Page 132 of The Bartender Special

“He really loves this place, doesn't he?”

Felicity was wearing a cute yellow dress that did everything for her tan, perfectly applied makeup, and a nice smile. She nodded toward Jack, and Benny could tell there was some wistfulness there.

That should have made Benny feel some kind of jealousy, he guessed, but he just didn’t. Maybe because he knew she didn’t understand the noise of it all.

It also helped that Jack hadn’t really left Benny alone all night. When he hadn’t been a few feet away at the bar, he’d been laughing with him, dancing with him, and had even kissed him beneath the horror-movie-styled antler chandelier for good measure. During that time, Marcus and Felicity had done more or less the same things, just within their own bubble.

“I think he’s lucky to be so passionate about something,” Benny said, matter-of-factly. “A lot of people go their whole lives looking for that kind of feeling and never get it.”

Felicity nodded slowly.

She excused herself.

Benny had to admit he got a teensy bit worried when the woman headed to the bar, in the direction of his bartender, but then she cut right and went to the bathroom.

Marcus, who had been finishing his conversation with the local mechanic, Dina Morris, took a swig of his beer and turned his attention to Benny. Just like he thought it was okay for Felicity to feel a bit of remorse for her and Jack's failed relationship, Benny knew there would never be a day that he didn't think Marcus Robertson wasn't a pure, genuine, nice guy.

Just not his Guy.

“Hey, can I tell you a secret?” he asked. He attempted a whisper, but it was loud enough to hear easily over the music and chatter around them.

“Sure!”

Marcus scanned the crowd until he found the person he was looking for. He pointed to his twin.

Carol Robertson had been weirdly absent from Benny's personal space since she had arrived.

“My sister tried to overthrow this party by putting together her own party over on Blecker Street.” He shook his head. “But guess what? Everyone she asked already said they were coming here. Even Ruby said she wanted to come to Cassidy’s to see what all the fuss was about.”

Benny took a moment to find Ruby in the crowd. For once she wasn't stuck to Carol's side. It seemed her lips stuck were stuck to the mayor's metaphorical ass instead. They'd been talking since the moment after he'd finished telling Benny and Jack that he couldn't wait for the pageant.

“Wow, that's big,” Benny said.

Marcus laughed and threw his arms out wide.

“That’s what I’m saying, Benny! This party is big! I mean, y'all really just killed it. Really and truly.”

Warmth spread across Benny’s chest and it had nothing to do with the drinks he’d been slinging back since the party had started.

A Robertson had given Cassidy’s Place a stamp of approval.

The Golden Boy of Arbor Bay had endorsed the bar.

Which hopefully meant the rest of Arbor Bay who had shifted loyalty to The Drinking Spot might wake the hell up and help support their own.

Which would make Jack happy.

Which would make him happy.

Because Jack loved Cassidy’s Place.

And Cassidy’s Place was in Arbor Bay.

Not Nashville.

Pretend you live here, just for the night, Benny reminded himself. Pretend this conversation doesn’t have to happen later.

Benny accepted his own advice and was back to smiling when Felicity returned. She immediately had thoughts too, but they weren’t about the festivities around them.