Page 40 of The Bartender Special

The Robertson women should be studied, he thought.

Luckily, Jack didn’t have to endure their drug-like sway any longer. Mrs. Robertson and Carol turned the conversation to the festival as a whole, suddenly-chatty Arnesha joining them along with a few pipe ins from Ruby and Felicity.

It was only after a few minutes that Marcus leaned over to talk directly to Jack.

“You know, I'm glad we don't have to suffer this alone,” he said, voice low. “Last year I was trapped backstage with Dewey and his girlfriend before we had to walk out, and I swear that man only talks about the weather. Being in costume made the whole thing even less engaging. I mean, I don’t mind learning some fun facts about nebulous clouds, but there’s just something unsettling about hearing it from a man wearing a see-through lace shirt and a bedazzled eye patch.”

Again, maybe in another lifetime Jack could have laughed and meant it with Golden Boy—everyone did know how Dewey, Arbor Bay’s local meteorologist, had an almost kink-like love for all things weather—but the man was sitting in close proximity to three problems, making himself one by default.

Faking it was the only grace Jack could give at the moment.

“Glad we can suffer together.”

Jack and Benny were keyed into the gossip that followed from the last few festivals after that. They learned that Brenda “Always Bragging” Ballard was still smooching with Levar Thomas long after the kissing booth had been torn down and that Rebecca Callers had drunkenly booed the Arbor Bay Academy’s performance during the Little Fishies in the Bay play. That’s why one of the little fishy’s mothers, Lily, had walloped Rebecca out in the parking lot afterwards.

This led the conversation into a more gossip-heavy side of Arbor Bay life and, funnily enough, away from talk of The One Who Said Nothing.

Benny loosened up, seemed to smile more, and even chatted with one of the servers for a bit.

It wasn't until they'd finished off their food and Jack was eyeing another peach bellini that Felicity decided to talk to him. Which, once again, quieted everyone else.

“You know, I saw the list of businesses participating in the different festival activities this year, but Cassidy's Place wasn't on it.” Her brows pinched together, a familiar face that came before a stern-yet-polite scolding. “I know you don't like stepping out of your comfort zone, but it might be a good idea to try to do something to get some added PR points. I’ve heard the bar hasn’t been that popular lately, what with The Drinking Spot moving in down the road.”

And there it was.

The point of him being there.

The main reason why he, Jack Knox, was sitting with the Robertsons and talking to Felicity at all.

The bar was in trouble and he needed help.

She was right.

But.

Her being right was the problem.

“One day you’re going to realize that devoting yourself only to one place isn’t admirable. It’s dangerous. Dangerous because, if it ever goes away, you’ll just be left there standing all alone and with nothing to show for it.”

Jack flexed his hand beneath the table, glad it was there and not in plain view.

Years ago, he would have responded the way he had then.

Dreams, goals, aspirations.

He didn’t need to be dressed in suits and able to write checks with several zeroes on the end. He didn’t need fame and fortune. He didn’t need promotions and prestige.

Now though, Jack couldn’t help but feel angry.

Because he did need some of that now.

And Felicity knew that.

Jack opened his mouth, not sure at all what he was going to say, when Benny spoke up first.

“Actually, we were hoping to throw a party at the bar.” He reached out and placed his hand on top of the one Jack had relaxed on the tabletop. There was a smile in his voice and one that looked like he knew what he was doing on his face. “Like a kickoff event Friday night, something to help hype up the festival before it starts.”

Felicity’s eyebrow arched high.