Let Nothing You Dismay Chapter20

Chapter Twenty: Drinks with the Crew

A few days later, Gaila once more approached Jim at work.

“So…Romeo.”

“Huh?”

She rolled her eyes. “Loverboy. Whatever. Can you come for a drink with us after work today? Me, Ny, Scotty. You can even bring the boss but tell him he has to loosen up.”

“Today?”

“Yep. Down to Rick’s at the corner. Just one drink. I can call your babysitter and beg her on your behalf if you want.”

Jim shook his head. He could just imagine that conversation. “I think I can go. Just let me find out and get back to you.”

“Sure.” Gaila smirked. “You gonna ask your sweetie?”

“Yeah, don’t want him to feel left out.”

Later, he checked with Maggie, who once more advised she didn’t mind, and man he needed to get her a nice present, and then he cornered Spock privately to ask.

“So. Everyone wants to go for a drink after work. You in?”

Spock pursed his lips. “Alcohol?”

Jim smiled. “Yep. I’d love it if you came.”

“Very well. But I will have some tasks to finish up after closure. Where is this establishment?”

“Rick’s just down the street.”

Spock nodded. “I will be there.”

****

“So where’s Spock anyway?” Uhura asked as the four of them settled into a booth at Rick’s.

“He’s coming. Wanted to finish a few things.”

She arched an elegant brow and picked up her butterscotch appletini.

“What are you having, laddy?” Scotty asked him, lifting his scotch to his lips.

“Just a light beer.” Jim shrugged.  “I have to go get Lily when we’re done so I can’t really get plastered or anything.”

“Aye. I getcha.”

“You should bring her by one day, like when you’re off on Wednesday so we can all meet her,” Gaila said. She was drinking something as green as she was.

Jim smiled. “Good idea. Sure she’d love all of you.”

Just then he spotted Spock entering the bar and he waved him over.

“Glad you could join us, Spock,” Scotty greeted him. “What can we get you to drink?”

Spock slid into the booth next to Jim. “I do not drink, but thank you.”

Jim put his hand on Spock’s. “Thanks for coming along anyway.”

“I am pleased to do so.”

Uhura just barely refrained from rolling her eyes, Jim was sure. But she gave a little shrug and seemed resigned to losing Spock to Jim. “Spock, what’s going to happen to Gad-Shen once you leave for Starfleet Academy?”

Spock looked over at Gaila who smiled like the Cheshire Cat. “Actually, Gaila will be taking over the restaurant when I leave.”

They all glance to Gaila. Everyone was talking at once.

She waved her hands. “I know! I know! Me? Staying in Riverside and running a restaurant? But I’ve talked with Spock at length about things and I just…it seems right for me.”

“Wow.” Uhura smiled. “I’m so happy for you if this is what you want.”

“It is,” Gaila assured her.

“And I feel good about handing over Solek’s dream to Gaila when the time comes,” Spock added. “I believe she will do it justice.”

Jim held up his beer bottle. “I’ll drink to that.”

“Cheers.”

***

“Hey.” Jim drew Spock aside as everyone broke up the party and left Rick’s. “You wanna come home with me?”

“For dinner?”

Jim inclined his head. “And beyond.”

“Beyond?”

He took one of Spock’s hands, met his gaze. “Stay over with me? I know we need to get up super early for the restaurant. But, I don’t know, if we’re going to make this, serious—”

“We are.”

Jim laughed, relieved. “Then we’re going to have to make it work with the three of us. You, me, Lily. And you staying over. So?”

Spock nodded. “That makes sense. I will bring my own vehicle because I should probably get to the restaurant a bit earlier than you, and I do not wish to make you and Lily leave your home sooner than you have to. Plus I will need to get some belongings to bring with me.”

“Deal.”