I make my rounds and drop off drinks. I’ve just wiped off an empty table when two more men sit down at it.

“Hey, guys, what can I get for you?”

“Just a couple of beers,” one of them says. When I glance up, I recognize him right away, but I just smile, take the order, and then walk back to the bar. “Keegan?”

“Yes, love?”

“Aren’t those two guys at that table the ones you tossed out of here last night?”

His green eyes narrow as he scans the bar. “They are. I’ll tell them to leave.”

“Well, they’re polite for now. I’ll keep an eye on them. Maybe last night was just a bad one.”

Keegan presses his lips together. “If they say or do even one thing that makes you uncomfortable, you come tell me, and I’ll get them out of here.”

“I can do that.”

I go about the business of delivering food and drinks and talking with the patrons. The evening goes well, and even the two horrible patrons from last night are polite and friendly.

“Hey, we’re sorry about last night,” the blond one says. “We were just a little too drunk.”

“Yeah,” the dark-haired one adds. “We didn’t mean to be assholes. I’m Larry, and this is Scott.”

“It’s all good, Larry and Scott. Your food should be up. I’ll be back.”

They nod as I hurry away. Sure enough, their food is ready. Keegan catches my eye as I make my way back through the bar, but I nod as if to reassure him that everything is fine.

He raises his chin in return.

We’ve gotten really good at non-verbal communication.

“Okay, guys, I have an order of wings with fries, and a burger with fries hot out of the kitchen.” I pull ketchup and mustard out of my apron and set them on the table, as well. “What else can I get you?”

“Your phone number.” Scott winks.

“Haha. What can I get you from the kitchen?”

“This looks good,” Larry says, and the boys dig into their food.

When I walk up to the bar, Keegan gestures to them. “Everything still good there?”

“Yep, just normal flirtation. And they apologized for last night.”

“Good.” He wipes the bar and sends me a heated look. “It’s easy to flirt with you. You look damn good tonight, love.”

I toss my ponytail over my shoulder. “So nice of you to notice.”

He laughs, and I saunter away with an extra spring in my step. I stop at Larry and Scott’s table to check in with them.

“How’s it tasting over here?”

“Great,” Scott says, and I notice his eyes drop to my boobs. “I bet those taste good, too.”

Larry scoffs at his friend. “Good one, man.”