Normal practice.

The worst part about all the awkwardness during the break? The food was really fucking good and I couldn’t enjoy it properly. And I mean like REALLY FUCKING GOOD. I didn’t think I’d like the tuna because it was only slightly cooked and red inside, but it was SO damn tasty I was taken aback. The garlic rice was perfect, too. I had been offered to eat here plenty of times when I came to talk with Luke, and now I feel stupid for always refusing. I needed to see if I could steal some tips for the head chef.

But yeah, after that we went back to the bar and resumed our work. Couldn’t say if Dylan took the previous conversation to heart or not, because we suddenly had fewer customers.

“It’s almost midnight,” Diana told me. “It’s no wonder we have fewer people. Even though we want to offer the best service we can, we’re not the main attraction.”

I nodded in understanding. “The rooms are.”

There were only two couples in the bar and both were at the tables instead of the counter. They already had their drinks and they all seemed to be taking their time.

“Do you think we have time now?” I asked Diana.

“Yes. Let’s work on your stirring, like we said.” Diana got a mixing glass and some lower quality ice, then showed me the bar spoon. “Hold it with your thumb and index finger, then get your middle finger behind it,” she instructed, showing it to me step by step, “To stir, start with gently pushing and pulling. Then you can add wrist movement.” She handed me the spoon and continued giving me instructions. “Keep your whole form in mind. Your back and shoulders in particular.”

“Oh, so he’s having his training here?” Dylan asked, approaching us and watching me take the spoon.

“Yes. Mr. Allen sees… potential in him and scouted him early,” Diana said.

“But you’re starting from the very basics,” he noted before looking at the tables. “Then again, you already know how to handle yourself with customers, so I think I get what he saw.”

Diana also handed me a bottle filled with tap water to even have me practice using the jiggers. Dylan raised an eyebrow at that. “Seriously? You’re practicing with water?”

“I prefer it this way,” I told him. “I don’t want to waste expensive liquor.”

“Seeing progress will be nearly impossible with water, though,” Dylan added.

“I know, but we’re simply trying to build technique and muscle memory,” Diana told him. “And knowledge, too. Now, Oliver, while you stir. Why would you stir a cocktail instead of shaking it?”

“...” Shit, I knew Diana had told me this before. I did as she said and poured water into the mixing glass and began to stir, all while thinking of the answer to her question.

“Because… stirring keeps the flavors of the **** intact, while shaking mixes everything together and adds air into the cocktail. Also, the ice melts faster when shaking and dilutes the drink more.”

Dylan let out a soft whistle. “Someone’s been studying.”

Diana smiled. “He has. Dylan, ask him a question.”

“You sure?”

“Yes.”

“Mmm… What’s a Pink Lady made of?” Dylan asked.

Oh, oh! I looked that up just before going on break! “Gin, applejack, lemon juice, grenadine and… an egg white.”

“Garnished with…?”

I grimaced. “A… cherry?”

“Correct,” Diana said, her grin widening.

Dylan looked at her, noticed that and blinked. “So… it’s true, then? You two are dating?”

Diana’s body tensed up, her smile fading in an instant. I, however, kind of expected it. “Did the kitchen staff tell you?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, it’s true,” I told him. “That I’m working here now it’s unrelated, though.”

“Is it?”

“It is.”

I purposely didn’t elaborate. Didn’t feel the need to make excuses. And let’s be honest here, I’m here out of nepotism, true, but it was all Luke, not Diana.

“Well, alright.”

Diana relaxed a bit, thankfully, but she did have one concern. “You told the kitchen staff?”

“They already knew, somehow. I thought you told them.”

“I didn’t, but… I guess we didn’t exactly keep it a secret.”

“Yeah.”

We did use a room a couple of times before, one of those times being prom night. Of course her co-workers would pay attention.

I continued practicing while Diana and Dylan took care of other things. They made syrups for the next day and prepared more of that beautiful clear ice for the following days. I’d need to learn all that, too.

So much to do.

We had a few more customers and a couple more orders from the kitchen, but by 1:00 am we barely had anyone. We started getting ready to close the bar while still keeping almost everything important on hand in case someone else came at the last minute. Surprisingly, that didn’t happen. It usually always happens.

By 2:00 am we were ready to close the bar. And looking at the time made me realize something. “Ah, Dylan, how are you going home at this hour? Didn’t you come here by bus?”

Dylan smiled. “Don’t worry about me. The boss said I could sleep in one of the rooms tonight. My car is in the shop, but I’ll get it back on Monday.”

“Oh, I see. That’s good.”

We finished up, said goodbye to Dylan and Diana and I went to the parking lot.

“How are you feeling?” Diana asked me. “Tired?”

“Not much,” I told her. “It’s weird to work so late, but it was still a full shift and I got used to it already. You?”

Diana chuckled. “Let’s say that since I got myself a weird boyfriend, I’ve got more energy than usual.”

We walked over to my van first since it was the closest. “Will you be okay driving home?”

“It’s not my first time. Don’t worry.”

“You sure you don’t want to go back to my place?” I offered. “It’s closer.”

Diana smiled. “It would be fun, but I have a dog to feed in the morning.”

“Ah.”

“How about you? Want to go back with me?”

“...I promised I’d be back by 3:00 am. Mom was worried, so I should go back. Maybe next week?”

“Deal.” I leaned in for a kiss, but Diana put a finger on my lips. “Before that, I… I need to say thank you.”

I tilted my head. “What for?”

Diana chuckled. “For everything. For being there, for working hard. But more specifically… for holding me back and supporting me. I got mad at Dylan and was about to yell at him, but you held me back. Thank you.”

“I… Didn’t do much.”

“It meant a lot to me. That and the way you talked to him.” Diana smiled at me. “For a moment there I felt like I was the younger of us two.”

“Shut up.”

“I’m serious.” This time Diana leaned in and kissed me. It was deep, tender and it lasted a long while. “I’m glad you’re here. Was it too hard?”

“No. I think I’ll manage, especially since it’s only two nights a week.”

“Tell me if you’re struggling with anything, okay? I don’t want to overwhelm you with training.”

“I’ll be fine, don’t worry.”

“...”

“...”

We were looking each other in the eyes. Her hand caught mine and I leaned in for another kiss, one that slowly got hotter and hotter until…

“Do you have 20 minutes?” Diana asked, gasping.

“I have 30.”

We both went inside the back of my van.

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