Page 127 of Spiced!

“I hate that billboard,” Skyler called from the booth without looking up.

“He hates the billboard,” Jacks confirmed, equally without looking up.

“The one currently reorganizing Benji’s bottles without asking,” I continued, “is Tyler Chen. He’s a left wing who actually found Barbacks on social media and brought others here the first time. That’s how Jacks and Skyler met.”

Tyler looked up from the bottles, two of which were now in different positions, and extended a hand to Brendan.

“Call me Ty,” he said. “I assume you’re the vet Adrian’s always talking about?”

“He talks about me?” Brendan asked as he shook Tyler’s hand.

“Oh, yeah,” Tyler said. “And with Adrian, that says a lot.”

“Ty,” I said, a warning note in my voice.

“Jesus, bro, I’m complimenting you both,” Tyler said.

Ignoring Tyler, I moved Brendan along. “And the giant Viking at the end of the bar is Erik Lindqvist. He’s the Lightning’s Swedish defenseman and one of the more, um, unique players you’ll meet. He brought a sign for the anniversary and won’t tell anyone what it says.”

Erik raised a meaty paw in greeting. “Erik,” he said with his usual verbosity.

“Brendan.”

“Good.”

“Yes,” Brendan said. A beat later, he asked, “What does the sign say?”

“It is grand contribution,” Erik said.

“To the occasion?” Brendan said.

“Yes.”

Brendan nodded once, accepting this completely. Erik’s expression shifted, fractionally but visibly, in a direction I thought might be approval. Brendan hadn’t pressed, which I assumed meant Erik respected his desire to reveal his contribution in his own time. He could’ve also simply spoken past his daily word quota. With Erik, it was hard to tell.

“He passes,” Benji whispered, a note of awe threading his words.

“I heard that,” Brendan said.

“You were meant to,” Benji said.

Introductions complete, the commotion resumed around us at full volume, the real madness starting when Tyler announced that he wanted to perform a guest set with me at the anniversary event.

“It’ll be great,” he said. “You’ll do your thing, I’ll come out halfway through, and we’ll do something together. I’m not scared of bumping sausages for the cause. The crowd will go insane.” He paused for effect. “I already bought a Speedo.”

The bar went quiet. Even Jacks and Skyler looked up.

“I’m sorry,” Benji said. “You bought a what?”

“A Speedo,” Tyler said. “To show off my abs. And”—he gestured downward—“my massive hockey stick.”

Jacks put his face in his hands.

Skyler looked at the ceiling.

Benji made a sound that was either a laugh or a cry.

Finn climbed down from his ladder and leaned against the bar, a shit-eating grin now playing at his lips.