Page 28 of Common Goal
“Yes, please.” Kyle set everything up on the kitchen island like it was a bar, so Eric filled a bowl with ice and then sat himself at one of the stools on the other side.
“I have a friend who makes incredible fermented juices and sodas,” Kyle said as he cracked open a tall glass bottle full of vibrant, yellow liquid. “Here, smell this.” He held out the bottle and Eric sniffed. It was warm and spicy and familiar.
“Ginger?” He asked.
Kyle nodded. “It’s a fermented ginger and turmeric tonic. Delicious, healthy and the main component of your birthday mocktail.”
“Birthday mocktail?” Eric was touched. He’d planned on drinking soda water tonight.
“I figured you might like fermented juice. You seem, y’know...”
“Like a health nut?”
“Like someone who takes care of himself,” Kyle said with another wink as he measured out a small amount of a syrupy, light brown liquid from a second bottle. It was weird, having bartender Kyle and daytime Kyle blend into this single person in Eric’s kitchen. Eric missed the short sleeves of the tight, white T-shirts that Kyle normally wore at work. He’d be able to see the slight bulge of Kyle’s biceps right now as he shook the cocktail shaker.
Kyle held up a finger and went to Eric’s cupboards, opening doors until he found what he wanted. He came back to the island with a rocks glass, then tossed some ice cubes into it. “I hope you like this. I made a test one for myself earlier today.”
“You didn’t have to go to so much trouble.”
“It’s not trouble. I love inventing cocktails, with or without alcohol. I’m trying to convince my boss, Gus, to introduce an artisanal cocktail menu at the Kingfisher. He’s pretty happy just serving beer and basic bitch mixed drinks, though.”
“What about the Scott Hunter cocktail?”
Kyle smiled as he strained the contents of the shaker into the glass. “That was my creation. I put it on the chalkboard one night and it’s been there ever since. Gus is terrible at marketing, but evenhehad to see the value of promoting the bar’s connection to New York’s favorite gay hockey star.”
“Did Kip know about the cocktail? Before you put it on the board, I mean?”
“I ran it by him. He was pretty thrilled about the idea. He suggested making it with blueberry juice. I think it’s an inside thing with those two.” He slid the glass toward Eric. “Maybe we can call this one the Eric Bennett.”
Eric lifted the glass and admired the cloudy, yellow color of the liquid inside. He took a sip and tasted the sharp bite of the ginger, the warmth of the turmeric, and something sweet that balanced it all out. It was delicious.
“That’s incredible,” Eric said. “Is there something sweet in there, or is that the tonic?”
“It’s a pineapple syrup that I made. You like it?”
Eric took another sip, closing his eyes this time and savoring the perfect blend of flavors. He swallowed and said, “I really do. Thank you.”
Kyle beamed. “I can make a few more with the supplies I brought. I’ll keep you plied with them all night, if you like.”
“You don’t have to. But if one finds its way into my hand, I’ll definitely drink it.” He tilted his head toward the stairs. “There’s a bar downstairs. And a stocked beer fridge.”
Kyle followed him to the stairs. “Why do you have a bar and a beer fridge if you don’t drink?”
“Because all of my friends are hockey players.”
“Except the ones who are art dealers?”
“The non-hockey friends are a small and very separate group. Tonight it’s just hockey and hockey-adjacent, I’m afraid.”
“Is that me? Hockey-adjacent?”
Eric paused at the landing in the middle of the stairs and turned back toward Kyle. “Technically I met you through hockey, but...” He stopped himself because there was no non-intense way to finish that sentence. If he was answering as honestly as possible, the sentence would have ended with something likeI think I might be able to be my whole self with you.
“But?” Kyle asked. His pale blue eyes sparkled under his glasses.
Eric shook his head, trying to appear calm and collected even as his heart rate accelerated. “Nothing. Let’s get you a drink. Do you like barbecue?”
“Only if there’s kale salad.”
