Page 37 of The Bartender Special

Felicity and Marcus showed up just in time for a distraction.

Which put Jack’s ex in the same vicinity as him for the first time since she’d shit on his heart a year ago.

Feelings, a whole boatload of them, anchored right then and there between him and the land of finger foods and sun hats.

Missy Robertson was the first one to bob.

“Oh, my goodness, are you okay?” She flitted over to Benny, hand going to his back to give the illusion of help.

Benny tapped his chest and nodded, still unable to find his words.

Jack went for his other hand. Benny snaked past Jack’s attempt and grabbed a napkin instead.

Benny didn't meet his gaze.

Jack had a feeling the man wasn’t smiling like he had been before Ruby had opened her mouth.

Which would have made him feel something else.

That before smile had been unexpected.

For a moment, Benny De Carlo had looked almost happy. With their plan, their act, with him.

Who cared that they'd been in their roles for only a night and a morning?

Jack had gotten caught up in that feeling, bellini and all.

He’d been thinking that maybe… Maybe their plan wasn’t all that bad.

But then Ruby Cartwright, who once got drunk and admitted she wanted to be adopted by the Robertsons, had to piss in their Cheerios.

And then Dixon had been right.

Jack should have warned Benny about his ex. Especially since that ex was getting hitched to Benny’s once, and maybe current, true fucking love.

The devil was in the details, and all of that.

The devil outside of the details was quick to pick up on the fact something had gone even more awry than his date choking on tea.

Carol’s monster of a hat tilted a little as she surveyed the scene with a curious smile.

“Well, goodness, what did we miss?”

Ruby opened her mouth, but Jack didn’t like the idea of Benny taking another round. He stood up and held his hand out for Marcus.

“Oh, you know, just some damn good peach bellinis and some sweet tea going down the wrong tube,” he answered Carol. Then he turned to Marcus, bartender delight pulled up and ready. “Thanks for letting us crash your lunch, man.”

Marcus matched his smile as he shook.

The worst thing about Golden Boy Robertson?

He was actually a decent guy. Jack hated to admit that, if he had belonged to any other family, he'd probably be buddies with the man. In all his years of working at Cassidy’s, Jack had never heard a bad thing about him. Not a drunken admission of abuse, neglect, nastiness, or any other bad descriptions. Just a good, solid guy who didn’t litter, didn’t judge, and didn’t mind taking time out of his day to say hello and how are you. He’d even had the odd conversation with Jack throughout the years, even asking after Jack’s uncle when he wasn’t around.

Marcus Robertson was just fine.

But he was a red flag walking just by proxy.

And now that he was marrying Felicity?