Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 74298 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74298 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Sam grinned wide. “Well, we don’t usually say our wishes out loud, but hell yes, I love the spirit, Mr. Wood. Fantastic last name your family has, by the way.”
Mom was laughing, leaning against the bar, as Perry came out with a tray full of little plates. It looked like some delicious glazed meatballs with toothpicks sticking out of the top of them for easy eating.
“I hear you all are the family of the hour,” Perry said, nodding at each of us. “I have here some Rocky Mountain Meatball appetizers for you all.”
“As long as they’re not Rocky Mountain Oysters,” Nathan said. “You know what those are, Tris?”
“I do know what those are, unfortunately.”
“Bull testicles,” Nathan said anyway, despite my answer. “Bull balls! And people like to eat those!”
“When prepared correctly, they can be delicious,” Perry said.
“Wow,” I said. “I guess you’ll eat anything as a chef, huh?”
“Now that just sounds sexual,” Sam said.
Nathan clapped his hands together. “That’s always a good thing.”
Perry winked at him. “Yes. I promise that these meatballs have no actual balls inside them.”
“Oh my gosh,” Mom said, already taking a bite of one of them. “They might not have balls in ‘em, but this is the best meatball I’ve ever had in my life.”
Shawn took a bite and his eyes went wide. “Okay. That’s it. We are kidnapping Perry and taking him to Jade River, too.”
“Can we just uproot this entire tavern and take it to Colorado with us?” Dad said, coming back toward us and grabbing not one but four little meatballs at once. “I just saw a guy in a corner booth kiss the guy on his right then turn and kiss the woman on his left. Everybody here is so comfortable.”
“That’s how we roll,” Red said with a tip of his cowboy hat. “And while I’m sad to say we won’t be uprooting to Colorado anytime soon, we’ll always be right here for you. I’ve only known your family for a few minutes but I’ve known Jack and Tristan a little longer, and I can safely say they’re welcome in my bar or my home any day, any hour, any time.”
“Oh, hush, or you’re going to make me get all emotional,” Jack said. I reached out to squeeze his hand.
“That’s more words than I’ve heard Red say at once in a long time,” Sam said. “He really does care about you guys, you know.”
“Cheers to that,” Mom said.
“Speaking of which, you all need some drinks,” Red said.
“Oh my God, I can’t believe we let you all be at the bar longer than sixty seconds without offering you a drink,” Sam said, acting like he’d just committed a grave sin. “What kind of establishment are we? Let’s get you guys started.”
Everybody ordered their drinks and no one held back. Jack, Shawn, Nathan, and I decided to split a margarita pitcher to start the night, and within the next couple of minutes the party was truly getting started. More and more people filed in, and while most of them had no clue why there was a mountain-themed party going on, it felt like the tavern had a certain magic to it that night even more than usual.
Everyone who came through the doors seemed ready to celebrate. Sam passed out little green glowing necklaces and bracelets to anyone he saw, and he had a Polaroid camera, snapping photos of anyone who said they were willing. Every song people put on the jukebox seemed to get people fired up and ready to dance, and an older couple of dudes even decided to dance a slow little jig right by their booth instead of on the dance floor. And each new set of little tasting plates that Perry walked out with seemed to be more delicious than the last.
“You’re spoiling us,” I said on the sixth or seventh course of incredible little foods, which was an incredible lightly-fried cheese with a mild chili sauce drizzled on top.
“That’s the goal,” Perry said.
“How do you think I feel?” Rock, Perry’s beloved partner, said. “I have this day in and day out. I can’t go on a diet to save my life, because everything he makes is so perfect.”
Perry leaned over the bar, pulling Rock into a quick kiss. “As if you need to diet anyway, my love.”
“You’re a lucky guy,” Nathan told Rock.
“It was a journey to get here, but I agree,” Rock said with a soft smile. “I’m crazy fuckin’ lucky.”
“Luke spoils me, too,” Cam said. “He built me a bed frame last month. I’m pretty sure that means he qualifies as a superhero.”
“Well, he certainly always beats me in Fantasy Football,” Rock said, glancing at Luke. “You’re not going to get me this year, bud.”
“We’ll see about that,” Luke said.
“Cheers to that,” Rock said with a laugh, and they clinked their glasses together.