6. Chapter 6

Chapter six

"No making deals, no political favors, no crap."

W hen Gage heard someone calling him, he dragged himself into consciousness and opened his eyes. Sydney was standing next to the couch.

"Sorry. You were really out."

He rubbed his eyes. "Still catching up from last night, I guess. Now I won't be able to sleep tonight. Is it time to go?"

"Not quite. I brought you some dinner. Are you hungry?"

He sat up. "Yeah. I missed lunch somehow. Had that ice cream, though."

"I brought you a chilidog from the café."

"Oh, my gosh. That's perfect." He stood. "Just let me go wash my hands." He went to the bathroom and washed his hands and face, then swept his hair back off his face with his wet hands. He stared at his reflection for a moment. You're all good. Sydney is just Sydney. Nothing more.

Gage returned to the couch and sat down. Then Sydney handed him the box with his food in it. He opened it and sighed. "I love Cassie's chilidogs." He cut into it with a fork and took a bite as Sydney watched him.

"Okay. That makes sense."

"What makes sense?"

"Well, chilidogs are extremely messy food. And I was surprised when Cassie told me you loved them. But you have figured out how to eat it without dropping any chili on the front of your shirt."

"Were you expecting me to drop chili on my shirt?"

"No. Not really. I'm pretty sure you've never dropped food onto your clothing."

He took another bite. "I probably did when I was a baby."

She smiled. "Only because you had no control over what you were doing."

"Did you get one for yourself?"

"No. I went home and ate after the ice cream social."

"Well, thanks for thinking of me."

"I'm always thinking about you, boss." She blushed. "Um…I mean." She shook her head. "That came out wrong. You know what I mean, right?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Because you're a good employee?"

"Exactly."

He ate for a few moments, then looked at her. "About our conversation with Clem this morning."

"Would you like my honest opinion with no enthusiastic influence from Clementine?"

"Yes, please."

She pulled his chair around the desk and sat down a few feet from him. "I think you should do it."

Gage ate the last bite of chilidog, then closed the box and set it on the couch next to him. He wiped his mouth with a napkin, then got up and poured himself some water from the water dispenser. He drank it down, then returned to the couch and sat.

"Why?"

"Because you'd do a great job." She held up a hand. "Let me finish. All the reasons you think make you unqualified for the job, are the things that will make you good at it."

He leaned back and scowled. "I can admit I could do the day-to-day job. It's the social stuff. I just can't get past that. A lot of the job is bullshitting people."

She shook her head. "Not bullshitting, per se. It's more like handling them."

"Well, I don't want to do that either. I can't tell people what they want to hear. If I was mayor, I'd be an honest mayor. No making deals, no political favors, no crap."

"Which is what the people of Calaway Crossing want and deserve. Why do you think they want a Calaway back in office? I know you noticed how relieved everyone was when Mayor Bessler finished his speech yesterday."

"I did."

"What would you have said on the opening day of the Winter Festival?"

He thought about it for a moment. "Welcome to the Winter Festival. Have some hard cider and enjoy the bonfire."

She smiled. "A little brief. But honest and from the heart."

"Do you agree with Clem that I need a social liaison?"

She nodded. "I do."

"Are you up for the job?"

She cocked her head. "Is it a paid position?"

"Strictly voluntary. Although you may get a free meal now and then out of it."

"Hmm. I'd be honored to be your volunteer social liaison. Does this mean you're going to run in the special election?"

Gage took a deep breath. "It depends on how you answer my next question. What's the first thing I need to do to up my social status?"

Sydney tapped her fingers on the armrest of the chair. "Are you working the bar tonight?"

"After nine, yes."

"The perfect way to talk to people."

"The bar will be a madhouse. Not a lot of time for talking."

"Okay. Then you've got to participate in the bachelor auction."

He shook his head. "No way in hell."

"There aren't many single Calaway men left. Give the women in town a chance to spend an evening with one."

"What if no one bids on me?"

"Why wouldn't they bid on you? You're…an eligible bachelor."

"Because I'm a Calaway?"

"Yes. But also because you're…you know."

He smiled. "No. I don't know. Tell me."

"Fairly attractive."

"Fairly?"

"Stop. You're my boss. I don't look at you like that."

"Okay. So fairly attractive is enough to earn some bids."

"Yes." She studied her nails for a moment, then looked at him. "And if no one jumps right in and bids, I'll bid on you."

"And what if you're the only one?"

She sighed. "That's not going to happen. But if it did, then we'll have dinner together. No big deal."

"Maybe not for you. But I'd be the guy who probably paid his assistant to bid on him so he didn't look like a loser."

"Oh my gosh. You are reserved and self-involved sometimes. In a non-conceited sort of way. You don't like to talk to people and you keep to yourself. But none of that makes you a loser. And I promise you, plenty of women will bid for the chance to have dinner with you."

"You promise, huh?"

"Yes. I do. So what do you say candidate Calaway, are you all in to win the election?"

Gage leaned his head back and looked at the ceiling for a moment. Then he looked at Sydney. "I know I'm going to regret this, but hell yeah. I'm in."

Sydney jumped to her feet and hugged him. Then seemed to realize what she was doing and stepped away. "Sorry. I was excited."

"It's okay."

She sat back down. "Does being your social liaison get me an invitation to the celebratory dinner when you win?"

"Sydney, if you help me get there, I'll escort you there myself."

"I'm going to hold you to that, boss."

There were ten local bands competing in the Battle of the Bands. It was held every year in the dining room of the Ambrose Tavern. The food service stopped at six. And the music began at seven. The bar would be busy the whole night.

Cabe was helping Paxton for the first two hours to give Gage a chance to take some photos of the contest. Then he would join them at nine. Cooper would do his usual job of bouncer. And Booker would be onsite to back him up. The contest usually ended by ten, but the bar would stay busy until closing at midnight.

Gage didn't mind working the bar. It was a fun change of pace. He helped during holidays and special events. As he went into the crowded bar, he wondered if being mayor would put an end to that. Why should it? If I want to be a bartending mayor, who's going to stop me?

Both Paxton and Cabe looked relieved to see him. Paxton shook his hand. "Hop on in, brother. It's been crazy."

"Do you or Cabe need a break?"

"No. Cooper gave us each a ten so we could hit the john. Other than that, it's been too busy."

"Where do you want me?"

"Can you be the beer guy?"

"Sure." The beer guy poured drafts and opened bottles as the orders came in.

Paxton put a hand on his shoulder. "And let's not worry about having a perfect one inch head on the beers tonight."

"Right. Got it."

Gage spent the next hour pouring drafts for Cabe and Paxton, and retrieving beer from the cooler for them. If he knew where they were going, he'd deliver them. And remembering what Sydney said, he delivered them with a smile and a few friendly words.

It finally started slowing down around eleven. By eleven-thirty, the room was only a quarter full. And the customers were all at the bar. Paxton came up to Gage.

"Will you start bussing the tables? I'd like to get some of the glasses washed before I go home."

Before Paxton married Elaina, he'd stay at least an hour after closing, so he'd start the next day with a clean bar. But now, he wanted to get home to her and Joaquin, and he'd leave as soon as he closed out the register.

Gage took a tray and started picking up glasses. After several trips, he went back out with a wet cloth to wipe the tables down. As he finished each table, he stacked the chairs on it. Even though there were still customers, they all knew it was time to finish up and go home.

When all the tables were finished, he started washing glasses. He actually enjoyed it. There was something relaxing about hot, soapy water. His brothers used to pay him to take over their dish washing duties when they were growing up. That is until their mother figured out what they were doing. Then she put a stop to it.

Cabe came up beside him and started drying the clean glasses. "This is the best part of the night for you, isn't it?"

Gage laughed. "You know it."

The last customers left, and Paxton poured three shots and handed one to Cabe and Gage.

"Hell of a night, guys."

Cabe nodded. "We made it through another one."

They all drank their shots. Then Paxton put a hand on Gage's shoulder. "Now, are you going to tell us what the hell is going on with you tonight?"

Gage looked at him. "What do you mean?"

Paxton pointed at him. "Something is up with you."

Gage sighed. "You're right. Something is up. But I can't tell you yet."

Cabe laughed. "Well, that makes us feel so much better."

Paxton scowled. "Come on, spill."

"Sorry."

"Hmm." Paxton grinned. "It's Sydney, isn't it? You finally made your move."

"No. That's not even close."

Cabe nudged Paxton. "Just let it go, Pax. Gage will tell us when he can."

"Well, that's bull."

Gage raised a hand. "I'll give you a tiny hint. You'll never in a million years guess what it is."

"Wow, brother."

Cabe nodded. "Yeah. Wow."