Page 20 of Midsummer Phoenixes
He hung up, and I unlocked the restroom door—and found myself face to face with Rae.
“Hi,” they said.
“Ugh.”
They waved a hand, silencing me. “Dwayne asked where you were. He got a fidgety look as if he wanted to send search and rescue, so I said I’d check on you.”
“Erm, you could have knocked. I was just...in there. And then Soyer called.”
Rae rolled their eyes. “Please don’t explain. Those two at the counter talking about fancy kitchen sinks are asking for Pride brownies to go, and I’m not sure what to tell them. I let them know I’m new and not yet entitled to make brownie decisions.”
I nodded. “I’ll take care of it.”
CHAPTER FIVE
I packed Lynn and Duncan four brownies. I figured they were going out to heal more people, and a few extra brownies really were the least I could do, both as thanks for them helping me and to show appreciation for their efforts in helping others.
By around eleven, the door jingled, and after greeting the newcomer, I cocked my head. It was one of the triplets again, although he had changed, now wearing scrubs, sneakers, and a jean jacket. He slid into a seat at the counter, in my section.
“Welcome again,” I said, placing a menu in front of him. “Back for seconds so soon?”
He shrugged. “We get hungry. It was a long shift. You know what it’s like, spending hours on your feet.”
“Oh, so you were just on break earlier,” I said. The extra food had probably been for his colleagues back at whichever hospital he worked at.
“You could say that. I’d like a grilled cheese with tomato soup and a side salad with extra tomatoes, please. And a strawberry milkshake.”
I nodded. “All the best comfort food.”
He sighed, nodded.
I didn’t want to bother a doctor or nurse with conversation they might not need after a long day, grabbed the menu, and passed the order on to Dwayne.
The door twinkled yet again.
The writer came in. It was early for him, not yet midnight. He looked around, saw me, quickly looked away when we made eye contact.
“Welcome to the Moonlight Diner,” I said.
He nodded and headed for his table. Luckily, it was free even though we still were fuller than usual.
I caught Rae on their way to the kitchen, plates in hand.
“That guy who just came in is the regular I mentioned. The one I usually take care off.”
They glanced back over their shoulder. “Table seventeen? Sure, all yours.” They took one more step. “Do you think we should put on some music?” Their puppy dog eyes weren’t nearly as good as Elias’s, but they were definitely trying.
Ben chuckled.
“You go ahead and ask Dwayne.”
“And that from the man who gave the vampire cherry syrup.”
They walked off, but that definitely confirmed that they were here because, well. Because they knew vampires were a thing. And knew Elias was one.
I had no time to think about it further. Ben cleared his throat and leaned back.
“Yes?”
