Fifty
B
When Ben asks me to meet him for lunch before we have to be at work, I agree. Because I'm curious and nosy. Not knowing what to expect, I arrive at the pizza joint before him and order an appetizer because I'm starving. I hope he likes fried mozzarella sticks.
After a while, I'm watching the door. I start to think I'm being stood up when he comes rushing in.
"Sorry. I got held up."
"You're here now." I push the basket across the table. "So, why'd you ask me out to lunch?"
He holds up a finger while he chews and wipes his mouth with a napkin. "I want to talk about Rebar."
I tell him he should go to Edward with any concerns seeing as he's the owner, but Ben shakes his head.
"It's nothing bad; I promise."
I nod for him to continue after the server stops by to take our order.
"I think you and I can convince Edward to expand. You saw how great the turnout was for the storm party. I can see the potential if we had more themed nights."
"And I take it you have some ideas?"
A huge smile takes over Ben's face, and he produces a notepad I didn't see him bring in with him. "The luau was a big hit. What about trivia nights?"
I hum thoughtfully. "That could be fun."
"Holidays like Cinco de Mayo and the Fourth of July for instance." He reads off the paper. "Charity events would be cool. There were a lot of people affected by the tornado, breast cancer, and Toys for Tots. Things like that." He trails off, swallows thickly, and avoids looking at me.
"What else, Ben?" I ask and lean across the table in an effort to see his list, but he covers it with his hand.
His face reddens. "Uh, eras. Like an 80's or 90's night ... maybe a …" He clears his throat. "Maybe a pride night."
I sit back in my chair and watch him wage a war within himself. "If you don't mind me asking, who else knows?"
His eyes widen, and he starts backtracking, babbling about how he was just kidding, that it's a bad idea.
I cut him off. "I know, Ben. I saw you your first night at Rebar ... with your friend."
"You did?"
I nod. "Why do you keep it a secret?"
Ben gives a shaky sigh. "I've always known I was ... different growing up. My dad's a pastor, and I was raised to believe that being gay was the ultimate sin."
"You know that's not true, right?"
"I do now."
"But you still hide."
Ben explains that he's afraid to come out. Not only to his family because of his fear of being rejected, but his friends and social media following as well.
He's scared that things will change, and he'll lose everything.
"I thought I was good at hiding it, Bella," he stresses. "I know it hurts Seth that I keep him a secret. I'm madly in love with this incredible man and no one knows. Edward doesn't know, does he?"
I scoff. "Of course not. It's your life and your choice to share when you're ready."
He's quiet, and I think he's about to shut down on me when he looks up. There are tears in his eyes, and my heart breaks for him and his situation.
I reach across the table and take his trembling hand in mine. "Your secret is safe with me, Ben. I won't tell a soul, but you have more support than you think you do."
"Thank you, Bella. You don't know how much that means to me."
Dropping such a heavy topic, we eat our lunch and figure out how to approach Edward with his idea. Ben agrees that we should wait until we close tonight. The worst that can happen is Edward hates the idea and says no. It wouldn't be a big deal. Should he agree, we want a game plan as well as a business plan.
Before we part, Ben tells me that he's going to put together a more professional proposal.
I run a few errands. We're in desperate need of food at home, so my first stop is the grocery store. I load the cart with Edward's favorites, glad that he at least lets me pay for something.
He's so old fashioned sometimes and believes that he should provide for me, but I put my foot down. I'm not his ex-wife, and I want to contribute somehow. We came up with our sort of compromise.
On my way to the check out, I pass by the small floral display, and on a whim, I choose a small bundle of sunflowers for Edward. Guys are rarely on the receiving end of flowers, and I want to make mine smile.
My next stop is the cleaners to pick up the thicker blankets that wouldn't fit in our washer. We're preparing for colder weather, and I want to be ready for the months ahead. Lots of snuggling in front of the fireplace for warmth. Being able to sleep naked, like Edward prefers, without freezing my tits off.
My mind is still reeling after talking with Ben, so I try to distract myself with menial tasks. Like cleaning the downstairs bathroom and throwing together a crock pot meal before I have to get ready for my shift.
As I'm walking out the door to catch my Uber, Edward texts me, asking if I can grab him a sandwich. Evidently, he got distracted by inventory and forgot to eat. My driver is more than happy to stop, and Rebar is relatively quiet when I arrive.
Edward is nowhere to be seen, but Harry and Waylon are sitting in their usual spots. They both look up, smiling wide when they see me.
"Well, if it isn't our favorite tender," Harry greets in his gruff voice.
"Hey, now," Edward calls, popping up from behind the bar with his trusty clipboard and a pencil behind his ear. He grins. "Oh, hey, baby."
I greet the guys, peck him on his lips, and hand him his lunch before heading to the office to drop off my stuff.
Thursdays aren't usually very busy, but it's pretty chaotic by the time Ben gets in for his shift.
It's a bank holiday tomorrow and businesses are going to be closed, so people are starting their weekend early.
Ben pulls me into his side, giving me a tight squeeze, which doesn't go unnoticed by Edward. He gives me a questioning look, but I just shrug and get to work.
Angela and Lauren are in high spirits and share that they signed the paperwork on a fixer upper this week. Edward promises we'll celebrate their good news after we close up tonight.
Aside from a random fight over one of the dartboards, which is resolved without the cops being called, we get through the shift unscathed for the most part. Come tomorrow morning, one of the men in the fight is going to wake up with a hell of a shiner.
Edward makes us all drinks to toast Angela and Lauren and drinks turn into drinks.
We've all got a good buzz going by the time the girls head out. Ben asks us to stay behind and brings out his tablet.
It's obvious he's put a lot of time and energy into the proposal. He created a whole PowerPoint presentation since we parted ways at the restaurant.
Edward is willing to listen to Ben as he explains his idea. I do notice that Pride Night is thrown into the middle of the ventures, and I can understand why.
When he's finished, Edward doesn't speak as he mulls things over, and for a second, I think he might be upset that we met up behind his back. And then he turns to me. "You think this is a good idea?"
I nod. "Rebar is doing so well lately. I think if we shake things up, it would bring in even more business."
Ben and I are both holding our breaths as Edward rubs the scruff on his cheek while he thinks.
When he's finished, he looks up with an excited smile.
"When do we start?"