Page 115 of Moonlight Hearts

Kasey looked out at us from the passthrough.“What did I miss?What’s the joke?”

I waved him off.“Nothing.Just about the mob.When I first… After Soyer and I started dating, after he told people, they came by here to get a look at me.”

Rae nodded.“Ant has confessed that he was there.And that he made you think he was terrible at math.”

Ben groaned.“It’s just that when he heard you were human, he got curious.He certainly meant nothing by it.”

I shook my head.“No, that’s not even what I mean.It’s just that Jenny still worked the shift with me back then, and when Soyer came in, everyone left.And I do meaneveryone.They left money on the tables and ran out of here.Jenny was in the kitchen to drop dishes, and when she came back out, Soyer told her everyone who’d been here had just been killing time before a flash mob.”

“Hmm.We could have a flash mob.Something blue…” Rae narrowed their eyes at me.“Elias mentioned he has to do a redesign for the menu because someone wants to add blue tea.”

I shrugged.“That was just a thought.”

Kasey hummed from his side of the passthrough.“Blue food can be fun.Although, Chef had me make blue pasta once.Never really got that to look right.Pasta isn’t my favorite food to make.”He sighed and went back to what he was cooking.

Rae took my hand.“Can’t I have a nice, holiday-themed drink or two at least?Just for the holidays?Something with gingerbread.Please?”

“I wouldn’t mind a gingerbread latte,” Ben said.

I sighed.“Okay, fine.I’ll bring it up with Dwayne.”

Rae clapped their hands.“Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!”

They walked off to take care of one of their tables.On their way, they high-fived Ben, who gave me an apologetic look.

I huffed and shook my head, but before I could complain about how I’d gotten played, the bells above the door twinkled.I turned.

“Welcome to the Moonlight Diner,” I said to the writer.It was barely after eleven, so he was early.He looked at me for two whole seconds, and unless I was mistaken, he even mumbled a greeting back to me.

His table was free, but he didn’t go there, instead making for the counter.

The excitement was building fast inside of me, but I curbed it, forcing myself not to react and to remain professional.I tried not to be too obvious about watching them either.

The writer didn’t take the chair right next to Ben.He left that one empty and took the next one, smiling shyly at Ben.

“H-hello.”

“Hi there, cutie.”

Ben could pull off a smoldering look, as it turned out.I quickly moved toward the coffee makers to hide my excitement.This was it, then.The writer’s laptop lover and his notebook lover had lost to Ben, which was the best turn of any story ever, at least in my book.

When I chanced another look at them, the writer had gone red in the face.He was getting his laptop out of his bag, but then he frowned, turning to Ben.

“Uh.I have to…uh…it’s easier at the table.”

Ben nodded.“Sure.You keep your eyes on me from over there.”

The writer hurriedly moved his things and himself over to his customary table.Ben’s eyes were a-twinkle, and when the writer was looking at him, he gave him the sweetest little wink.

I was so happy for them, but there was no outlet for that.It would’ve embarrassed the writer, and Ben was technically supposed to be at work right now.I forced myself to keep a straight face and brought the writer his coffee and a menu.

“Do you know what you’re having?”

“Umm…h-he said… B-Ben said the pancakes are going to be good today.”

“He’s right.Candied nuts, ice cream, whipped cream, and caramel sauce, or the berry variation?”

“Uhm…the nuts, please.I like nuts.”