread latte,” Ben said.
I sighed. “Okay, fine. I’ll bring it up with Dwayne.”
Rae clapped their hands. “Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!”
They walked off to take care of one of their tables. On their way, they high-fived Ben, who gave me an apologetic look.
I huffed and shook my head, but before I could complain about how I’d gotten played, the bells above the door twinkled. I turned.
“Welcome to the Moonlight Diner,” I said to the writer. It was barely after eleven, so he was early. He looked at me for two whole seconds, and unless I was mistaken, he even mumbled a greeting back to me.
His table was free, but he didn’t go there, instead making for the counter.
The excitement was building fast inside of me, but I curbed it, forcing myself not to react and to remain professional. I tried not to be too obvious about watching them either.
The writer didn’t take the chair right next to Ben. He left that one empty and took the next one, smiling shyly at Ben.
“H-hello.”
“Hi there, cutie.”
Ben could pull off a smoldering look, as it turned out. I quickly moved toward the coffee makers to hide my excitement. This was it, then. The writer’s laptop lover and his notebook lover had lost to Ben, which was the best turn of any story ever, at least in my book.
When I chanced another look at them, the writer had gone red in the face. He was getting his laptop out of his bag, but then he frowned, turning to Ben.
“Uh. I have to…uh…it’s easier at the table.”
Ben nodded. “Sure. You keep your eyes on me from over there.”
The writer hurriedly moved his things and himself over to his customary table. Ben’s eyes were a-twinkle, and when the writer was looking at him, he gave him the sweetest little wink.
I was so happy for them, but there was no outlet for that. It would’ve embarrassed the writer, and Ben was technically supposed to be at work right now. I forced myself to keep a straight face and brought the writer his coffee and a menu.
“Do you know what you’re having?”
“Umm…h-he said… B-Ben said the pancakes are going to be good today.”
“He’s right. Candied nuts, ice cream, whipped cream, and caramel sauce, or the berry variation?”
“Uhm…the nuts, please. I like nuts.”
Ben snorted. I ignored it, ignored whatever was going on between them so I didn’t accidentally ruin it.
“Coming right up!”
I left him the menu, just in case, and while this was Rae’s section, I got lucky and spotted an empty plate. I grabbed that as an excuse to go to the kitchen.
I walked through the swing doors slowly as if this were just a normal day, then let my grin out. I couldn’t really talk because of Ben’s supernatural ears, but he wasn’t going to see my stupid happy face, so it was fine.
Kasey did look at me funny—his snakes never missed much—but I put a finger to my mouth and cleared the dishes away, then pulled out my phone to text Soyer.
The writer!
This again?
He’s early!!!!!
That’s a lot of exclamation points for one person.
He went to the counter. He sat down two chairs away from Ben, and they said hi, then he moved back to his table!!!
Amory, that is not flirting. When I came to meet you, I was flirting. Please tell me you can see the difference.
No! Yes. Maybe. The writer is different. Ben winked at him!
Impressive.
It is. You know nothing. I’m so happy for them!
Then I am happy for them as well. But sitting two chairs over from your intended isn’t flirting, my heart.
You know nothing.
??
Don’t I?
Not about this, you don’t. I have to go write an email about gingerbread lattes. Rae wants to add one to the menu, and they tricked me into telling you and Dwayne it’s a good idea. I’ll go do that now.
Are you threatening me with work? That’s not nice, Amory.
It’s really just a suggestion.
??
And here I was, flirting with you. I think I have a suggestion about that.
I cannot flirt with you. I’m at work.
I hesitated, then sent another text.
But I you.
That I can accept. Go email us, my heart.
I put my phone away.
“Good news, boss?” Kasey asked.
“Yup, all around. Can you make some pancakes with your candied nut filling and the whipped cream on top? Like you did for Rae’s photo op?”
His snakes moved in a happy wave. “Sure thing. Taking a break?”
“No, just sending a quick email. The pancakes are for…for our regular.”
“I’ll get right on that.”
I nodded and hurried off to Dwayne’s office, where I typed out an email and sent it to Dwayne and Soyer. I didn’t expect an answer, because likely as not, Dwayne was asleep. But before I could even turn off the computer, a response popped up.
Go ahead with the menu change. It’s a good suggestion.
Soyer
I gaped at the message. Soyer never really did that; concern himself with the minutiae of running the Moonlight. I pulled my phone back out to text him.
Are you flirting with me now?
Yes.
But is the menu change really okay? Or was that just flirting?
It’s really okay. Would look bad for me if it weren’t. You know I’m a man of my word, Amory.
Right. Thank you. And for the flirting too. It’s nice. I really love you, but I’m still more excited for Ben and the writer right now.
??
I understand. You’re encouraging me to flirt harder.
You don’t need to flirt with me. I’m already yours.
The flirting is to show you that I’d still fight ten dozen other suitors to win your heart again, Amory.
Let me flirt with you. Let me impress you again each day.
I stared at my screen, not sure how to respond. I bit the inside of my cheek.
There is pie waiting for you here. Your favorite.
Cherry?
Yes. That’s your favorite flavor, isn’t it?
It used to be.
Heat washed over my skin. I was missing him, missing my firebird.
Well, if you don’t want the pie anymore…
I want the pie. I like having my dessert. Are you on break?
No. My tables are waiting. I have to bring the writer his pancakes. But I’m waiting for you.
That’s good. I promise I won’t be late. Go, observe that love story unfolding.
That warm, fuzzy feeling settled in my belly, and I put my phone away before powering down the computer and switching off the lights in the office. I didn’t want to miss a single thing about Ben and the writer’s romance.
Soyer walked through the door at midnight on the dot. I looked up from folding napkins, and when our eyes met, it was like the night brightened with phoenix fire.
“Welcome to the Moonlight Diner,” I told him.
“I hear I’ve been expected.”
He went to his table, sat in his usual spot, and just like always, his eyes were on me. I decided to use that attention and subtly point my chin at Ben.
That was enough for my mind reader. Soyer got it and made an exasperated expression before pulling out his phone and texting. I heard Ben’s phone vibrate.
I watched him read the message and then nod at me. “I’ll be moving to the other table.”