Analise sighed then smiled as Cari approached the table.
“Hi.” Cari beamed a smile at them.
“We waited on you to order,” Randi said. “What are we drinking, ladies?”
“Hmm, what’s a good celebratory drink to start with?” Cari asked.
Randi chuckled. “Okay. It sounds like we’ll be here for a while.”
“Should we start with champagne?” Analise suggested.
“Oh, that would be appropriate,” Cari said. “I like champagne but it doesn’t like me.”
Randi laughed. “I hear you. We don’t want any headaches in the morning. How about margaritas? I think tequila is appropriate for a celebration.”
“Let’s do it!” Cari exclaimed. “I love margaritas and I’ve never gotten a bad one while visiting my sister here in Texas.”
“Maragritas it is,” Analise said, holding up her hand to get the server’s attention.
After they’d ordered Cari put her elbow on the table and rested her chin in her hand. “I was wondering about something you said this morning.”
“Okay,” Randi said.
“Live selling,” Cari said. “That’s something I’ve never done. I have a good following on Instagram and TikTok and have seen live selling events on both platforms.”
“That trend is becoming more popular and more authors are trying it this year,” Analise said.
“I’m not sure I emphasized it enough this morning,” Randi said, leaning towards Cari. “You don’t have to do anything you are not comfortable with. If live selling is not something that appeals to you then we won’t do it.”
Randi could see Cari visibly relax. She reached out and squeezed Randi’s forearm.
“Thank you for saying that.” Cari smiled. “I’m not saying I won’t do it, but I just want to make sure I don’t look like a fool. I may be self-published, but I am a professional.”
“Yes you are and there’s no way we’d ever do anything that isn’t polished and on brand for you, Cari,” Analise stated firmly.
Cari took a big sip of her drink and sat back in her chair. “Thank you. I expected to have second thoughts about this all afternoon, but I haven’t. I do have reservations about some of the things you mentioned, simply because they are out of my comfort zone, but I can see now that my best interests are important to you.”
“They are,” Randi said. “If you do well, we do well. It’s a team thing.”
“I like this team,” Cari said. “We need another round!”
Randi and Analise laughed as the server made their way back to the table.
The Friday night crowd had multiplied at the bar along with the noise level. They talked about books and Randi found herself asking Cari several questions about her latest release. The friends to lovers trope wasn’t Randi’s favorite, but Cari assured her it was a popular trope in sapphic romance.
Sometime later Cari leaned in and finished her drink. “I’d really like to have another, but I know it would be a bad decision.”
Randi chuckled. “You could always have a glass of water.” She’d chosen to drink water after the second margarita and the slight buzz that remained was just right.
“That’s a good idea and I will have water when I get to my sister’s. Which means it’s time for me to go,” Cari said.
“Me, too,” Analise said, taking out her phone to call a ride share. “How about you, Randi?”
“I’m going to stay a little longer. Eden hoped to come by after her date.”
“Oh, that’s right,” Cari said. “She was having drinks with one of the women she met at the pitch thing.”
Randi nodded. “She’s met several women from the event this week.”
