Chapter 2 #3
“Don't worry. I'm not about to air your laundry out for anyone.
Patron-bartender confidentiality, and all of that.
If I told half of what I've heard at the bar over the years, then I would be out of a job.” He lowered his voice enough to show his sincerity.
“You having a secret thing for Golden Boy isn't as juicy, or unusual, as you think.
In fact, it's a song I've heard on repeat from others for years.
Internet fame or not, I just don't care that much, to be honest.”
Relief, swift and true, swept across Benny. His shoulders relaxed a fraction.
Jack couldn’t help but wonder what would have happened if he hadn’t agreed.
Had the shorter man been planning on jumping him?
Had they been about to have a David and Goliath situation outside of the bathrooms?
“Okay. Thanks,” Benny said, running a hand across the brim of his blue ball cap.
A different look replaced the momentary relief.
Jack couldn't quite pin down the emotion, but it wasn’t his job or place so he didn’t try to figure it out.
“One less person trying to pressure me to spill the details sure is nice.” He turned enough to look back at his party’s booth.
Jack followed his gaze right to Carol staring holes right back at them from the main room.
Benny whipped back around like he'd been slapped.
“I said— I said I had to ask you about a drink. So, uh, if Carol follows up, it would be amazing if you could not sell me out on that lie.”
The man didn't give Jack a chance to comment before he was smiling and scurrying back to the booth. Carol continued to stare.
He pitied Benny De Carlo.
It didn't matter if he kept his secret or not; Carol was going to eat that man alive.
A sentiment that was shared when Santana the cook appeared beside him after Jack pocketed his phone and returned to his station behind the bar.
“Everyone is trying to get famous by association, but really it should be considered bullying,” she said, shaking her head. “Pretending to be Benny's friend is going to score them points with the internet, but what about poor little Benny?”
“You know him?”
Santana snorted.
“When anything Arbor Bay trends, I take notice.” She shrugged.
“I've met him once, and he was nice. I've had more convos with his brother, Callum, though.
I heard even he's been getting people trying to interview him and had to shut down his social media because of all the attention.” She grabbed the tray she'd just stocked with drinks Dixon had made and shook her head again.
“Here we are racking our brains trying to get more people to take notice of the bar, and that poor guy has everyone knocking down his door with attention he doesn't even want.”
Jack stepped aside as Santana went to deliver the drinks. He glanced over at Benny.
She was right, of course. Cassidy’s Place would have begged for publicity that good, anything to keep it more relevant than The Drinking Spot—
A small shot of adrenaline went through Jack.
Maybe they could ask Benny to promote the bar? Take a picture and post it to get people in through the door?
Sure, Benny might not want the attention, but maybe they could find a way to make it work for him.
Jack turned to his cousin Dixon, about to pitch the idea, when he realized his cousin was already staring.
“What?” he asked.
Like Jack had done with Benny, Dixon lifted a single hand, palm out.
In his other hand was his phone. Jack could make out a social media icon in the top corner.
“I was wondering why Carol and Ruby were here today and decided to do a quick stalk of their socials,” he started.
“Turns out Golden Boy announced his engagement.” Dixon's expression turned to straight sympathy but what he said next had a clear warning in every word.
“Now, just remember, this bar might be owned by my dad, but that doesn't mean you won't get canned if you go start a fight with a customer. Owner’s nephew or not.”
“What? Why would I start a fight?”
Dixon slowly angled the phone to face him.
It took Jack longer than it should have to understand what he was reading.
“No way,” he breathed. “No fucking way.”
Dixon shrugged.
“You did say Felicity had a thing for fancier living.” He motioned with his head over to the booth in the corner. “Marcus Robertson is the fanciest thing we have in Arbor Bay.”
Jack didn't know what to say.
He didn't know what to feel.
Anger? Disbelief? Jealousy?
Fuck it.
He threw down his dishrag and rode the adrenaline that had already entered his system to the booth at the center of the day’s dramas.
Carol saw Jack coming first, Benny second. The latter jumped up like he was ready to slap a hand over his mouth again.
But Jack was a man with half an idea and a whole lot of feelings he refused to address.
He wasn’t even sure what he planned to do next but, he decided in that moment, whatever he did, he would do it big.
Whether it was a good big or a big disaster, only time would tell.
Even before he could finish baking his idea, Jack went all in.
In front of both Robertson twins, the rest of Cassidy's Place, and God, Jack took Benny De Carlo's face in his hands and kissed him for every dime and penny he was worth.