Page 60 of Fun and Games

"What about you and Grant?" I asked, turning the tables on her.

Lizzy made a strangled squeaking sound.

"What about us?" she asked.

"You've known each other a long time?" I asked.

"Years," she said. "Even before Sin and Tonic got started, we worked at the old bar together for what seems like forever."

"So you're friends?" I asked.

"Of course we're friends," she repeated.

"Is that all?" I asked.

"Wow, it looks like things are picking up." Lizzy hopped off the bar stool, nearly stumbling in her haste. "Better go take care of the customers. See you!"

With a tight smile, Lizzy hurried away to the other side of the room, her stylish skirt rippling behind her.

I hid an amused smile behind my cocktail glass. Poor girl had it bad.

"Did everyone abandon you?" Mason came up from behind me and put a friendly arm around my shoulder.

"Did you get your work done?" I asked.

"There were a few fires to put out, but now I've got the evening free." Mason parked his butt on Lizzy's vacated seat. "Was the drink okay?"

"It was fantastic," I said.

"We're really lucky Grant stayed on when Connor's brother offered him the job," Mason said. "He could have gotten hired at any bar in the city, but for some reason he was working at that dying pub. Guess we're just lucky he was there."

"Hm." I cast a glance at Grant. He could have gotten hired anywhere, but he stayed working at that dying bar. The same bar where Lizzy worked. Interesting.

I turned my attention back to Mason.

"What do you do when there's no trivia night?" I asked him.

"We have live music on the weekends," he said. "Every so often we'll have a cocktail-making class. Grant likes to teach those."

"No, I mean, what doyoudo?" I asked. "If you're not doing paperwork or putting out fires, what do you do all night?"

"Mostly I do the rounds, helping Lizzy take care of customers, making sure everyone's happy."

"A hands-on manager," I noted. "But you said you have the night free, right? So if you're not working, what do you want to do?"

"I have an idea." A slow smile spread across Mason's face. "How about a drinking game?"

Twenty-Four

"I don't thinkthis is how the game is supposed to be played."

I stared at Mason dubiously as he laid out the row of shots on the table between us.

"It's a fun variation," he said, being careful to pour the rum into each shot glass without spilling a drop. "Be happy I'm not suggesting we playStrip Go Fish."

I snorted a laugh.

"That sounds even sillier thanTruth, Drink or Dare," I said.