Chapter 32
Chapter
Thirty-Two
Rhaz stepped through the doors of Tequila Mockingbird and realized two things.
First, the place was loud. Apparently, humans considered this a perfectly acceptable amount of noise.
People were talking over the sound of clanking dishes and music coming from somewhere toward the back of the building.
He wasn’t sure where. Anon explained that there was the restaurant side and then the bar, which was separate.
The music seemed to be drifting from black boxes mounted near the ceiling.
Second. Everyone was having a good time. Laughter rose from every corner of the restaurant. He heard glasses clink, and someone near the entrance to the bar cheered loudly enough to make several patrons turn and look.
Rhaz paused just inside the entrance and scanned the room. “There they are,” Betty called from behind him.
She pulled Aaron along and headed in that direction. Jackson and Hana were next to go.
Rhaz followed, his eyes resting on Jessica and Richard, who were already seated. Anon told him on the way that their group was so big, they were seating everyone in a separate room called a “banquet room,” located off the main dining room.
At the long table, Louise sat beside Pearl while Sam occupied the chair opposite them. To Rhaz’s surprise, Kathy, the owner of Kathy’s Country Kitchen, was also in attendance. She sat on the other side of Pearl.
Then Rhaz spotted Phin, and his heart stopped.
The rest of the room with all its chatter, ceased to exist. She wore a fitted blue top beneath the denim jacket he’d purchased for her.
Tiny, embroidered roses climbed one sleeve.
She hadn’t sat yet, and he could see the pair of jeans that completed the outfit, along with simple white tennis shoes.
She walked around the table, smiling and laughing at something Jessica said. What she wore wasn’t elaborate or fancy, yet somehow she looked more beautiful than any noble woman or princess he’d ever met.
His gaze lingered a second too long and Phin glanced up. Their eyes met. A blush colored her cheeks. The sight pleased him and he smiled.
“There he goes.” Anon sounded amused as he came up beside him.
“What?” Rhaz asked, blinking.
Anon leaned toward him. “There goes the man who claims he has no interest in a certain young volunteer firefighter.”
“I never said I was interested.” Rhaz looked at him. “Did I?”
“Mm-hmm,” Anon drawled.
Rhaz ignored him and headed for the table.
“Hello!” Everyone greeted him at once, followed by…
“Rhaz, you’re here!”
“Evening.”
“Hooray!”
“There he is!” That from Aaron.
“About time,” Jessica said.
Phin, on the other hand, smiled shyly. “Hi.”
The simple greeting pleased him more than all the others combined. He suddenly remembered what he was supposed to be doing and turned around. “Basil, are you okay?”
The gnome straightened proudly. “I am perfectly fine,” he said. “Why is it so noisy in here? Who are all these people?”
His eyes widened as he took in the table. “Some of them I don’t recognize. My prince?—”
“Don’t call me that here,” Rhaz hissed. “Now be sure to sit next to me, and whatever you do, don’t serve me.”
“Oh, very well.” Basil tugged on the lapels of his tweed jacket as Rhaz headed straight for Phin and sat next to her. Basil sat on the other side of him.
Caelen had worked his magic and glamoured Basil to look like a distinguished elderly gentleman. He essentially didn’t have to do much other than change his height. Rather than being three feet tall, Basil was now about Phin’s stature, which, of course, was petite by human standards.
Rhaz smiled at Caelen as the introductions began.
Caelen grinned. “Not bad, right?” he said in a low voice.
Rhaz nodded. “It’s astonishing what you can do.”
Caelen merely shrugged and said nothing.
Basil adjusted his jacket. Anon had dressed him. “Admit it. I look magnificent,” Basil declared.
There was still a slight squeak to his voice, but it had deepened considerably with the glamour.
“You look ridiculous,” Jackson muttered under his breath.
Basil sniffed. “I wasn’t speaking to you, hound dog.”
The table went silent before erupting into laughter. Even Rhaz chuckled. This could turn out to be quite the evening. Basil had been instructed to watch his tongue and not call any of them by what they were. He was already getting creative.
A waitress arrived to take drink orders, and moments later baskets of chips appeared, followed by bowls of salsa and guacamole. Anon told Rhaz to be sure to try some when it came.
Rhaz and Basil were familiar with none of it. Anon said he hoped they liked spicy food.
Basil studied the bowls in front of him and pointed to one. “What is this green substance?”
“Guacamole,” Kathy said.
“And what is guacamole?” he asked.
“Mashed avocado.”
Basil frowned. “Why would anyone mash a perfectly good avocado? I have discovered these and am fond of them, but I’ve never mashed them.”
Kathy exchanged a look with Pearl and giggled. “Why don’t you try it?”
Basil arched an eyebrow. “Fine. I will.” He scooped a small amount onto a chip and took a bite.
Everyone watched.
Basil chewed. And chewed some more. Then he reached for another chip.
Kathy laughed. “Aha! You like it.”
He narrowed his eyes at her. “I said no such thing.”
“You got another chip,” she pointed out.
“That proves nothing.” He scooped up more guacamole and, without taking his eyes off her, popped the chip into his mouth.
Everyone laughed again, and Rhaz found himself relaxing for the first time in days.
He didn’t want to think about the Sarian, traps, or searching for monsters. This was a group of friends enjoying a meal together, something he’d never experienced before.
He ate with his family and occasionally with warriors or his generals, but that was always to discuss business, never to relax and have a good time. There was the occasional ball of course, but this was more intimate.
Phin laughed at something Jessica said, the sound drawing his attention.
She looked happy tonight. More relaxed and confident, in a shy sort of way. Every time he glanced her way, he discovered she was already looking at him. Then she’d blush and quickly look away.
He wasn’t entirely sure why that pleased him, but it did. A great deal.
Louise folded her hands atop the table. “Who’s singing first?”
Half the table groaned.
Pearl pointed toward the main dining room. “The sign-up sheet is already open. We checked when we got here, but you have to go to the bar to get on the list.”
“Wonderful,” Sam muttered. “I’ve survived a broken arm, concussions, and a hip replacement. But tonight is how I die.”
“Of embarrassment,” Louise said with a chuckle and slapped the table.
The rest of them burst into laughter, and for the first time since arriving in this strange realm, Rhaz was completely at home.
Rhaz smiled. The evening was unlike anything he had ever experienced, and he was having a good time.
Jessica suddenly sat up straighter. Phin narrowed her eyes at her sister. “Oh no.”
Jessica adopted an innocent expression. “What?”
Phin pointed a finger at her. “I know that look.”
“What look?” Jessica asked.
Phin sank a little lower in her chair and crossed her arms. “The look you get right before you drag me into something.”
Jessica flashed her a wide smile. Without another word, she jumped to her feet and started edging away from the table.
Phin pointed at her again. “Jessica,” she warned.
Jessica ignored her and hurried toward the karaoke host.
Phin covered her face with her hands. “Oh no.”
Richard started to laugh. “I think she’s doing it.”
“Doing what?” Rhaz asked.
Nobody answered. Rhaz was beginning to realize that usually meant trouble.
Sure enough, a few minutes later Jessica returned looking exceedingly pleased with herself.
Phin narrowed her eyes. “What did you do?”
Jessica retook her seat. “Nothing.”
“Jessica,” Phin warned.
“Fine. I signed us up.” She rested her head on Richard’s shoulder, grinning.
Phin groaned as the table erupted into laughter.
Aaron cheered. “I like this. What is it called again?”
Betty laughed. “Karaoke, silly.”
Richard looked delighted and kissed Jessica’s hair. “I’m glad you’re so brave, sweetheart. I don’t know if I want to get up there.”
Jessica lifted her head. “Why not? You have a great voice.”
Rhaz watched as Richard blushed. “Not as good as yours. Besides, I need to sit here and be supportive.”
“Well, when you put it that way.” Jessica smiled and kissed him on the cheek. “It’ll be fun.”
Before Rhaz could ask another question, Louise stood. “Oh, absolutely not.”
Pearl looked up from her drink. “What?”
Louise planted her hands on her hips. “If those girls are going to sing, we might as well help. That way we won’t be the main focus.”
Pearl considered that for a moment, then immediately pushed back her chair. “You’re right. Let’s hurry.”
The two women headed for the karaoke host. Sam closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Oh, for heaven’s sake.”
Louise turned around, grabbed him by the arm, and gave it a yank. “You’re coming too.”
Sam tried to free himself. “Oh no I’m not.”
“Oh yes you are,” Louise shot back. “Now come on, you big sissy.” She pulled him from his chair and dragged him toward the karaoke host.
“I’m not sending either of you Christmas cards this year,” Sam whined.
Kathy laughed as she watched them go. “Okay, I have to know what’s going on.” She scooted her chair back and followed.
Louise spotted her and grinned. “Excellent. You’re in too.”
Kathy laughed. “What am I in?”
“We don’t know yet,” Louise called over her shoulder.
The little group headed off toward the karaoke host. As Rhaz watched them go, he asked, “What just happened?”
“Honestly?” Jackson said dryly. “I have no idea. This is my first time doing this here.” He shrugged. “I’ve never done this where I’m from.”
Anon, who’d been quiet all this time, turned in his chair to see where the others had gone.