Page 105 of Notes About Vodka

It’s heartwarming, hearing his coworkers talk about him like this.

I think…

Skipper raises an eyebrow, smirking. “Guess we have to share him, huh?”

Val laughs, shaking his head. “Only while I’m clocked in. Outside of that, Laura is the only one to have exclusive rights.” He gives me a smile, and I can’t help but feel a swell of pride.

I try to laugh as I reply, “Yeah, yeah, yeah, now feed me, your woman is hungry.”

Skipper and I both order steak, with mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus. Val surprises us with two shots of vodka, winking before setting down a warm crab dip that smells divine. Throughout the evening, he brings a few extra treats—like chocolate torte with raspberry sauce, and a White Russian for me, an adult milkshake for Skipper.

As Val leans in to pluck the cherry from my drink, Jacob, his boss, strides over with a wide grin and a hearty handshake, clapping Val on the back. He’s a broad-shouldered guy with a salt-and-pepper beard, the kind of person whose laugh fills the whole room. He glances at Skipper and me, then nods approvingly.

“So, you’re the famous Laura,” Jacob says with a wink, “and I guess you must be Skipper, I assume. It’s about time I met Val’s inner circle! This man talks about you two all the time. I’m Jacob, owner, manager, unofficial therapist, and guy who keeps Val out of trouble.”

“Doesn’t look like you’re keeping him out of trouble verywell,” Skipper says with a grin, nodding at the second round of vodka shots Val just brought us.

“Touché,” Jacob chuckles. “That’s probably true, but he’s too charming to fire, so what can I do?” He waves his hand, half-joking. “The customers love him, the staff practically worships him, and—believe me—I’m just waiting for the day he tries to negotiate for a cut of the profits.”

Val laughs, giving Jacob a playful shove.

“I was gonna ask about that, actually,” he says, playing along. “The way I see it, with my charm, you’re practically doubling your customer base.”

“Dream on, pal,” Jacob retorts, chuckling, “but keep the charm coming. We’re cashing in on it.”

I laugh, and Skipper joins in, clinking his glass against mine. “Well, if he does get a cut, I better get a free drink out of it every time I’m here. I’ll consider it an investment in his charm business.”

“Done,” Val says, winking at Skipper. “You’ll get all the...slightly expired mixers you can handle.”

“Careful what you offer, Val,” Jacob interjects.

“This one might just hold you to it.” He turns to me, lowering his voice like he’s about to tell me a secret. “Laura, you wouldn’t believe the fan club this guy has. He’s got regulars who bring him cookies. Had a lady try to get him to sign her arm last week. The man’s got charisma, and we’re all just lucky to bask in it.”

“Oh, I know,” I say, my cheeks warming. “He’s a charmer, alright. But it’s the blini he makes for breakfast that’s really sealed the deal for me.”

Skipper laughs, nudging me. “I thought it was the vodka, should have known you were in it for the blini.”

Val throws his hands up in defeat, grinning. “And here I thought it was my dazzling personality.”

“Definitely the blini.” Jacob nods, laughing along. “Laura, you’re welcome to come by any time and keep this guy in line. He’s even harder to wrangle than our crab dip orders on half-price night. But hey,” Jacob adds, looking at me with a sincere smile, “it’s good to see Val with someone who appreciates him. This guy deserves it.”

Warmth spreads through me, and I squeeze Val’s hand that he placed on my shoulder. “Trust me, I’m the lucky one here.”

“Alright, lovebirds,” Jacob says, standing up with a grin. “I’ll let you get back to your night before we turn this into a rom-com and start losing customers. Great to meet you both.”

As Jacob heads back to the bar, I watch Val with a new sense of pride.

After a while, I excuse myself to the restroom. On my way, Val pulls me aside and out the back door, where he wraps his arms around me, kissing me like it’s been years, and my heart just melts. Everything feels perfect, and for those few seconds, I forget the months apart and the weight of all that’s waiting.

“I’ll be done in ten,” he promises, pulling back with that familiar, mischievous grin. “Wait for me so we can ride home together.”

I nod, returning to our table with a smile I can’t hide. But ten minutes come and go, then twenty, then thirty and Val’s nowhere to be seen. I ask Dot if he’s seen him, but he hasn’t, and a slight worry starts to build.

When Val finally does reappear, he’s back behind the bar, fully engrossed in his work, barely glancing in our direction. I feel a twinge of disappointment, but I tell myself it’s just a busy night, that I can catch up with him at home.

Then, Amelia comes by and lets us know that the bill’s covered—Val insisted on treating us. It’s a sweet gesture, but it catches me off guard. Part of me is grateful, and yet, I can’t help wondering why it feels like we’re just...avoiding each other.

Just as I’m gathering my things to thank him, my phone vibrates, and I see the name:

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