Page 119 of The Bartender Special

Jack capitalized on it.

“Now, since first times are usually the worst, if anyone can beat that story with a more embarrassing first time, I'll clear out your tab and you'll drink for free all next week. And, since we already know Benny's story, we'll make him the judge.” Jack found his guy at the bar, standing between Ethan and Callum.

“If that's okay with you? Not sure how we can beat a first time with someone like Derrick Kennerly on top of us, though.”

A woman named Julie, who’d gone to high school with them, gave a loud second to that.

Benny’s eyes were wide.

Jack worried that Callum was right.

That this would make him revert to the guy who hadn’t jumped into the water yet.

But, to his immense relief, Benny managed an answer.

And his voice didn’t waver once.

“Only if I can take that prize if no one can do better.”

Dewey popped up from his table like a flower in spring.

“Y'all think your stories were embarrassing?” He chuckled and walked toward the microphone. “Just you wait until you hear about why you should never try to make your own scented lube.”

The room was already laughing.

Jack made his way back to the bar. Callum and Ethan stepped aside as he led Benny to a chair Ms. Peggy had pulled out to the middle of the room. Dixon made him one of Cassidy's famous mixed drinks, Jack took a seat next to him, and the room settled in for Dewey's cautionary tale about lube.

Somewhere in the space between Dewey's allergic reaction story and having to call his mom, Benny took Jack's hand.

That’s when it happened.

While the word lube floated through the air around them, a fucking butterfly fluttered in Jack’s stomach.

No.

It wasn’t a butterfly.

It was Benny.

Jack sat up straighter in his chair.

Well, shit.

TWENTY-ONE

The birds were singing.

The sun was shining.

The morning was alive with the sound of freaking music.

At least that's how Benny was feeling.

It didn't matter to him that the chirping birds outside of his window had woken him up at six, the sun was mostly tucked behind a brewing storm cloud, and instead of music there was a marathon of House Hunters on and each couple seemed one more compromise away from a break-up.

Benny was in a good mood.

That was just the truth.