Page 33 of Green Lights and Obsession
JAY
He leaned back in his seat as Tom watched him. The man had been walking around the room, carefully glancing at him between the others. Jay knew Tom was trying to act like he was the boss around here, but he wasn’t threatened. Even Tom’s parents didn’t hold the power that Jay had grown to have. Daisy’s family was a different story. While Nick wasn’t at his level, the man could be a threat if they weren’t friends.
No, Tom was nothing but a peg to be knocked away. A feather in the wind that was only a little in the way. It was her family that was the bigger issue. Jay’s plan was already in motion. Three people in the room knew there was a plan, two of them knew most of the details. It wasn’t Daisy.
“Why don’t we go out,” Daisy stood from her seat. Interrupting the growing attention. “There’s that new bar in the city that has been in the papers. The bartenders assume what you want based on your aura or spirit.”
“That could be quite entertaining.” Jordan spoke across the table. “I’ve been wanting to check that place out.”
It wasn’t part of the plan, but Jay could improvise. He nodded to Nick.
“It sounds horrid.” Nick shook his head with a laugh. “I’m in!”
Tom scoffed. “You can’t be serious?”
“Come on, Tom.” Nick spoke to him like an old friend. If he didn’t know it was an act, it would have bothered Jay. But Nick has been Jay’s friend for a few years. Since the war when they happened to be in the same squad. At the time, it only took a couple of conversations to discover he was Daisy’s cousin.
“They’re going to get all of our drinks wrong.” Tom shook his head as he walked across the room. “Fine, let’s go to town.”
Daisy stood before Tom could get to her. “We don’t have to. We can stay in.”
“No, you want to go, let’s go.” Tom walked out the door first.
The group of them were steps behind one another as they made their way to the circle driveway where all of their cars waited. Jay started walking toward his own when Tom interrupted him.
“Some car you’ve got there.”
Jay felt the leather of the seats. “I should have left it in the shade.” He glanced further down the driveway at a collection of trees.
“Well, you take mine.” He walked to the driver’s side. “Come on, Daisy.”
“It may not have enough gas,” Jay argued.
“I can stop at a gas station.” Tom shook his head as if it was the simplest thing.
In seconds, it didn’t matter that Tom had requested Daisy to ride with him. Under normal circumstances, it would have been the obvious choice. This situation was far from normal. Daisy had been standing closer to Tom’s car, she practically jumped inside as Jay moved to the driver’s seat.
Meanwhile, Nick and Jordan were getting situated in Jay’s car as Tom slid in to drive it. He mumbled something under his breath. Only the others may have heard before Tom was peeling out of the driveway.
Jay shook his head before he glanced at Daisy next to him. “Trust me.”
She nodded with a swallow as he pulled out. It was halfway to the city when they caught up to them, and only because Tom had pulled over to fill up with gas. As soon as they were passing by Daisy smiled and waved. In a matter of minutes they were traveling in a race only a few were aware of.
Valet drivers quickly greeted the group of them as Jay flashed his card. They made their way to the entrance of the bar, ignoring the line that was sure to be wrapped at least halfway around the building.
“Mr. Gatsby,” the bouncer opened the door for him and the others. Smiling and nodding as they all passed by before blocking the entrance for anyone else.
“Who is this guy?” Tom muttered behind him.
Jay ignored his question as much as he attempted to ignore the man was even here. They took seats at a round high top near the bar. Jay sat between Nick and Daisy, Daisy between him and Tom, Tom between her and Jordan.
“Isn’t this nice?” Jordan laughed before taking a look at the menu on the table. “Oh look, it shows part of their process for taking your order.” She continued rambling off how the bartenders were able to read an individual and know what their drink of choice would be based on a few questions and general mannerisms.
A server passed out glasses of water. “Any hors d'oeuvres? I recommend,” she paused and looked around the group. “The sampler for four and an order of the seafood kabobs.”
“Perfect, let’s go with that.” Jay nodded at the server.
“So they recommend food too? What’s even on the sampler?” Tom shook his head and made a face.
