“Boy,” Charlie said, and his voice was so deep, it sent shivers down my spine. “Look at me.”
Santiago did, eyes widening slightly. “Yes?”
Charlie leaned forward until their faces were only inches apart. “Do you know who I am?”
“Yes,” Santiago said. “The manager said that you were to be taken care of while you’re here. He called you a VIP.”
“Exactly,” Charlie said. He reached up and traced a finger along Santiago’s cheek. Santiago trembled when Charlie gripped his face. It wasn’t tight, but Charlie’s hand was big. “And if I see you at this table again, it’ll be the last thing you ever do.”
Santiago swallowed thickly. “But I—”
“Have them send another boy to bring out our drinks,” Charlie said, squeezing just enough that Santiago’s face began to dimple. “And if I hear that you’ve bothered Paul or Vince or Corey, you’ll be out looking for another job by the end of the night. Are we clear?”
Santiago nodded.
“Good,” Charlie said, pulling his hand back. Santiago gasped as he stood upright. “You will do two things for us, then. First, you will take our drink orders. And then you will apologize to Paul for treating him with such disdain. Vince wants the pineapple drink thingy. Paul will have the tequila sunrise. I want a whiskey. Neat. And Corey will have a screwdriver. It’s to be billed to the Dairy Queens, who have made a generous offer that I couldn’t refuse.”
Santiago scribbled furiously on his pad of paper. “Yes, sir. Of course, sir.” He turned to leave.
Charlie cleared his throat.
He stopped and turned back around slowly. “Paul, was it? Yes, Paul. I’m sorry that I do not have bread—”
“You get one more chance,” Charlie warned.
“Eep!” Santiago said. Then, “Sorry, Paul. I did not mean to make you feel like your chosen profession was unnecessary. And especially in front of your son.”
“He’s my husband!” Paul snapped.
Santiago frowned. “What, really? Vince, are you being held against your will? If so, scream my name like you’re in the throes of extreme passion—”’
“You shou
ld run now,” Charlie said. “While your legs are still unbroken.”
Santiago did just that.
“That was weird,” Vince said. “He must have really wanted to put our drink order in.”
Paul sighed. “Yes, Vince. That’s exactly it.”
OUR DRINKS were brought by someone who wasn’t Santiago. He set them down on the table, smiled nervously at Charlie, and then left without saying a word.
“You need to call Robert,” I told Charlie while Vince handfed Paul pieces of pineapple.
“Why?” Charlie asked.
“Because you have to tell him that it’s over,” I said solemnly. “That you care about him but that you’ve decided to run away with me. We’ll tour the world, where I’ll sit by you while you threaten overzealous waiters.”
Charlie chuckled. “Quite an offer.”
“Figured it would be. Robert will understand.”
“Maybe I should hold off on that.”
I sighed. “If you must. Though it’s probably for the best.”
“It is,” Charlie said. “I have a feeling you’re going to forget I even exist in the next few minutes, anyway.”