Page 19 of Small Town Swoo
“I’ve heardsomuch about you,” she said. “It’s so nice to finally meet you.”
My brother hardly took his eyes off her, and they sat close on one side of the booth. He also kept an arm around her shoulder, which surprised me.
Ari came rushing over, and from the way Veronica popped up again and embraced her, I could tell they were good friends. When I returned to the table with water for everyone, Ari was explaining the bandage on her hand. “I wasn’t being careful enough with my knife, and I sliced my finger.”
“Did you need stitches?” my nephew Owen asked.
“I did, and Ihateneedles,” she said, wrinkling her nose. “Lucky for me, your uncle Dash stayed and held my hand.”
“Did he?” Veronica glanced back and forth between Ari and me, a peculiar smile on her face that made me wonder what Ari had told her about me. “How sweet.”
“What’s with the apron?” Austin asked me with a grin. “You give up on the whole acting thing?”
“Nope, just helping out,” I said, setting the water glasses down. “Ari was short-staffed today—and injured as well.”
Veronica laughed. “Well, the internet has certainly taken notice—not to mention the entire town of Cherry Tree Harbor. I’ve neverseenthis place so busy on a Sunday night.”
“Dash is definitely good for business,” Ari said with a laugh. “Too bad my parents aren’t here to see it.”
Adelaide tugged on my apron. “Our teacher is sitting over there. Can we introduce you?”
“We want to ask her if we can bring you in for Show and Tell,” added Owen.
I glanced at Ari as the bell above the door rang again, bringing new customers in. “Go ahead,” she said with a grin. “It’s fine. I think you’ll make an excellent specimen for Show and Tell.”
The dinner rush was pretty much over by eight. I poked my head into the office, where Ari sat at the desk, hunched over a binder. “Hey. How’s your hand?”
“It’s okay. You can go now.” She swiveled the chair to face me. “Things are quiet, and my aunt Elena is here to close.”
“Areyouleaving now?”
“I have a few things to do first.” She glanced at paperwork on the desk.
“Then I’ll wait for you.”
She shook her head. “You’ve been here all day, Dash. Go home.”
“I do have to run back and let Fritz out, but then I thought maybe we could grab a beer somewhere.” When she hesitated, I reached out and tugged one of those stray curls. “Come on, Sugar. One beer. I’ll even buy it.”
She laughed, batting my hand away. “Okay, fine. But only because I’m truly enjoying all the photos and videos of you in a Moe’s apron on the internet. Have you seen the slo-mo edit of you walking across the diner carrying the condiments?”
I groaned. “Ketchup will probably reach out tomorrow and ask for a meeting.”
“What’s wrong with ketchup?”
“Nothing. Never mind.” I didn’t want to complain about my career to Ari. She worked her ass off here day after day. She bartended on weekends. She drove a car that groaned with agony every time you tapped the gas pedal. She was great at what she did and always wore a smile, but I wondered if she was happy or if she wanted something more. “I’ll be right back.”
“You know what? Meet me at my house,” she said. “I want to change out of my uniform.”
“Okay.” I started to leave the office and turned around again. “Do you want me to unzip you?”
Her eyes widened. “Huh?”
“Your uniform. Will you be able to unzip it with only one good hand?”
“Oh. Probably not. Do you mind?” Rising to her feet, shepresented me with her back. “Just a few inches should do it.”
I had many thoughts about giving her a few inches—and then some—but I decided to keep them to myself. We were finally friends again, and it felt good.
