Chapter 36

With a wide grin, Amaya rose from her chair. She waved across the otherwise-empty restaurant. “Bry! Bry! Over here, my friend!” She deked left, then right, as if she were talking around someone or trying to get him to notice her. “Here at the back! Follow the sound of my voice.”

Bryson shook his head at the server as he walked past her. “Tell me we at least brighten your day a bit. And it’s okay if you have to lie to me.”

She didn’t hesitate. “Bryson, you tip. Which means as far as I’m concerned, you are an absolute ray of sunshine. Are you going for red or white today?”

He stopped walking and paused to think. “Actually? I’ll take a whiskey. Straight up.”

“Well, hey there, smiley.” Amaya held out her arms.

“Well, hey right back at you.” He gave her a hug, sat at the table, and opened the menu. “Anything looking particularly awesome?”

“Yep. You and me, baby. But if you’re talking about the food, I think the salmon is calling to me.”