Page 107 of The Barkeep and the Bro

“Couldn’t you bring it then?”

Russ nodded for us to follow him. He walked into the kitchen. When we joined him, Cal immediately gasped.

In the center of the tiled kitchen floor was one ring-sized box.

I turned to Leo in shock, but he already had his phone out filming. Did he know about this?

Russ gingerly waltzed to the box. He got on one knee to pick it up. He opened the box, presenting a silver band.

“Holy fucking shitballs,” Cal said.

Russ squirmed at the profanity, but the sweetness in his eyes never left. “Cal Hogan, against all odds, I love you. You’re opinionated, and you don’t know how to use a vacuum properly. And I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?”

Cal held up a finger. “Y’know, mess is a sign of genius.”

“Cal,” I grumbled, emotion clogging my throat.

“Yes! I will absolutely marry you.” Cal ran over and sat on his knee. Russ slid the ring onto his finger.

Their kiss was soft but powerful, and despite my sore back, I was grateful I got to be here for this moment.

* * *

A few weeks later,the entire Single Dads Club met up at Stone’s Throw to premiere the first short film of Leo’s daughter, Lucy. The stage had a projection screen set up, and Natasha had put out fake Oscar centerpieces she found online. Soon, friends and interested locals would be showing up to watch the film. Lucy had convinced all of us to take small parts.

Leo’s son, Ari, played life-sized Jenga with Josh and Quentin. Russ and Cal watched from the sidelines while being their own brand of schmoopy. Lucy, looking chic in a rolled-up blazer and jeans, worked with Natasha to do checks on the sound and picture quality.

The Single Dads Club had expanded. Our little found family kept growing. More kids, more significant others.

And by the bar, Charlie chatted with Leo and Dusty. The new bartender, Allison, refilled their drinks. He kept glancing over and giving me secret smiles, which tickled my soul like butterfly kisses. Damn, being in love had made me all sappy. Good thing I still had my fearsome beard.

I sidled over and joined the conversation, wrapping my arm around my boyfriend—and assistant manager—for the whole world to see.

“What are we talking about?” I asked.

“Our acting debut,” Leo said with a full cringe.

Dusty ribbed him in the side. “We’re all going to be great. Leo, since when are you scared of getting people’s attention?”

“Since I had to perform a speech I didn’t write or approve.”

“Your poor ego,” Dusty shot back.

“I can’t believe my daughter roped me into doing this. I’m going to look like such an idiot.” Leo palmed his face. “You know when politicians are running for election, and there’s this video dug up from their past that completely derails their campaign?”

“Kind of like how a leaked Milkman profile almost derailed your mayoral re-election?” Dusty studied his boyfriend with a knowing grin.

“Touché.” Leo narrowed his eyes at his best friend turned boyfriend.

“This can only have positive ramifications. People will love that you agreed to act in your daughter’s film. And if you’re bad, it’ll be in an embarrassing-dad kind of way. Not the wearing-blackface-at-a-college-party way.”

“Have I told you how sexy you are when you talk political strategy?” Leo growled.

“Many times.” Dusty flashed him a smile filled with promises of foreplay.

“We have a rule at Stone’s Throw,” Charlie said. “No public sex.”

“What do people do at Musical Mondays then?” Dusty asked.

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