Chapter 19: Last Call

"Third-party resident," Missy said, "would like a drink."

It was Saturday night, a week after the fan, and the dive bar at the end of the pier smelled of beer, fried clams and wet dog.

She had put on her good black dress and every ring she owned.

The five men trailed her in through the door in a close, nervous cluster, hoods up, and the room turned to look.

It was a regulars' bar. Nobody pulled out a phone.

The bartender was a broad woman with a grey braid and thick forearms, and she had known Missy for twenty years.

"Well, look at this," she said. "You brought the boy band."

"I brought the project team."

"Does the project team drink?"

"They'll have what I'm having."

"God help them," the bartender said, and poured five shots of something the color of old tea.

Felix tossed his back and coughed.

Jisung drank his and held perfectly still, with tears in his eyes.

Minho sniffed his and put it down with enormous dignity.

Hyunjin was already moving, because the jukebox had come on with something slow and sad from forty years ago.

He pushed off his hood.

He didn't dance for the room, only for himself, in the tiny space by the dartboard, with his long arms and his eyes half closed.

The whole bar went quiet.

An old fisherman put down his pint.

Missy stood with her back to the bar and watched, and Chan came and stood at her shoulder.

"He's the best dancer in our generation," Chan murmured. "Do you know he never does it off stage?"

"He's doing it now."

"I know. I'm trying not to cry."

"Chan. Honey. Say something nice to me."

He flushed to the collar.

"You look beautiful."

"That's a start. Louder."

"Missy."

"Louder, or I'm telling the bartender what you did on my rug."

"You look beautiful," Chan said, to the whole room.

A table of crab fishers cheered.

Chan buried his burning face in his hand, and Missy kissed his knuckles.

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