Rum & Ginger by Eon de Beaumont Read Free Book Online Page B

stop himself.
    “I know, it’s stupid.” Brodie hunched with embarrassment.
    “No. It’s not stupid at all. It’s fantastic.” Ben smiled, evidently easing Brodie’s self-consciousness. “I would totally hang out there. Would the bartenders dress as pirates?”
    “Hell yeah. And the sign would be a rainbow flag with a skull and crossbones.”
    “That’s great.” Ben could picture it perfectly. “Mine’s not nearly as good as that.”
    “Come on. I told you my stupid idea.”
    Ben sighed. “I’d call my bar The Connection.”
    Brodie looked puzzled.
    “It would be a place where people could hook up, meet like-minded people, and make social connections,” Ben explained.
    “Oh. Yeah. That makes sense.” Brodie nodded. “But that’s not stupid at all.”
    “On the sign ‘Connection’ would be rainbow colored.” Ben paused, waiting to see if Brodie would recognize the reference. Brodie nodded but said nothing. “You don’t get it. I knew it was stupid,” Ben said with a smirk.
    “I’m sorry. Is it something I should know?”
    “No. It would be the Rainbow Connection,” Ben answered.
    “Oh! Like the Muppet song! That’s not stupid. That’s really clever.”
    “The rainbow would draw in the gay clientele, but it wouldn’t be so in-your-face that straight people would feel uncomfortable,” Ben explained.
    “Yeah. That’s great. I love that!” Brodie said. “It’s subtle. I love the way your mind works.”
    “Thanks,” Ben answered, feeling the blush on his cheeks. “I love little in-jokes like that.”
    “No. I think that’s awesome. And if somebody gets it, you automatically know they’re cool, right?”
    “Yeah. Something like that,” Ben answered with a smile.
    “I hope you do it.” Brodie sipped his punch. “I’d work there.”
    “Really?”
    “Hell yeah.”
    “You’re prehired,” Ben said, offering his hand.
    “Thanks, boss,” Brodie answered, grabbing Ben’s hand and pumping it a few times. Ben felt a jolt of excitement as they touched, and it seemed like neither was willing to break the contact. The shake slowed. Before Ben realized what had happened, Brodie dipped forward and pressed his lips to Ben’s. To Ben’s surprise, he didn’t offer Brodie any resistance and returned the gesture.
    When Ben realized what he was doing, he broke the contact abruptly. “Oh shit.” Ben’s hand flew to his mouth. “Oh damn, Brodie.”
    “What?” Brodie looked shocked. “I’m sorry. You’re not down.”
    “No. Shit. No, Brodie. You’re totally—um—attractive. But I’m in a relationship.” Ben regretted the words despite their truth.
    “Oh. Oh balls. Ben,” Brodie stammered.
    “No harm done. It’s okay. You didn’t know.”
    “I’m such an idiot.” Brodie turned away.
    “No. Come on. Not at all.” Ben laid a hand on the bartender’s shoulder. “Shit happens. It’s a Burnsy party. This punch is probably paint-thinner proof.”
    Brodie laughed awkwardly. “Yeah. You’re just such a cool guy. I had to go for it.”
    “That’s totally flattering. And I really like talking to you. We should hang out.” Ben paused. “You know, as friends.”
    “Yeah. Yeah, that would be awesome.”
    “So you said Brodie was a nickname.” Ben decided to change the subject, remembering what the bartender had said the first night they’d met. “What’s it short for?”
    “It’s not short for anything. It’s a cinematic reference.” Brodie seemed eager to change the subject as well.
    “Brodie, like in Mallrats Brodie?” Ben asked.
    “Yeah! Wow, you’re the first person to actually know that.”
    “I’m a huge Kevin Smith fan. Brodie Bruce is one of my favorite characters,” Ben replied.
    “I’m a huge comic fan,” Brodie explained. “I’m a little nuts about them, I guess. That’s why my buddies in high school started calling me Brodie. It stuck.”
    “That’s actually pretty admirable,” Ben said. “And you’ve got Jason Lee’s irreverent