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Susan sneered. “No, I suppose it wasn’therthat made him leave, was it?” She pulled her glass to her lips and raised a pencil-thin eyebrow, rolling her eyes in Mavis’s direction.
Mavis frowned, slouching forward in her seat as the air seemingly deflated from her lungs. Her lips mouthed the wordhelpin Lauren’s direction.
I’m on it.
“Oh! Mom, did you try the bacon-wrapped dates yet? They’re new on the menu and you just have to try them! Miguel swears by them—best appetizer on the menu!” Lauren rose from her seat and pointed to the buffet, offering her hand to her mother.
Susan shrugged and stood. “Lovely to meet you, Casey dear.” With a glance over her shoulder, her parting words dripped from her lips. “Mavis, enjoy your party tonight.”
Oh, God.
Lauren wrapped her arm around her mom, tugging her toward the corner of the room and the tower of appetizers, leaving Mavis and Casey’s lifeless stares behind.
“Mom! You’re being so rude right now. Leave Mavis be,” hissed Lauren. “And Casey is really perfect for Austin,” she added with a small stomp of her foot. “He’s really happy with her. Please give her a fair chance.” She piled bacon-wrapped dates onto a plate and pushed it into her mom’s grasp.
“What is it she does again?”
“Umm, same as me. A restaurant, Mom.”
No need to share job titles.
Susan bit into a bacon-wrapped date, and a rare genuine smile spread across her lips. “Oh, these are good, sweetie!” Her gaze wandered in search of her friends. “Christina and Anna must try them!”
“Yeah! Don’t let me stop you.” Lauren shooed her mother away, releasing a heavy sigh as she raced back to her seat.
Casey blanched. “Holy hell, your mom hates me.”
“Join the club.” Mavis rolled her eyes and sloshed the melting ice around in her near-empty glass.
You guys aren’t exactly wrong.
Lauren grinned as Miguel reappeared, setting three fresh Mystic Mavis drinks on the table. “No worries, Mavs. I’m not her favorite either.” She lifted her eyebrows, bringing the fresh drink to her lips. “But welcome to the family anyway. Trust me, no one will ever outrank the miraculous Templeton Twins.”
Casey giggled and sipped. “Sore subject?”
“You have no idea...” Lauren brought the glass back to her lips and gulped, letting the sweet liquid touch her tongue and slide down her throat—willing the alcohol to take effect and release the stress on her heart.
Mavis downed her drink and shook her head. “Well, on that happy note, I should probably start thanking everyone for coming.” She rose from her seat and stepped away, a slight wobble to her high-heeled step.
“You okay?” asked Lauren.
“Me?” Casey pointed to her chest. “Oh, umm... yeah for sure.” She drained her cup again.
“I don’t know about you, but I need something stronger than these girlie drinks. No offense to Miguel, but they’re weak.” A mischievous grin grew on her lips as she nodded her head toward the door. “Interested?”
Casey stood and dropped her napkin to the table. “After your mom, you don’t need to ask me twice.”
Lauren giggled and grabbed Casey’s hand, leading her out the side door and into the kitchen. The smell of the evening’s special, mushroom ravioli, infiltrated her nostrils as they passed through the prep station. Pulling a set of keys from her pocket, Lauren opened the door to the stockroom and stepped inside, tugging Casey behind her.
Casey’s eyes scanned the tiny space, alight with excitement. “Every alcoholic’s dream,” she murmured, dragging her hands along the shelves of alphabetized bottles of liquor.
“Well, what’ll it be?” Lauren stepped further inside, pointing at the many options.
“Umm, how crazy do we want to get tonight?” Casey’s fingernails tapped on a bottle of Angel’s Envy, her eyes glowing with sudden mischief.
Lauren’s smile grew. “I mean, the boys are gonna get wild tonight, no doubt.” She pulled the bottle of bourbon down and popped the cork. “I suggest we do the same.” She held the bottle out to Casey. “You first, girlfriend.”
Casey’s hand closed around the neck of the bottle. “To Mavis and Josh... and theirhappily ever after.” The bottle met her lips, and a dry cough followed her gulp. She sputtered, shaking her head back and forth. “Holy cow,” she choked out.
