Hidden Gem Short Story Collection (9781301405985) by India Lee

knew it was hard on Mike. They had
offered him a position at the flourishing company, but Mike had
turned it down. Though Tyler never knew why, he suspected it was
because he and Mike had developed a friendship much like the
brothers they never had. And since Tyler had gotten just old enough
so that Mike didn’t look at him as some little kid he was hired to
protect, it was a lot easier for Mike to let loose and talk to him
like a peer.
    Rufus had an empty cabin he had inherited
from family and he had renovated the space to look like a rustic
party house. Since he and Moss left the team, Tyler and Mike had
taken any opportunity possible to hang out in the secluded space,
inviting their city friends up to marvel over the vast stretch of
evergreens and crisp, Vermont air. Everyone that Tyler had ever
considered a friend in his past years had been there.
    Even Gemma.
    “ Take a shot, little one,”
Rufus laughed, pushing a double shot of tequila towards him. The
four of them sat in the small, square restaurant, surrounded by
mostly families. It felt almost like a treehouse, made of sanded,
unfinished wood from ceiling to floor. Parents sat with their
children, dressed in multi-colored sweaters that spotted the
place.
    “ Isn’t it kind of early?”
Tyler asked, taking the double shot into his hands. “We haven’t
even gotten our food.”
    “ Aw, c’mon,” Rufus turned
to Mike and Moss. “Is he still a lightweight?”
    “ What’s the point of
putting on all that muscle if it can’t help you hold more alcohol?”
Moss asked.
    “ I was, I don’t know,
fourteen or something the last time I drank in front of you,” Tyler
scowled, knocking back the double shot and sucking on a lime. He
winced, feeling the burn of the alcohol as he stared back at Rufus
and Moss. They held up their hands in mock surrender.
    “ Alright then, big guy,”
Rufus laughed, shrugging as he waved down the waitress. Tyler
rolled his eyes. It didn’t seem to matter to Rufus and Moss that
nearly a decade had passed. In their eyes, he was still fourteen.
Normally, there was a comfort in the familial ribbing that came
with visiting the two, but Tyler wasn’t in the mood.
    “ How can I help you?” the
waitress said as she approached their table. Tyler watched as the
trio eyed her. He bit back his lip, embarrassed that his three
friends didn’t have the best self-control. Their waitress was pretty and very much
their type. She had snow-white skin covered in ornate, flowery
tattoos and jet-black hair that was probably only pulled back for
work.
    “ I can think of all sorts
of ways,” Moss muttered. The waitress smiled a stiff smile, her pen
and pad in hand.
    “ Well, think something up
quick because my shift’s about to end,” she replied.
    “ What? No!” Rufus teased.
“But I like you and I want you to stay.”
    “ Yeah, we want to keep
looking at you,” Moss smiled. Tyler cringed. Rufus and Moss never
really had game, as far back as Tyler could remember. Their cheesy
lines were drawing the attention of those sitting within earshot.
And he could see just how much the waitress hated standing at their
table in that moment. It was a shame because Tyler had liked the
fact that he was sitting in a private back corner, covered by the
hulking mass that was Mike, with a waitress that seemed to have no
idea who he was. He tried to make eye contact with her, to perhaps
offer his apologies, but the girl wanted nothing to do with anyone
in the party.
    “ I think we were just
going to order more drinks,” Mike said, his tone as apologetic as
Tyler felt. “But I’m not sure these guys actually figured out what
they wanted yet. Why don’t you go wrap up your day and we’ll just
order from the server who’s taking over for you?”
    “ Okay, have a good night
then,” the waitress said, turning on her heel and tearing her apron
from her waist. To Tyler’s horror, Rufus and Moss were delighting
in the sight of her taking any article of clothing