‘Gross,’ said Kirsty, making a face as she used a pair of bar tongs to pick up a used napkin. She took a few steps to the side. Ah, this was the Kirsty that Effie knew and, well,lovedwas definitely not the word for it. ‘Of course you’d suggest something foul like that. I’m working alongside him, Bonnie. Not with him. Just to make that clear.’
Bonnie shot Effie a look of sheer joy. ‘So you don’t remember the whole Bobby situation?’
‘I remember that he wrote your name in chocolate chips on the eighteenth birthday cookie he made you. Mortifying.’
‘But nothing about purple cocktails?’ Bonnie pressed.
Theo squeezed Effie’s hand, making her wrist glimmer green. She squeezed back, stepping closer so that she could lean into him the way she’d been dying to for weeks now. Their bodies seemed to fit together perfectly, even allowing for Effie’s book bag.
Kirsty frowned as she regarded her purple-stained athleisure in dismay. ‘You know, I sipped something out of that Moscow mule mug that time. Not to be rude, but that recipe could have done with some refining.’
‘Agreed,’ whispered Effie, with a wink at Theo.
Bonnie bit her bottom lip, then, with uncharacteristic humility, said, ‘As much as it pains me to say it, I think you might be right.’
‘Hey, city boy!’ Winston called over to Theo from over at the darts board. ‘Up for a game of darts?’
‘I’ll shout you a shandy if you win,’ added Gerald Ho.
‘Just pretend you understand what he says,’ whispered Bonnie. ‘That’s what I do.’
‘Give me a few, and I’ll be there,’ promised Theo. ‘But I want to buy this lovely individual a drink first. What would you like, Effie?’
‘I hear she’s on malbecs these days,’ said Bonnie, with a raised eyebrow.
Theo shot Effie a grin. ‘Is that so? A woman of culture, I see.’
Effie folded her arms. ‘I’d actually love a G&T.’
‘A gin and tonic it is,’ said Theo.
‘Coming right up,’ said Bonnie, heading behind the bar and mixing up the classic drink in her favourite lowball glass.
‘Cucumber and all,’ said Theo approvingly as she slid it over. ‘You know your stuff.’
Setting his mop aside, Bobby joined Bonnie behind the bar, where he proceeded to mix up a lemon, lime and bitters, which he passed to her with a tenderness that made even Effie smile.
‘Since you can’t drink on the job,’ he said.
‘Thank goddess it’s not purple,’ muttered Bonnie. Then, hesitantly, as though it hurt her to say it, ‘Thanks, Bobby. For everything. Not just tonight. Over the years.’
Blushing, Bobby knotted a dishrag around his hands. ‘Any time. You know that.’
Bonnie reached out to touch his arm. ‘Actually, I do.’
Effie was no expert in love, but shewasan expert in sparks, and purple ones were definitely flying.
‘Hey, Bonnie,’ called Freddie Noonan, who’d been chatting at length about grasses and hardiness zones with a poor tourist who looked quite anguished indeed. ‘When’s Trivia Night starting? I studied all week.’
The tourist took the opportunity to escape to the bathroom.
Effie raised her eyebrows at Bonnie, who broke her gaze away from Bobby long enough to shrug. Had all the bar-goers forgotten the absolute debacle of the past few hours entirely? Were they really going to blame the whole thing on a rabid racoon?
‘Effie.’ Tessa came up to them, with a relieved-looking Alana beside her.
Effie dropped Theo’s hand and embraced her friend with as much emotion as she could muster. Which it turned out was actually quite a bit. ‘You were right about it all, Tessa. And I’m so glad you’re okay. Angry at you for doing that to yourself, but angry at myself for putting you in a position to have to do that. Especially the dancing in public bit.’
Tessa blinked. ‘I did what? Andwhat?’
