Page 32 of Love Potion

“That’s what they say.”

“What about you? Dating anyone?”

He shakes his head. “Nah. Still sowing my oats. I’m only thirty. I’ve got time.”

“Plenty.”

We walk back inside the bar and go our separate ways, him to the bar and me to the kitchen. After I drop off the plate at the dishwasher, I go back to the counter to see if there are any orders that need running, finding a basket of wings for a bar customer.

“I got the bar order,” I call out.

When I exit the bar, Jerryn is talking to a couple sitting at a table. The guy says something and Jerryn laughs while the woman with him smiles and shakes her head. Jerryn says something in reply, then shakes the guy’s hand before turning to come over to the bar.

“What was that about?” I ask, after delivering the wing order.

“What?” Jerryn asks.

“You were laughing with that customer.”

“Oh.” He looks over his shoulder. “He told me that he and his girl were convinced I was her cousin and pissed off I was in town without telling them. I caught them both staring at me. It was weird, so I went over to see if everything was okay. They figured out I wasn’t her cousin and then told me the story.”

“That’s kind of funny.”

“Yeah.”

Florian drops two drinks on the bar top in front of us. “Gin and Tonic and a Moscow Mule for table seven.”

“Got it.” Jerr picks up both drinks. “See you later?”

“You bet.”

I watch him deliver the drinks, thinking about my next move. I have to step it up just a little so he knows it’s different from our normal friendship dynamic. Maybe I could try… As the thought passes through my head, an excited shiver spreads through me. I could try a massage. A nice one. Maybe his neck or his feet. Nothing too sexual—I’m not a creep. Just a little more touch. He asked for one once a while ago, but he hasn’t asked again, so I can offer. Yes, that’s a good plan. While we watch a movie, I’ll offer to get some knots out of his shoulders to show him I’m always thinking about him. That’ll work.

Ridley nudges me with his arm. “How’s it going?”

“So far, so good.”

“He liked dinner?”

“He did. He liked Flor’s drink too.”

Ridley chuckles. “Love Potion. It’s kind of sweet how incredibly clueless he is.”

It’s not sweet. It’s because he’s so insecure that he would never assume I was actually interested in him. I plan to fix that though. “Yeah.”

“I can’t wait until he figures it out.” Ridley does a little shoulder shimmy. “You two are gonna be incredible.”

“I think so too. We already are, it’s just another level up.”

“Exactly.” He pats my shoulder. “I’m so here for this.”

“Glad I can entertain you.”

Ridley laughs. “I guess it is entertaining waiting to see two of my closest friends finally fall completely in love with each other.”

His response warms my chest. “I can’t wait to tell him, but I gotta play the long game. I know him well enough to know that I need to pace myself.”

“You do you, man. I’m just here for the show.”

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