Page 85 of Mimosa

“Listen, everyone, give generously, drink responsibly and have a good time. In the back we have a band playing for you guys, and up front, we have the amazing bartenders that have put together some great new tricks for you all! Let’s hear it for Abs!”

Abs climbed onto the bar and blew a kiss to the crowd.

“Gold Rush!”

Goldie stood beside Mims and flexed his big arms, sending men and women alike into swoons.

“Hypnotic!”

Hippy got on stage and did a couple of fast spins before Haze handed him three bottles and he did a quick juggle.

“Cosmo!”

Cosmo got up and lifted his mesh shirt, letting his perfect abs roll.

That made a ton of people catcall, and even more whistle.

“Last and not nearly least, our Mimosa!”

Mims got on the bar and turned around to twerk and there was laughter, applause and whistles from the crowd.

He smiled and blew kisses, and then…they got to work.

Busier than usual, Mims barely had time to breathe. He made the signature drinks for the party and opened what felt like a million bottles of beer.

They did routines and had fun, though, and the Rodriguez parents came at just after ten to join the party. The mother, Anna, hugged Murphy about a hundred times, coming away from the hugs crying. The father, Sammy, was seen shedding a tear or two, but turning around to a wall whenever he did.

When he had a chance right before midnight, Mims ran down to check on Sonny, who was watching the festivities on the computer screen.

“I brought you a drink and a piece of pizza.”

“Thanks. You guys are doing a great thing.”

“It’s mutually beneficial,” he said, unwilling to let Sonny think they were simply heroes. “Plus, well, you are going to benefit.”

“How’s that?”

“Murphy spoke to the Rodriguezs, and they agreed, so Murphy, with my help, well, we’ve been looking for houses with either a mother-in-law house in back or an apartment over the garage, you know, something small and hidden.”

“What? Mims, no!”

“They don’t mind at all. We’re doing them a solid, so they are just giving it back.”

Sonny would feel like shit, Mims knew, but it was the best place to hide him. “Mims…”

“It’s like five blocks away, the house we found. They love it, but Murphy is haggling with the owners. The less money he spends on the house, the more we can put into the furniture and all that. We want to give the four kids the best. They’ve had it rough after the fire. They all had to be separated until Murphy rented them the two connecting rooms at a motel, and still, four kids sharing a room? It wasn’t fun for any of them.”

“Great, for them, but I don’t need all that.”

“You’re not getting all that. You’re getting furniture, food and stuff. A private encrypted phone line too. So, you can keep intouch with me, when I’m not over there, and with your task force.”

Sonny stared at the floor. “You’ll have to keep up the ruse that you and Hippy are together.”

“So?”

“So, if you come see me a lot, and you’re being watched…”

“I’m visiting the family. You can’t see the little house behind the big one. We’ve thought of all that, Sonny.”

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