Page 73 of Bad Words

My phone buzzed in my purse again. “No,” I said quickly. “Not yet. I can send some later.”

“Or show us tomorrow night,” Jacob said. “You’re coming to the party, right?”

“Of course, yeah. Should I bring anything?”

“A drink, if you want,” said Cassie. “But don’t go crazy. No hundred-dollar bottle of Bordeaux, or whatever.”

“Ninety-nine-dollar bottle of Bordeaux. Got it.”

The next evening, I zipped myself into a white cocktail dress and curled my hair, listening to Vivaldi. Snow was falling again. I felt content and distant, like somebody at a museum looking into a favorite exhibit glowing in its glass box.

A chime behind me, and the glass seemed to fracture.

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Sent: Dec 31, 8:20 PM

Re: Kavan Retrospective

So, do you have an equally high-maintenance list of New Year’s Eve traditions?

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Sent: Dec 31, 8:21 PM

Re: Kavan Retrospective

My Christmas tradition list is not high-maintenance. It consists of three things.

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Sent: Dec 31, 8:22 PM

Re: Kavan Retrospective

It consists of duck confit and a carefully paired Cabernet Sauvignon.

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Sent: Dec 31, 8:23 PM

Re: Kavan Retrospective

What am I going to do, pair it with white? I’m not a child, Parker.

Anyway, my only New Year’s tradition is going to my friends’ house party. They throw one every year.

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]