Page 74 of Moonlight Hearts

“Ugh.”

Ben cleared his throat.“Am I dead?”

“Yes,” Soyer said.

I laughed as I brought the pie back.“Soyer, you Grinch.”

“Oh, come on,” Rae said.

“Oops.”I gave everyone their pie.“I didn’t actually mean to say that.”

Ben looked excited.“I’m Christmas?A concept?”

Kasey patted his shoulder.“My guy, you really tried, but no.My turn!Am I dead?”

Soyer looked at me.“Can I tell him?”

I made sure his coffee was within reach.“Go for it.”

He nodded.“You were murdered, but it was a pretty good cover-up.”

My laughter was noisy in the mostly empty diner.

Soyer had made us close after I’d won that round, after I’d found out I was Cleopatra.He’d parked out front, and the very moment we got in the car, he turned up the heat.

“So none of you considered closing early?”

“No.Work is work.”

It was pretty dark, despite the snow reflecting the light, but I was sure he was rolling his eyes.“Next time, you call me and get permission to close early from your boss.”

“Well, we were bonding.And don’t forget, Rae and Kasey also did marketing.They used Ben.”

“I have no words.”

I leaned over the middle console.“You liked his cider, didn’t you?”

“Hmm.I’ll make some for your Feast-giving.”

“Soyer?”

“Yes, my heart?”

“You’re looking forward to that too, right?At least a little bit?”

“Well, I rented a table.”

“Come on, say it.Say you’re looking forward to hosting our friends for Thanksgiving, and you can have all of my cherry ice cream when we get home.”

He glanced at me, but he was pretty focused on the road.“Blackmail, huh?I didn’t think you’d have that in you.”

I put my hand on his forearm, careful not to get in the way of his driving.“If it’s about you, Soyer, I think I have a lot of things in me.Are you looking forward to next week?”

He took a deep breath.“I’m not dreading it.As far as these things go, for me, that is as good as saying I’m elated.”

I felt warm and fluffy, rewarded.But also giddy, unfortunately for Soyer.“Is that a yes?Yes, you’re looking forward to it?”

He groaned.“Fine.Fine, you win.I’m looking forward to having your friends over next week.”