Page 78 of The Bartender Special

“Dangit, Jack. I almost had that one.”

The Robertson twins' eyebrows rose in sync.

“I thought you had a design degree?” Marcus asked.

Jack shrugged.

“She does but it's a bachelor of science, not art. For whatever reason. Something I never really understood.”

Marcus didn't look like he did, either.

The difference segued the conversation into the men wondering aloud about the distinction between the two before Queen Carol decided to bring them back to the game. This time she was looking at the next person in their circle.

Marcus.

Unlike the other two, he wasted no time jumping in.

“I broke my arm trying to get a cat out of a tree. I can read Spanish but not speak it. I flashed Madonna.”

A chorus of laughter broke out.

Jack, Felicity, Carol, and Ruby all said the last choice.

Benny, however, disagreed.

Jack was surprised by the grin that was pulling up the corner of his lips.

“You can read Spanish but not speak it,” he answered, confidence unmistakable.

Marcus grinned right on back.

“Man, I was worried you would remember!”

They burst into laughter together.

Annoyance expanded like a breath of air in Jack’s chest.

The Robertsons might have been rich, but there was no way Golden Boy had given Madonna a peek.

Carol also didn't seem amused.

“You flashed Madonna? I think that's something you’d share with your twin at the very least.”

Marcus nodded to Benny.

“Care to explain?”

Benny's cheeks went a shade darker, but he didn't look away from Marcus as he answered.

“We had a substitute teacher senior year who told our class to call her Madonna. Someone made the joke about the cone bra she wore to a concert and Marcus, Mark Welch, and Trevon Daily decided to try and make cone bras out of paper when she stepped out of the room. When she came back, they jumped up to do a little dance wearing them, but not everyone was crafty enough with the tape.”

He started laughing, so Marcus finished the story.

“The cones fell off before I even stood, so I was just motor-boating the air when she walked back in. Worst part was I could see my reflection in the giant cross she wore around her neck.”

“I’m assuming you got into trouble?” Felicity asked.

Jack weirdly wanted the man to say he had, but Marcus shook his head.