Page 131 of Stone Temptation

The tower might have some books on the subject. I should’ve brought my own when we left London, explored the subject deeper as soon as I’d marked Luke.

“Nothing,” I answered. “Bit anxious. Which is bollocks coming from me.”

“What—”

“You’re the one with the premonitions, the rest of it. My anxieties mean piss all compared to yours.”

He stopped shaking. “Don’t do that. Don’t dismiss your feelings.”

Don’t be so sweet!

“It’s cool.”

“You can talk to me.” His face flushed crimson.

“Thanks. Don’t worry.”

“Want to go for a walk?”

“I’d rather try this drink.”

He poured the red liquid into martini glasses without another word.

Keep the subject on the booze. “Cosmopolitan, right?”

He nodded, picking his up. “Hope you like it.”

“Cheers to the first sip.”

“Cheers.”

We clinked glasses and took our sips.

My tastebuds burst into an opera of pure bliss. “This is amazing!”

“Glad you like it.”

I took a bigger sip. “I love it, Luke. I could get steaming on these.”

He smiled around the rim of his glass.

Every flavor made itself know in the blend of sweetness, a hint of bitterness. It really was the best cocktail I’d ever tasted.

“You have a gift, dude.”

Putting his glass down, he leaned on the bar. “Finn called me the emperor of mixology.”

“Because you are.”

“Thanks.”

“Do you have a signature cocktail?”

“A salted caramel martini. For the dream bar. Not a new invention or anything, but it combined Finn’s love of chocolate and salted caramel along with the perfect blending of vodka, rum, and Irish cream. It blew Finn’s mind. Said it would be our springboard to success on opening night.” His pretty blue eyes glimmered with tears. “Sorry.” He dipped his head. “Sorry.”

I reached across the bar, taking his hand. “I wish I could kick your grief’s ass as hard as I did Seth’s.”

He sniffled around a laugh, catching his falling tears with his other hand. Some managed to splash on the gray bar, tiny puddles of sadness breaking my heart.

---