Page 35 of Show Off

“That’s Mason.” She shrugs with affection. “Jake’s brothers have an odd sense of humor.”

Dal looks thoughtful. “I like it.” He sets down his menu. “And I’m sold on the beer.”

Jimmy comes over andoh my God—the smell. It’s back.

It’s definitely him.

“You folks ready for drinks?”

Good lord, my eyes are watering. Whatisthat?

“Um, yes,” I manage, blinking to clear my vision. “I’ll try the blackberry kombucha, please.”

“Good choice.” He scribbles on his notepad. “Cassidy?”

“What the heck? It’s five o’clock somewhere.” She sets down her menu and smiles. “A glass of pinot grigio, please.”

“Coming right up.” He looks at Dal as I struggle for breath. The stench, it’s awful. How did I not notice before? Jimmy’s standing close to my side of the table, so maybe that’s it. “And you, sir?”

Dal grits his teeth, and I know the stink’s getting to him. “What on earth is that s?—”

“Saison!” I shout, cutting him off before he makes us look like assholes. I deliver a kick to Dal’s shin and force a smile. “Didn’t you say you wanted to try a local Saison to go with seafood?”

“Yeah.” He glares and shifts his leg out of my reach. “I’ll have the Shipwreck Saison from Big One’s.”

Jimmy jots the order as a bell dings in the kitchen. “Got it.” He bobs back, taking the stench of death with him. “Bread’s up. I’ll be right back.”

As soon as he’s gone, I glower at Dal. “You’ll embarrass him if you blurt it out like that!”

He glowers right back. “He’ll embarrass himself if we don’t say something.”

Cassidy stifles a cough. “It smells like feet.Rottingfeet.”

“Not an aroma you want in a restaurant.” Dal frowns at me. “You really want to ignore it?”

“Not ignore it.” As bad as it is, that’s not an option. “I just think we should handle the situation moredelicately.”

“How?” He looks to the kitchen, where Jimmy’s piling bread in a basket. “Should we ask him to play twenty questions?”

“No.” I tip my chin up. “Something subtle.”

Cassidy bites her lip. “He’s a really sweet guy. Works two jobs to take care of his grandma with dementia.”

“See?” I glare daggers at Dal. “You can’t just hurt someone’s feelings by telling them they stink.”

“You want a group hug and an intervention?” He coughs. “I don’t think my nostrils could survive the hug.”

“I’ll think of something.” I see Jimmy on his way back, so I gesture at Dal to shut up. “Just give me a chance.”

“Here you go, folks.” Jimmy sets the bread on the table. “Sorry the drinks are taking a while. Bartender got backed up.”

“It’s fine, no worries.” I draw a deep breath and then wish I hadn’t. “Wow, you know what?” I make a show of sniffing my sleeve. “I think I might’ve spilled something on my sweater. There’s a weird odor.”

Cassidy plays along. “What if it’s me?” She pretends to sniff the front of her shirt, and I remember why my mom loves her so much. “It’s definitely something.”

“So strange.” Who says I didn’t get the Judson family acting chops? “I wonder what it is.”

Dal strokes the sleeve of my button-up sweater shirt, sending sparks up my arm. “Cashmere clings to odors.”

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