Page 39 of Beyond Friendship

Walking through the doors of Six-Pack, I chuckle to myself as I hear Golden oldies purr through the speakers, casting a relaxed atmosphere. This doesn’t sound anything like the normal playlist in this place. I push open the double doors and enter the key zone. The style and elegance of the gold-and-purple walls draw me in. Vast chandeliers hang from the ceiling as natural light reflects on the enormous glass dome, adding an impressive touch of romance.

“Hey, Amanda.” Darius smiles brightly at me from behind the bar. “Brian should be here any minute. You want something to drink while you wait?”

“Why not? Show me your espresso-making skills, barista-boy.”

I wander over to the bar and take a seat atop one of the barstools.

“Brian mentioned something about you hosting an event here? But he told me to ask you for the details.” He scurries over to the coffee machine, pulling out the cups.

“Did he now?” I say with a chuckle. “Well, I’m holding a launch event for an exclusive lingerie line that I’m going to sell in my store. Think of it like a mini-Victoria’s Secret show, with models strutting all over a catwalk to display the new collection, which will be available in my store afterward.”

He turns and says, “Models in lingerie? Here, on a catwalk?”

“Yup, plenty of them.” I giggle, seeing him contain his smile.

“On behalf of me and every other employee who will be working that day, thank you.”

I laugh out loud. “You’re welcome.”

A melodic chatter from the hall draws my attention and when I pivot, I expect to see Brian. And I do, but I squint when he’s followed by a flock of elderly ladies flitting inside. They’re at least sixty-five if not seventy. Brian ushers the ladies to a lengthy table in the rear while wearing a wide, beaming smile on his handsome face.

“Who are they?” I ask as Darius sets my drink down in front of me.

“LWC,” Darius hums with a smile.

“The what?”

“The Lonely Women’s Club. They come here every Monday morning for a few hours to catch up. Most of them have lost their partners and don’t have any nearby family.”

“That’s sweet. Who—”

“Brian’s concept,” Darius interjects. “He knows one of the ladies well, and when their community center closed, he gave them an invitation to come here once a week, and they accepted and are our exclusive regulars on Monday morning.”

I shift my gaze to Darius and raise an eyebrow. “If he showed his selfless side more, instead of putting his flirtatious club owner persona in the constant spotlight, people would see the real him.”

He grins and bobs his head in agreement. “Yeah, tell him that,” he encourages.

I can’t help but smirk as I watch Brian captivate the crowd with every word. Beneath his charismatic exterior lies a gentle soul passionately devoted to helping others. He radiates compassion for those around him. It’s why everyone loves him so much.

My heart warms recalling when one of Brian’s employees came to him begging for more hours. When Brian found out they needed money for their kid’s cancer treatment, he created a fundraiser, donating fifty cents to one dollar from each drink sold directly to this family and their cause.

“Hey, you wanna help me bring these lovely ladies their tea?” Darius asks with a smirk on his lips.

“Sure.”

I grab the two thermos cans he puts before me and follow him as he carries a tray with cups. I can’t help but be in awe of Brian’s effortless charisma as he moves and talks.

“Good morning, ladies!” Darius says, setting the tray on the table to a chorus of radiant smiles and returned greetings.

“Is that your girlfriend, Darius?” a blond woman beside him queries with a mischievous grin.

“Nah, this is Amanda, Betty. She’s a friend of Brian’s.”

Five sets of eyes drift to me, taking me in from head to toe.

“Whoa, you’re stunning.” One of them swoons.

“Yeah, she’s a real looker,” another one croons.

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